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Hong Kong Pop 60+

Free Admission

1/F Permanent Gallery

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Situated on China's southern border, Hong Kong took advantage of its unique geographical position and historical background to become a renowned international metropolis, where East meets West and diversity thrives. The story of Hong Kong popular culture began with the boundless creativity sparked by the post-war baby boom and economic take-off, cultural exchanges with other regions, and talented and adventurous artists. Over time, in tandem with the continued growth of mass media, Hong Kong popular culture developed different features as trends evolved.

This exhibition, titled Hong Kong Pop 60+, focuses on the development of Hong Kong popular music, film, and television and radio programmes, as well as comics and toys, from the end of the Second World War to the early 2000s. It illustrates the development of Hong Kong popular culture, featuring more than 1,000 exhibits and introducing their social backgrounds and artistic features. The exhibition encourages visitors to explore Hong Kong's past, while inspiring us to preserve Hong Kong's diverse culture and create a better future.

Special Programmes

Online Programmes

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Cantonese version only

Stars Sharing

Audio Tour

Exhibition Booklet

Exhibit Highlights

Film poster for A Better Tomorrow

1986
© 2010 Fortune Star Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

<p><strong>F</strong><strong>ilm poster for <i>A Better Tomorrow</i> <br /></strong>1986</p> <p>Directed by John Woo, <em>A Better Tomorrow </em>is an early example of Hong Kong’s heroic bloodshed gangster genre. Stylised gunfights showing killers’ romantic and sentimental side won praise for their cinematography. In this film, the character “Mark Gor”, played by Chow Yun-fat, wearing a trench coat became a fashion icon for young people to imitate.</p>

<p><strong>Wong Ka-kui's acoustic guitar <br /></strong>Late 1970s</p> <p>To pursue his dream, Wong Ka-kui bought his first acoustic guitar with his hard-earned savings. Quite a number of his early works were created with this acoustic guitar. Later, his younger brother Ka-keung also became a guitar lover. Ka-kui sold his guitar to Ka-keung at half price, to remind him that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and encouraging him to work harder to pursue his musical goals.</p>

Wong Ka-kui's acoustic guitar

Late 1970s
Donated by Mr Steve Wong Ka-keung

Coloured sketch of a poster for Aces Go Places III

1984
Courtesy of Mr Yuen Tai-yung

<p><strong>Coloured sketch of a poster for <i>Aces Go Places III<br /></i></strong>1984</p> <p>This film was shot overseas, with a cast that included foreign actors. During the poster design process, Yuen Tai-yung incorporated many characters from the film, highlighting their personality traits, thus creating a lively and dynamic atmosphere.</p>

<p><strong>Anita Mui’s stage costume<br /></strong>2003</p> <p>Anita Mui wore this Western style red-gold Chinese wedding gown, designed by Eddie Lau, for the opening section of the concert <em>Anita Classic Moment Live 2003</em>, which was also Mui’s last stage performance, expressing her desire to marry the stage. It left a deep impression on her fans.</p>

Anita Mui's Stage Costume

2003
Donated by Mr Eddie Lau

Josephine Siao Fong-fong's mini dress

1960s
Donated by Dr Siao Fong-fong

<p><strong>Josephine Siao Fong-fong's mini dress<br /></strong>1960s</p> <p>Josephine Siao Fong-fong wore this mini dress in Cantonese musical films. Covered in sparkling sequins, the mini dress was perfect for the chic parties at the time, and was wildly popular among young girls in the 1960s.</p>

<p><strong>Free-standing radio<br /></strong>1960s</p> <p>In the early days, listening to the radio was a form of entertainment only the rich could afford. As herbal tea stores began installing radios to attract customers, with just a little money, people could sip tea while listening to their favourite radio programmes, which became a familiar scene in Hong Kong.</p>

