Local Hong Kong Heritage Sites

This is a good first stop for a range of activity- and industry-specific archives, Oral History interviews and many important collections. However, it lacks any non-Chinese people and occupations, raising the question as to how much a Memory project can claim to represent Hong Kong without its many other peoples present.

RTHK Radio 3 - Annemarie Evans explores Hong Kong and digs up many aspects of our social, cultural, architectural and artistic heritage.

Catch it live:

Saturdays 7:30am - 8:00am, first broadcast

Sundays 6:15pm - 6:45pm, repeat broadcast

Backed by the Kadoorie family this by definition includes non-Chinese heritage – the Kadoories are a leading Jewish family of Hong Kong, with enterprises covering agriculture, the Peninsula and other hotels, and China Light and Power. Its archives are fascinating and include sections on the Shanghai diaspora as well as many aspects of early Hong Kong.

The Development Bureau is to conserve historic and heritage buildings in Hong Kong through appropriate and sustainable means.

This is a vital gathering spot for enthusiastic amateurs investigating Hong Kong’s past. Having trouble identifying a picture, or wondering about an old building, now gone, or rumours of past dramatic moments? Post your question here, read the debates, and scour the fabulous photo collection of site founder David Bellis.

Hong Kong’s PRO was established in 1972 but now struggles with lack of government support and skills training, and Hong Kong’s lack of an Archives Law. Government departments are recommended, but not required, to hand over their records, resulting in many being lost or mislaid, especially since 1997. Nonetheless the senior staff are unfailingly helpful and several important records are held here, such as the Carl T Smith Collection of Index Cards on the People of the China Coast, as well as other archives on Wanchai and Yaumatei, the Japanese Occupation and the Kai Tak Airport.

The Old Hong Kong Newspapers Collection is a selective collection of major old Hong Kong Newspapers published from early Hong Kong to nowadays, aiming at preserving historical news reporting of Hong Kong for reference and research.

There are various types of historic buildings in Hong Kong, of both Chinese and Western styles. These historic buildings and sites reflect our cultural identity and mark the continuation of our traditions. The "Virtual Heritage Explorer" project provides 360-degree cubical panorama for about 60 historic buildings and sites. You can explore the real-like monuments through the internet or by DVD. It is hoped that this project will arouse public's understanding of and interest in local heritage.

The Hong Kong Image Database is a digital collection of historical images documenting the Hong Kong experience from the 1840s through to the 1990s. The Database features a wealth of images of Hong Kong, including people, landscapes, infrastructures, villages, agriculture and fisheries activities, industrial settings, housing, buildings, panoramas, and more. The University of Hong Kong Libraries unlocks this digital vault of historic images with rich metadata and makes them freely available for public consultation.

Video of Hong Kong development over 100 years.