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The first half of this book is "historical imagination", which mainly analyzes the different types of historical writing in Hong Kong to observe how cultural identity changes in Hong Kong. The second half is "local experience", hoping to re-consider the development of contemporary Hong Kong literature as a new historical subject from the perspective of the city. As some analyses have pointed out, the author of this book starts with novels, trying to distinguish the complex and changeable cultural identity of Hong Kong in the meaning of historical construction, and at the same time, focusing on urban sensibility, establishing his own narrative perspective of Hong Kong literature. Compared with the analysis of Hong Kong literary history limited to the works of general writers, the research in this book undoubtedly shows an innovative approach.
- AuthorZhao Xifang
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2018
This book is a collection of the author's experience of growing up in public housing estate many years ago. Not only is it a record of Hong Kong’s unique food culture, but also a critique of the lack of personality in the increasingly commercialized food scene of the city. The book is divided into five chapters: tea restaurants, dai pai dong, wet markets, snack shops and tea houses. Each chapter focuses on the characteristic food of the city, such as Hong Kong style coffee, milk tea, toast, rice noodle rolls, roasted meat, ribbon rice noodles, and egg tarts. Dr. Siu promotes Hong Kong's food culture through his writing. While we savor the food stories, it also deepens our love for the local culture.
- AuthorSiu Yan-ho
- PublisherWanli
- Publication Date2021
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Tung Lin Kok Yuen, located on Shan Kwong Road, Happy Valley, was the first Buddhist nunnery founded in Hong Kong by the late Lady Clara Ho Tung in 1935. The temple has an elegant and tranquil garden setting which is open to the public. The nunnery's architecture is inspired by the Tang Dynasty style, with grand halls, prayer halls and a drum tower. The halls are decorated with modern Buddhist art and calligraphy by local artists. The nunnery offers a variety of Buddhist scriptures, religious items and souvenirs for visitors, as well as Buddhist vegetarian meals for the public. Why doesn't Lady Clara Ho Tung stay at home like other rich wives and live a comfortable life? Why would she rather go out and found Tung Lin Kok Yuen, regardless of the hardships? What does her actions and behavior tell us about her brought-up, attitude towards life, and ideals? From the conception and planning of the school, to the laying of the foundation and construction, to the expansion and construction in different periods, how many ups and downs has it gone through? What important contributions has it made to society in terms of charity and education? What does its growth, continuous development, and inheritance at different stages inform us about the transformation and development of society? This book attempts to collect and go through historical documents, records, and data preserved in various public and private archives, libraries, and departments, as well as conduct in-depth interviews with different stakeholders. It aims to explore the extraordinary achievements of the school, and to recount its role and contribution in promoting education, spreading Buddhism, and nurturing multiculturalism, enriching the legendary story of Hong Kong -- a barren fishing village transformed into an international financial center. Tung Lin Kok Yuen is a part of Hong Kong's history. Tracing its 80-year extraordinary journey also clearly shows the tremendous changes in Hong Kong society. The once rarely visited by people, Shan Kwong Road has become a bustling place with towering buildings and crowds of people. Tung Lin Kok Yuen is still ringing the evening drums and morning bells, with the sound of Buddhist music lingering, attracting the virtuous to come and purify their minds. "Promoting education and spreading the Dharma" is also the great aspiration that generations of people from Tung Lin Kok Yuen have adhered to and carried forward.
- AuthorZheng Wan-tai, Wong Siu-lun
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2016
Once upon a time, Hong Kong had such a glorious era. Hong Kong's industrial development began in the 1950s, with the textile industry leading the way, mostly consisting of family-style factories. In the 1960s, various types of light industries appeared, such as toys, clothing, plastics, electronics, etc. The 1970s and 1980s were the heyday of Hong Kong’s manufacturing industry. Later, it moved northward, and many factories moved out of industrial buildings, gradually converted to other uses, such as offices, and even hotels... The past and present of factory buildings, their transformation from mostly manufacturing to creative activities and services, and their continual organic development, all contribute to the emergence of endless possibilities. This book showcases the transformation of industrial buildings through interviews with different creative units inside the buildings (including music performance venues, handicraft/design studios, indoor ski training ground, etc.), presenting a unique creative panorama.
- AuthorChoi Hiu-tung, Lam Yan, Wong Hei-lai
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2015
The Parsees, who emphasize "think not but of thy duty, and dare not to do what is not right," originated from Persia (now Iran) and settled in India. They believe in Zoroastrianism, worship fire, practice endogamy, and preserve the tradition of sky burial... These unique cultures not only make the Parsees stand out, but also affect their way of survival and business. Although the Parsees have a small population, their characteristic of being "good merchants and profit-makers" has made them loyal to the British Empire. They were selected as "Empire Partners" and followed the U.K. as it expanded globally. They have played their strengths in industries such as trading, transportation, shipbuilding, industry, banking, insurance, finance, and real estate, not only creating huge wealth for themselves, but also making their ethnic name engraved in modern business history. In Hong Kong, Parsee businessmen were once prosperous, but with the decline of the U.K.'s national strength and wealth, their business growth was also impeded. In addition, the endogamy culture and the change of reproductive attitudes of the new generation have made many Parsee family businesses unable to continue, and the ethnic group has gradually disappeared in Hong Kong. By revisiting the stories of four Parsee families - the Tatas, Modis, Godrejs and Wadias, not only we see the interaction between family inheritance and corporate rise and fall, but also how commercial power affects the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng Wan-tai
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2022
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As Hong Kong opened up for international trade, the British, Jews, Parsees, and Chinese all made breakthroughs in business. However, the Macanese, who had the advantage of being a close neighbor and were already intermediaries between Chinese and Westerners, showed a "lack of business vigor". Some scholars even pointed out that "when the Chinese were swimming in a boundless ocean, the Macanese seemed to be trapped in a stagnant pool". As the non-Chinese ethnic group with the second largest population in Hong Kong, the Macanese can speak multiple languages and understand Chinese and Western cultures, giving them advantages in business ventures. However, they are not interested in business and would rather choose to be supporting workers in offices. The small number of Macanese who choose to start their own businesses have not been able to fight as hard as other ethnic groups, and as a result, they have not been able to create their own business empires. The story of the Braga family, which spans five generations, may be a typical example of the development of the Macanese in Hong Kong. This family has a long history in China, and when they moved from Macau to Hong Kong, they took advantage of the situation. The family is big, with high level of education, and were meticulous and hardworking... but even though they achieved success in many fields and had considerable influence, they did not leave a prominent mark on the history of Hong Kong's business. By delving into the story of the Braga family, not only can we see the interaction between family inheritance and corporate rise and fall, but also how business power influences the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng Wan-tai
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2022
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