Hong Kong Story | Zheng Baohong: Tell the Xiangjiang Palm behind the old object

Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, July 31: Zheng Baohong: Tell the Xiangjiang Palm behind the old object

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Min

"This is the Shanghai Great White Rabbit Candy, which was popular in Hong Kong." Zheng Baohong pointed at an old candy box in the window. This yellowed iron box is printed on the name of the cartoon white rabbit and the name of Chinese and English.

The annual theme of the 32nd Hong Kong Book Fair is "Historical Culture · City Writing". In order to cooperate with the "Fine -flavored Hong Kong" exhibition area opened in this theme, Hong Kong's old menu, utensils, furnishings and posters such as the old days of Hong Kong were exhibited. Between the drips, the century -old vicissitudes and fireworks memories of the city were stringed. Half of the collections here are provided by Zheng Baohong.

Zheng Baohong is a honorary consultant and well -known collector of the Hong Kong History Museum. It is also one of the annual Hong Kong historical and cultural writers recommended by the year's book fair. There are more than 40 books.

Zheng Baohong made an exhibition introduction for the Hong Kong Book Fair (taken on July 19). Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang Photo

Start with studying coins

In the 1970s, Zheng Baohong, who was engaged in the financial industry, came into contact with many mainland and foreign coins due to his work relationship. "A" Yuan Datou "silver dollar was about HK $ 10 at that time. These coins circulated in Hong Kong around 1910. I would like to know what it was like, so I went to check the information. The more I know, the more they are interested." Essence

When I was a kid, Zheng Baohong loved philatelic. Since the beginning of research, his collection and research have expanded to more old objects and related folklore culture. After that, Zheng Baohong obtained a book certificate from the University of Hong Kong and could go to the Hong Kong University Library to check the historical documents and made him excited. He read the newspapers for more than a hundred years and copied the interested content. He took out a copy of a copy to the reporter. Between the dense words of the old newspaper, he used the red pen to outline valuable information.

Study history makes him sensitive to reality. He likes to walk around the street with the camera, and record the changes in the streets and alleys.

"I have been shooting, for forty years, plus the collection, there are tens of thousands of old photos saved." Zheng Baohong took out an old -fashioned film camera, and he was still using this camera.

Zheng Baohong made an exhibition introduction for the Hong Kong Book Fair (taken on July 19). Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang Photo

The mix and match feel "Hong Kong"

In the 1950s, five or six -year -old Zheng Baohong followed his father to Qingshan Temple in Tuen Mun as a guest, and drank the first cup of life. Drinking western drinks in Oriental Temple, this mix and match feels "Hong Kong". Zheng Baohong believes that Chinese and foreign cultures have constituted the unique regional cultural characteristics of Hong Kong.

In the Hong Kong drama garden in the early 20th century, a program included both Western drama, boxing, circus, etc. performed by foreigners, as well as singing, acrobatics, kung fu, etc. performed by Chinese performances.

The localization of some western restaurants on the dishes is welcomed by Hong Kong people. For example, a Western restaurant called Taiping Pavilion was very hot at the time. This restaurant has a signature dish called "Swiss Chicken Wing". It sounds like Western style, which is actually similar to the "sauce chicken wings" commonly used in Cantonese cuisine. "In fact, it is to use Chinese methods to make Western food. Chinese and foreign diners love to eat." Zheng Baohong said.

Zheng Baohong collected a lot of restaurant price lists. He took out a moon cake price watch of the Lotus Fragrant Tower of Hong Kong in 1976. On the front is a pink girl sitting on the wooden boat, next to the pond with lotus flowers, the back is the price list. "A box of 4 double yellow lotus roe mooncakes are HK $ 24." He said.

Through these old objects, you can study the traditional festivals and people's livelihood in Hong Kong. Many old photos he collected recorded the scenes at the time, such as the Dragon Boat Festival Dragon Boat. In 1912, the "Duanyang Run" Dragon Boat was lively. Now the high -rise Hong Kong Zai was surrounded by green mountains at the time.

"Many foreigners have been in contact with Chinese culture in Hong Kong, and they also love it very much." Zheng Baohong said that Hong Kong has been holding an international dragon boat invitation for many years. Many foreign players have made a special trip to Hong Kong to participate in the competition, including his friends.

At the Hong Kong Book Fair, a visitor took a mobile phone to shoot a moon cake price list (taken on July 19). Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang Photo

The motherland is our root

"Back to generations forward, most Hong Kong people come from the Mainland." Zheng Baohong said, "No matter how the regional culture in Hong Kong evolves, trace the source, the motherland has always been our root."

He took out a "weekly beauty" menu. What is the week's beauty? The restaurant is released this week's dishes every Monday. "This kind of menu was passed from Guangzhou to Hong Kong before, and it was all the rage. It is difficult for Hong Kong to find it now." Zheng Baohong said that many food practices in Hong Kong were first from Guangzhou. For example, the popular "Hong Kong -style moon cakes" are actually The source is "Cantonese Mooncake".

In the 1930s and 1940s, many people came to Hong Kong to avoid the war. One of them lives in the North Point. They brought the cultural and lifestyle of Haipai, taking a moment. At that time, even the tailor shops and barber shops opened by Master Shanghai represent the fashion trend. "At that time, the North Point was a very prosperous and lively business location, known as" small Shanghai "." Zheng Baohong said.

After the founding of New China, some famous mainland products such as Moutai (600519) wine, big white rabbit toffee, and Pearl River Bridge rice wine have entered Hong Kong one after another because of its popularity and low quality and low price.

After the reform and opening up, the exchanges between the Mainland and Hong Kong have increased significantly.As Hong Kong returns to the motherland, a large number of "new Hong Kong people" who move to Hong Kong in the Mainland have brought richer and more diverse culture."Just look at the mainland cuisine of the market in the market. Shanghai cuisine, Fujian cuisine, Beijing cuisine ... even the spicy Sichuan cuisine and Hunan cuisine." Zheng Baohong said.Zheng Baohong's parents are all Cantonese."Hong Kong is connected to the bloodline of the Mainland. Hong Kong people used to say" provincial Hong Kong and Macau ". Now we are all from the Greater Bay Area." He said, remember to go to Guangzhou in the 1970s.By now, one or two minutes can be available, "I dare not imagine in the past."

After exploring the vicissitudes of history, Zheng Baohong cherishes the present."Hong Kong returns to the arms of the motherland, and my stable life makes me feel very happy." He said, "I am a native of Hong Kong from Hong Kong, Chinese, whether it is collected or writing books, just to keep the city's memory and let more people understand Hong Kong.Cherish Hong Kong. "

Video reporter: Wan Houde, Liu Zhanwei, Xu Shumin

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