Tradition Well Served: The HSH Group & Kadoorie Family Documentary
Commissioned by: The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Tradition Well Served is a documentary that tells the story of the Peninsula Hotel, one of the most iconic and prestigious hospitality establishments in Hong Kong. It also traces the visions of the legendary business family of Hong Kong, the Kadoories, and the development of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH).
The Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory was part of the production team, in which our role was to conduct historical research, source historical footage to be used in the film, and secure the copyrights. The documentary can be watched here.
"Questions for Dr. Who" YouTube Interview Series
Commissioned by / In Collaboration with: WeToastHK (港識多史)
Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory was commissioned to partner with popular history platform We Toast HK in researching, curating, and shaping content for "Questions for Dr. Who" (問問 Dr. Who), an in-depth online talk show series. Designed as a public history initiative, the series bridges academic rigor and general public engagement by featuring interviews with leading scholars, historians, and field specialists.
The project explores diverse thematic pillars, including museum curation and heritage management, Hong Kong’s military and wartime history, and local urban legends and cultural mysteries (such as Hong Kong piracy and the I Ching). By combining rigorous research with accessible, engaging storytelling, the series translates complex academic knowledge into vibrant, everyday history—empowering audiences to explore Hong Kong’s rich heritage and cultural roots.
“History of Hong Kong Literature” Scavenger Hunt
Commissioned by: Commissioned by: Master of Arts in Hong Kong History, Department of History, The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
The Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory designed and organised an interactive scavenger hunt for the master’s-level course “History of Hong Kong Literature”. Curated around key literary and cultural landmarks across the Central and Western District, the route highlighted the legacies of prominent writers in the city, including Lu Xun, Xiao Hong, and Dai Wangshu. Beyond route planning and task design, our team provided detailed data files for each featured individual and checkpoint. We also provided technical support to integrate real-time GPS tracking into a custom mobile app for the scavenger hunt, creating an immersive digital learning experience.
Company Training Workshop: Crash Course on Hong Kong History
Commissioned by: Mediatel
The Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory was commissioned by Mediatel, an international telecommunications firm, to deliver a custom training module on Hong Kong history and the evolution of its telecommunications sector for its international staff. The workshop concluded with a moderated group discussion on the city’s financial outlook, seamlessly connecting Hong Kong's historical foundation with its contemporary commercial opportunities.
Mid-Autumn Festival Exhibition at Musicus Heritage Stories - Rejoice, the Autumnal Feast Concert
Commissioned by: We Toast HK (in collaboration with Musicus Society)
Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory was commissioned to assist We Toast HK in curating a Mid-Autumn Festival exhibition for the Rejoice, the Autumnal Feast concert at the Hong Kong News-Expo, a Grade III historic building. The exhibition brought together a range of valuable artefacts and historical records, including traditional mooncake tins, promotional leaflets for mooncake clubs, and special Mid-Autumn Festival phone cards. This nostalgic collection invited visitors to explore festive traditions in Hong Kong's street markets, the culture of trust and mutual support embodied by mooncake clubs, and the historical development of Mid-Autumn celebrations in Hong Kong. The exhibition offered a vivid glimpse into the city's social history and cultural heritage.
Uncomfortable Hong Kong Tour
Commissioned by: Project Agora
Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory collaborated with local education agency Project Agora to bring the internationally acclaimed “Uncomfortable Oxford” tours to Hong Kong for the very first time. We researched 10 historical monuments in Central and Sheung Wan and curated rich data files with rare archival photographs, uncomfortable truths, and quirky trivia for each site. Based on these data files, Project Agora guided local students to design and lead their own historical walks in Central and Sheung Wan.
In addition, we produced sample guided tour videos tailored to students of different age groups, providing them with first-hand training in professional docent techniques - and empowering the next generation of storytellers and cultural ambassadors.
Steward High Rock Centre
Heritage Talk and Tour
Commissioned by: The Stewards
The Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory was engaged to design and conduct a heritage talk and guided tour at the Steward High Rock Centre, celebrating its historical significance. On December 28, 2024, the event focused on the centenary of the Centre, which has played a vital role in the community since its establishment in 1924. The talk provided insights into the transformation of the site and its impact on local society.
As part of the initiative, we also contributed to the publication of the book 《靈基壹築——見證百年香港社區故事》, offering oral history services and historical advisory support. This project aimed to document the narratives of the missionaries and community leaders who have shaped the Centre’s legacy over the past century. The event included a panel discussion featuring esteemed scholars and a guided tour that highlighted key historical landmarks associated with the Centre.
Redefining Heresy and Tolerance:
Governance of Muslims and Christians in the Qing Empire before 1864
Commissioned by: Dr HUNG Tak Wai, The Waseda Institute for Advanced Study of Waseda University
Redefining Heresy and Tolerance is an academic monograph by Dr Hung Tak Wai, published by the Hong Kong University Press in 2024. The Hong Kong History & Heritage Advisory assisted Dr Hung in editing and copyediting the manuscript.
