Y12 Karis Wong and Liane Poon - Cultural and Ethnic Exposure
Before the CAS week, we made proposals and contacted organisations. Despite certain concerns regarding safety and time management, we ultimately reached a consensus after discussions and adjustments, allowing us to understand the importance of teamwork and working collaboratively.
Our trip included various fruitful events, such as visiting the Ex-SSPSR, Chungking Mansions, Ma Wan 1868 and Tai O, which not only enriched our knowledge and understanding about Hong Kong's Victorian-era architecture, but also allowed us to explore how traditional buildings can be revitalised through modern art, transforming an old fishing village into a vibrant, multi-faced cultural hub.
Moreover, visiting temples and the Kowloon Mosque also provided us with insights into other religions. The Sikh Temple’s Langar meal, the Wong Tai Sin Temple’s Kau Chim events, the Chi Lin Nunnery’s Tang dynasty architecture and the Kowloon Mosque’s tour all provided us with insights into different religions and, more importantly, showed how they peacefully coexist alongside Hong Kong's predominantly traditional Chinese heritage.
Our visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum furthered our knowledge in Hong Kong’s heritage. At the Palace Museum, we saw many imperial artefacts and gained insight into the changes that occurred during various dynasties. In the Heritage Museum, the iconic elements of Hong Kong, such as Cantonese opera and the evolution of canto-pop, allowed us to understand the development of Hong Kong recently. These helped us appreciate how Hong Kong both preserves a broader Chinese cultural heritage and forges its own unique local identity.