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Intangible Cultural Heritage 

Inventory of Hong Kong

Background

According to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (the Convention), each State Party has to identify and define the various elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) present in its territory, with the participation of communities, groups and relevant non-governmental organisations, to draw up ICH inventories as the basis for the safeguarding of ICH. The first ICH Inventory of Hong Kong was promulgated by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government of the HKSAR) in June 2014.

 

 

Updating of the ICH Inventory

Article 12 of the Convention stipulates that "to ensure identification with a view to safeguarding, each State Party shall draw up, in a manner geared to its own situation, one or more inventories of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory. These inventories shall be regularly updated." Based on the survey and research findings, the ICH Advisory Committee recommended 34 proposed items for the ICH Inventory. The Government of the HKSAR collected views from the public on the items concerned from 27 August to 23 September 2024.

 

After considering all views received, the ICH Advisory Committee finally recommended the inclusion of the 34 items in the ICH Inventory. The 34 items have been reorganised as 27 items , increasing the number of items on the ICH Inventory from 480 to 507. The updated list was accepted by the Government of the HKSAR and promulgated in December 2024.

 

The distribution of the 507 items included in the ICH Inventory of Hong Kong under the five domains of the Convention is set out below:

 

 

Domain

Major Items 

Sub- Items

Sub- total *

Oral traditions and expressions 10 14 21
Performing arts 22 18 35
Social practices, rituals and festive events 79 264 310
Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe 4 4 7
Traditional craftsmanship 105 42 134
Total * 220 342 507

( * The sub-total and total figures are the numbers excluding the double-counted major items which carry sub-items.)

 

If you would like to report any events and items which you consider are of significant value, please fill in the Reporting Form for Possible Inscription onto the ICH Inventory of Hong Kong and send it back to us by e-mail, mail or in person.

 
The ICH Advisory Committee deliberated on and endorsed the selection criteria of the ICH Inventory as follows:
  1. the item is transmitted from generation to generation within particular groups or areas, reflecting its history and development in Hong Kong; 
  2. the item facilitates community relations and provides a sense of identity and continuity in the community; and 
  3. the item is compatible with international human rights instruments.

 

 

Past ICH Inventory

First Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory of Hong Kong (June 2014)

 

 

Press Release

LCSD announces updated Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory and Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong (December 2024)

First Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory of Hong Kong announced today (June 2014)