Collection of Hong Kong Stele Inscriptions Project
Commissioned by: Ancient Hong Kong Stories
The Collection of Hong Kong Stele Inscriptions Project is a digital research initiative to collect, map, visualise and analyse stele inscriptions in Hong Kong. This online database collects inscriptions on outdoor donation stelae erected between 1945 and 1999 in the New Territories.
The Hong Kong History and Heritage Advisory provided assistance in constructing a geographical information system (GIS) to facilitate the analysis of spatial data, as well as in conducting fieldwork.
Projects by Our Co-Founders
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![A person wearing glasses and a face mask is carefully cleaning or restoring a stone slab with engraved Chinese characters using a brush. On the table, there is a spray bottle, a small container of black paint or ink, and a brush cleaning pad.]()
Collection of Hong Kong Stele Inscriptions Project - Dexter Tse
The project is a digital humanities initiative that collects inscriptions on post-war donation stelae in the New Territories. An online database featuring a Geographic Information System (GIS) and digitalisation of the inscriptions are parts of the project outcome.
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![A man giving a presentation in a dark auditorium with a large screen behind him. The screen displays a promotional poster with Chinese characters and the title 'The Lost King'. The poster features images of people in historical costumes, including a woman with a crown. The auditorium has green chairs, and the man is holding a microphone.]()
Cultural Collaboration Campaigns - Godfrey Lai
Godfrey and Wetoasthk have initiated a series of history-related social media and marketing campaigns in collaboration with various corporations and public institutions. These partnerships include prominent organizations such as MTR, Hysan, Edko Films Ltd,The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Tai Kwun, and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden.
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![A group of people, including young men and women, are gathered in an art museum, observing classical sculptures displayed against a light blue wall. The sculptures depict mythological figures and historical characters with detailed craftsmanship.]()
Museum Tours - Reynold Tsang
Reynold has designed and led numerous museum tours in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Notably, he has conducted Cantonese tours at the Ashmolean Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, specifically tailored for Hong Kong visitors who have limited knowledge of European mythology and history.
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![A man with glasses and a striped shirt pointing at a gravestone with Chinese characters inscribed on it, outdoors in a park-like setting with greenery.]()
Heritage Tours in the New Territories - Dexter Tse
Through the Lion’s Ink Bookstore, Dexter often organises heritage tours on unique themes, such as rural life and politics and the Six-Day War of 1899. He also designs heritage itineraries for hiking apps and local travel agencies.
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![A young man sitting at a desk with a silver laptop, holding a microphone, and wearing a reindeer headband, in front of a plain wall.]()
Podcast and YouTube Host - Godfrey Lai
Godfrey is one of the hosts of the popular "Wetoasthk" podcast and YouTube channel, which has gained recognition as one of the leading platforms for "history charatary" discussions. The channel features engaging conversations that delve into various historical topics, offering listeners and viewers a unique perspective on the past.
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![A man wearing glasses and a dark pinstripe suit is speaking at a podium with a sign that reads 'Hong Kong Palace Museum.' He appears to be giving a presentation or speech, gesturing with his right hand, against a dark background with a large screen displaying a blue and gray gradient.]()
Public Talks - Reynold Tsang
As a public historian, Reynold has given numerous talks, particularly to students. In 2024, he was invited to the Hong Kong Palace Museum to speak to over 400 primary and secondary school students about the origin and development of museums in China.
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![A man wearing glasses and a face mask sitting at a desk with a laptop, holding a microphone. Behind him is a bookshelf and a large screen displaying a presentation with Chinese text and an image of a historic site.]()
Popular History Publications - Dexter
Since 2018, Dexter has already published three books, with a forthcoming fourth one. These are not scholarly monographs but popular books easy for the general public to understand. They include 保家不必衛國：香港民間軍事化簡論，1669-1899, 古事尋源：殖民地以外你要知道的事, and 香港眾生七千年：四十古代歷史人物誌.
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![A young man wearing a face mask and black t-shirt holding a microphone and speaking, seated in an art gallery or exhibition space.]()
Popular History Publications - Godfrey Lai
Since 2021, Godfrey has released three popular books that have captured the interest of readers and secured spots on the Best Seller list at Eslite Bookstore, they are《教科書不會教的36個歷史人物》, 《東方之珠的三斤釘：25個奠基香港的歷史故事》and 《三斤釘上的浮城——25個香港日常歷史故事》.
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![Bridging academia and community.]()
Bridging Academia and the Community - Reynold Tsang
Reynold has been actively narrowing the gap between academia and the wider community. While studying at Oxford, he organised and hosted two keynote panels on the future of Hong Kong public history with the Oxford Hong Kong Forum. He strives to explore new ways for people to access, contribute to, and promote history.
