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Do traditional street snacks, like pineapple buns with butter, mock sharks-fin soup and egg tarts, taste different than they did in the old days? How does popular folklore affect architectural design? Will traditional old shops gradually vanish as the city develops? What are the value judgements behind these changes? Using photos, advertisements from the old days and images of historic buildings, antiquities and monuments, various writers will talk on fascinating aspects of local history, the city's growth and changes in culture and society.
Organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, this year's "Meet-the-Authors" talks have been held at various public libraries since April. The remaining nine talks will be held from September to November. Under the theme "Stories of Hong Kong, Affection for Hong Kong", the talks comprise three series covering: "People and Events – Hong Kong Memories", "Remoteness and Nearness – Hong Kong History" , and "Artifacts and Emotions – Hong Kong Culture". All the talks will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free.
The speakers include Former Head of Department of Cinema and Television of School of Communication of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Ng Chun-bong; journalist Mr Leung Ka-kuen; Assistant Professor of the Department of History of the Lingnan University, Mr Lau Chi-pang; researcher on Hong Kong history and cultural heritage Mr Chui Chun-pong; author Ms Rainbow Leung and Professor of the Department of History of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Stephanie Chung.
Other speakers include course instructor on Hong Kong's antiquities and monuments, Mr So Man-hing; researchers on Hong Kong history and cultural heritage Mr Lee Kin-shun and Mr Chan Chi-wa; and Professor of the Department of Chinese Literature of the Chu Hai College of Higher Education, Dr Siu Kwok-kin.
Covering "People and Events – Hong Kong Memories", Dr Ng Chun-bong will discuss folk legends of Hong Kong; Mr Leung Ka-kuen will share his experience and stories on Hong Kong's food culture; and Mr Lau Chi-pang will introduce the importance of oral history on post-war historical research in Hong Kong.
On "Remoteness and Nearness – Hong Kong History", Mr Chui Chun-pong will discuss local history and the city's vanishing shops; Ms Rainbow Leung will talk about how to capture today's Hong Kong from the artist's perspective; and Dr Stephanie Chung will demonstrate the changes that have taken place in Central and Sheung Wan with photos, advertisements and film clips from the past, and will also analyse the value judgements behind these changes.
Finally, in the series "Artifacts and Emotions – Hong Kong Culture", Mr So Man-hing will introduce "mascot" and Chinese architecture to arouse public interest in Hong Kong's traditional buildings; Mr Lee Kin-shun and Mr Chan Chi-wa will share their observations on the development of buses in Hong Kong and its relationship with social and economic changes, and Dr Siu Kwok-kin will discuss Hong Kong's antiquities and monuments.
Programme details are available at HKPL's website: www.hkpl.gov.hk/tc_chi/ext_act/ext_act_ra/ext_act_ra_hkplrc/mta.html (Chinese only) or on posters displayed at the libraries. For enquiries and reservation, please call 2921 2660.
Ends/Thursday, August 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:22
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