Inheritance and Promotion of Local Culture and History

Recording Customs, Promoting Literature

At the beginning, the TV Division focused on two main areas: current affairs and drama. Spurred by rave reviews, it developed a new avenue: documenting Hong Kong’s local history, culture and customs.

Archaeology and Antiquities was launched in 1981 featuring local history and customs as well as the changes in different aspects of daily life, such as food, clothing, living and travel since the establishment of Hong Kong as a free port. Some other notable shows with similar themes include Hong Kong Heritage, Cultural Heritage and The History of Hong Kong series. Success Stories is another documentary series, which documented Chinese’s achievements when East meets West.

To promote culture and literature, the pioneering Writers Series was introduced in 1987, becoming one of the first TV programmes promoting local literature. In 1995, it was succeeded by Book Flash, which focused on Hong Kong literature by writers from the North such as Eileen Chang, Ma Lang and Liu Yichang; plus by local writers who emerged since the 1970s: Xi Xi, Yesi, Chung Ling Ling, Wong Bik Wan, Lillian Lee Pik Wa, Sharon Chung, Dung Kai Cheung and Hong Lai Chu, reflecting Hong Kong people’s experiences since the 1950s. In 2015, the documentary Outstanding Chinese Writers was launched to explore the success of the literature of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Radio Division offers culture and arts programmes that best fit the pulse of our time. In 1974, Radio 4 was launched to promote classical music; and in 1978, Radio 5 was launched to put the focus on Chinese culture and Chinese opera.

Literary and history programmes are nourishment for the general public. Putonghua, English, Japanese and French programmes help us enhance ourselves in learning foreign languages. Programmes, such as 5,000 Years of History and People, offer us a better understanding of history. Literary programmes, such as Encounter With Literature and China Culture, help increase interest in literature among the general public. RTHK also organises a series of activities to foster reading habits, such as Ten Recommended Books, Hong Kong Book Prize and Audio Book. To promote arts and culture, RTHK also hosts Hong Kong Drama Awards and Young Music Makers, and airs local and art performance programmes.

Conserving Traditional Cantonese Opera and Martial Art Skills

RTHK is committed to documenting traditional performing arts. The performances of renowned Cantonese opera artists were documented such as Unlimited Hopes in the World, the late stage performance of Hung Sin Nui in 1993; All Stars for Medical Service Charity and All Stars Perform for Charity, the two stage performances that were performed by Fong Yim Fun in 1994 and 1997, with the latter Fong’s last performance. All these recordings are gems of the RTHK video archive. RTHK also made use of local Cantonese opera as the theme for Let’s Talk Cantonese Opera and Young Xiqu Talents, aiming to introduce new actors and document their efforts to preserve and transform Cantonese opera.

RTHK promotes local culture by producing a wide variety of arts related programmes which include Film Drama, Art Panorama, Dream Factory and Artspiration, aiming to introduce the works, performances and ways of artistic exploration and thought of local artists.

Hong Kong has been significantly influenced by Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu) since 1949, with many Kung Fu masters coming from the mainland to open schools and recruit disciples. This encouraged the practice of martial arts in Hong Kong, and laid the foundation for Hong Kong Kung Fu movies in the 1970s. These movies were so popular in Hong Kong and overseas that Hong Kong movies were seen equivalent to Kung Fu movies. In 2000, RTHK launched a series of programmes called Kung Fu Quest to explore the origin of schools of martial arts, and the ways they are succeeding and spreading. From the perspectives of the martial arts practitioners’ experiences, the programmes seek to understand the ways of practising martial arts, their related life paths and, most importantly, their cultural origins.

Dozens of posters for promoting RTHK’s cultural, arts and educational programmes have been produced over the years. The poster creation process has evolved from free-hand sketching, artwork and traditional colour separation to today’s computer-aided design and digital printing.