New books on the shelf
Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique (Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Series)
Authors: Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs and External Relations) of Lingnan University and Professor of Department of History; Kenneth Wong Kwan-kin, Research Development Manager of Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme; Frances Lo Wai-ling, Assistant Research Development Manager II of Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme
Publisher: Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited
As British colonisation expanded, British customs were exported overseas. When Hong Kong first opened to foreign trade, tea with milk was introduced and, after World War II, it gradually developed into a unique drink known as Hong Kong-style milk tea. This monograph uses historical documents and interviews to trace the origins of Hong Kong-style milk tea, and also looks at how to make it, how the tradition has been preserved, and the historical and cultural values that Hong Kong-style milk tea immortalises.
The Sewing Techniques of Hong Kong-style Cheongsam and Kwan Kwa Wedding Costume (Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Series)
Authors: Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs and External Relations) of Lingnan University and Professor of Department of History; Kenneth Wong Kwan-kin, Research Development Manager of Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme; Frances Lo Wai-ling, Assistant Research Development Manager II of Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme
Publisher: Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited
The craftsmanship that goes into making the Hong Kong cheongsam and kwan kwa wedding costume was included in the first Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong in 2017, and the Hong Kong cheongsam-making technique was also on the 2021 fifth National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This book has hand-drawn illustrations and focuses on these two garments through newspaper clippings, official documents, old photographs, and the author’s interviews with several sewing masters, tracing the origins, aesthetics and forms of the Hong Kong-style cheongsam as well as the kwan kwa, particularly the artistry, materials, tools and evolution of fashion and inheritance, and their historical and cultural values.
Both publications are supervised by Lingnan University, with grants from the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Funding Scheme of Intangible Cultural Heritage Office.
In the next issue, Prof Lau will share some interesting stories about the books, and more. Stay tuned!