HONG KONG FOLKLORE STORYTELLERS “PRIZED”

For those who delight in digging out tales behind well known attractions, Hong Kong now has even more to offer. The “Tell Your Hong Kong Story” competition was concluded today (10 November) with more than 120 fascinating stories contributed about Hong Kong legend and folklore, and prizes awarded to 19 of the top storytellers behind them.

The search for stories was conducted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) between June and August this year as part of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! tourism campaign. Residents were invited to submit untold folklore tales that could enhance the appeal of tourist attractions and festivals.

Performing today’s prize presentation ceremony, HKTB Executive Director Clara Chong said that the “Tell Your Hong Kong Story” programme echoed visitors’ frequently expressed desire to learn the stories behind popular tourist attractions. “Visitors will take these intriguing tales home to tell their friends, which in turn will encourage more people to come and explore Hong Kong’s fascinating history and culture for themselves,” she explained.

“The judging panel has looked especially at the tourism-related features of the stories during the selection process,” Ms Chong added. “These tales will be valuable to us in promoting Hong Kong’s diversities and lifestyle because they add character and a human touch to the attractions.”

The competition was also aimed at injecting interesting elements into the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign and disseminating the “Know Hong Kong” message. Submissions of stories were invited under the categories of history, district attractions, festivals, heritage, historic relics and traditional lifestyle.

Members of the Judging Panel included veteran broadcaster Lee Ngor; Head of the Cinema & Television Department at Hong Kong Baptist University School of Communications, Dr Ng Chun Bong; media consultant Wai Kee Shun; Chinese and Hong Kong history expert Chan Sui Jeung; City of Life: Hong Kong is it! Publicity and International Marketing Sub-committee member Alan Wong; expert on New Territories traditions, William Tang; and well known broadcaster Chung Wai Ming.

Entries were evaluated on the basis of their appeal, readability and tourism-related elements. Eventually the judges selected 19 stories that best met these criteria – the contributors of which today received attractive prizes, many contributed by members of the Association of Better Business and Tourism Services.

The prizewinning articles cover a wide range of topics, including Hong Kong customs such as the Big Bowl (pun choi) Feast and the Yue Lan Festival; Hakka lifestyle in Tai Po; historic monuments such as Sung Wong Toi, Tung Chung Fort and the Yi Tai Study Hall in Kam Tin; and stories about historic figures including notorious pirate Cheung Po Tsai and revolutionary Yang Qu Yun.

Ms Chong said the HKTB would promote these stories globally through its worldwide offices. “They will be distributed to our overseas media contacts and trade members visiting Hong Kong. We are also planning to publish this fascinating collection for the Hong Kong Young Ambassadors and tourist guides to use. They will soon be put on our Web site, too, for the enjoyment of both Hong Kong residents and potential visitors.”

Although the competition as such has finished, the HKTB will continue to collect and compile Hong Kong stories. Residents are most welcome to share their legends via e-mail, fascimile or post.

The HKTB is organising the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign in co-operation with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Home Affairs Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Tourism Commission, with the support of the 18 District Councils and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as principal sponsor.