Mr Lau Kam-tong, the representative of the Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the sixth batch of representative bearers of the national intangible cultural heritage (ICH) on 12 March. A total number of 942 representative bearers of the national ICH across the country were selected, including two from Hong Kong, Mr Lau Kam-tong, bearer of Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung, and Dr Lee Yiu-fai, bearer of the Wong Tai Sin belief and customs.
The Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung is a culture that has been passed down through generations among the Hakka people of the local community for more than 200 years. The Hakka people believe that the Chinese unicorn, the qilin, is an auspicious animal that can ward off evil and bring good luck. The Hakka unicorn dance is performed on all celebratory occasions such as the Chinese New Year, weddings, birthday parties, the inauguration of an ancestral hall, moving into a new home, welcoming guests, the jiao festivals, and birthdays of deities.
Mr Lau has made substantial contributions to passing on the Hakka unicorn dance culture over the past 60 years. He has been learning the Hakka unicorn dance since he was 7 years old. He established the Joint Association of Traditional Hakka Unicorn in Sai Kung and Hang Hau, Hong Kong in 2013, and has since been the chairman. He has led the community to form unicorn dance teams and arrange training courses. He has also actively promoted this ICH item in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Under his leadership, the Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung was inscribed onto the fourth national list of ICH in 2014.
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