Memories of Renowned Lyricist: Richard Lam Chun Keung's Manuscripts
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About the Collection



Mr. Richard Lam Chun Keung, was a renowned lyricist and an icon of Cantonese pop music in Hong Kong. In order to commemorate his legacy to Hong Kong pop music, Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) has launched the collection Memories of Renowned Lyricist: Richard Lam Chun Keung's Manuscripts on Hong Kong Memory website to the public.

The collection arisen from 2004, when HKPL was honoured to be able to receive from Mr. Richard Lam's family the generous donation of precious musical materials, including over 700 manuscripts of Mr. Richard Lam's lyrics, trophies and other valuable personal items. An exhibition Lyrics Exhibition of Richard Lam was jointly organised by HKPL and the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong between 4 November and 31 December of the same year at the Hong Kong Central Library, which put on display a selection of manuscripts, trophies, and commemorative personal items. The manuscripts of lyrics included in the present collection came mainly from the donation made by Richard Lam's family.

This manuscript collection of Mr. Richard Lam's lyrical works is a significant reference source of musical literature. This primary source, or first-hand documentation, facilitates researches into the lyricist’s life or his works, as well as the development of Hong Kong’s Cantonese pop music.

The present collection of nearly 700 Richard Lam’s manuscripts of lyrics, supplemented by photographs and newspaper materials related to Richard Lam provides an opportunity for Cantonese pop music lovers and researchers to appreciate Richard Lam's creative works as originally penned, with a hope to encourage more studies about Hong Kong’s Cantonese pop music.

Some of the manuscripts donated by Richard Lam’s family could not be shown in this collection or had to have the music scores blurred, readers who wish to view those manuscripts in the original form can visit Arts Resource Centre of Hong Kong Central Library to consult the photocopy of manuscripts of Richard Lam's lyrical works (The Works of Lam Chun Keung, 林振強歌詞作品集; call number: KDW/HK LAM).