HONG KONG, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Friday that it will continue to support the development of local traditional culture after two intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items from Hong Kong were made national ICH items.
Tin Hau Festival in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong cheongsam making technique have been successfully inscribed onto the Fifth National List of ICH announced earlier by the State Council, the HKSAR government said.
The Tin Hau belief has a long history in Hong Kong. Every year, on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the birthday of Tin Hau is celebrated in various districts, with some organizations staging Cantonese opera performances and holding parades along waterways or on land.
The origin of the cheongsam dates back to decades ago. After World War II, many tailors moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong. As a consequence, the craftsmanship of the Hong Kong cheongsam was enriched and Western sewing skills were taken up, resulting in the uniqueness of the Hong Kong cheongsam making technique.
These two ICH items are in the categories of "social practices, rituals and festive events" and "traditional craftsmanship" defined by the Convention for the Safeguarding of the ICH promulgated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, according to the HKSAR government.
The HKSAR government said it will continue its commitment to preserving and promoting local ICH and will also encourage the participation of the community in supporting the transmission and development of Hong Kong's traditional culture.
Apart from the above ones, 10 ICH items from Hong Kong have been inscribed onto the National List of ICH, including Cantonese Opera, herbal tea, Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.
In 2009, Cantonese opera was inscribed onto the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it a world ICH item. Enditem