Free-standing radio

1960s
Donated by Wing Lai Yuen Sichuan Noodles

Free-standing television set

Early 1970s
Donated by Wing Lai Yuen Sichuan Noodles

<p><strong>F</strong><strong>ree-standing television set<br /></strong>Early 1970s</p> <p>In the 1970s, a television set became a staple entertainment device for every household. Hong Kong entered a new era of mass entertainment and information, in which “TV watching became a course in the dining menu”. In 1975, almost nine out of ten Hong Kong households had a television.</p>

<p><strong>Vinyl record of <i>Games Gamblers Play<br /></i></strong>1974</p> <p>Sam Hui released his first Cantonese album, <em>Games Gamblers Play</em>, which immediately shocked the Cantonese music industry. The song of the same title is full of slang. Accompanied by rock music, it took Cantopop to a new level.</p>

Vinyl record of Games Gamblers Play

1974
Donated by Ms Wong Kit-kwan

Leslie Cheung's stage costume

2000
Courtesy of Mr Daffy Tong
Care of Mrs Florence Chan

<p><strong>Leslie Cheung's stage costume<br /></strong>2000</p> <p>The theme of the concert <em>Passion Tour</em> was “From Angel to Devil”. A long-haired Leslie Cheung, charmingly enveloped in a blood-red velvet mantle and leather trousers, transformed into an implacable devilish figure that shocked the audience.</p>

<p><strong>Film poster for <i>The House of 72 Tenants<br /></i></strong>1973</p> <p><em>The House of 72 Tenants</em> shows a rich tapestry of people living through hard times in a satirical way. The line “Turn the tap off!” in the film, which is still fresh in people’s minds, brings back memories of the days of water rationing.</p>

Film poster for The House of 72 Tenants

1973
Courtesy of Hong Kong Film Archive
© Celestial Pictures Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Commercial Television Weekly, issue 34

1976
Courtesy of Ms Chong Shuk-kei

<p><strong><i>Commercial Television Weekly</i></strong><strong>, issue 34<br /></strong>1976</p> <p>The cover features Michelle Yim and Chan Wai-man, who played Huang Rong and Huang Yaoshi, respectively, in the TV drama series <i>The Legend of the Condor Heroes</i>.</p>

<p><strong>Trophy for Champion Award of Japan for Singers, won by Roman Tam<br /></strong>1975</p> <p>The Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation in Japan held a weekly singing contest, featuring five professional singers each time. The Champion Award was given to the singer who won first place in all ten episodes. Roman Tam was the first non-Japanese singer to win this award.</p>

Trophy for Champion Award of Japan for Singers, won by Roman Tam

1975
Donated by Ms Tam Ming-yuk

Vinyl record of Love Without End

1960s
Donated by Ms Ho Shuk-ying

<p><strong>Vinyl record of <i>Love Without End</i></strong> <br />1960s</p> <p>The film <em>Love Without End,</em> starring Linda Lin Dai, is sorrowful yet touching. The film and theme song were popular all over Southeast Asia. The theme song was composed by Wong Fook-ling, with lyrics by Tao Qin, and sung by “The Little Lark” Carrie Ku Mei. Linda Lin Dai won the Golden Harvest Award at <em>The 9th Asia Pacific Film Festival</em> with this film.</p>

<p><strong>Film poster for <i>Games Gamblers Play<br /></i></strong>Late 1970s</p> <p>The Hui Brothers’ Hong Kong-style satirical comedy brought <em>Hui Brothers Show</em> to the cinema, innovatively presenting hot social issues and local culture, and opening up new paths for Cantonese comedy, which enjoyed success in the Japanese market.</p>

Film poster for Games Gamblers Play

Late 1970s
© 2010 Fortune Star Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Vinyl record of Just a Little．Spoonful of Sugar by The Lotus

1967
Courtesy of Ms Chong Shuk-kei

<p><strong>Vinyl record of <i>Just a Little．Spoonful of Sugar </i></strong><strong>by The Lotus<br /></strong>1967</p> <p>In 1966, Sam Hui joined The Lotus, which soared to fame immediately. <em>Just a Little</em> was a cover version by them with a unique style, based on a song by a San Francisco band, Beau Brummels. This was also the original song that inspired <em>Waiting for My Love</em>, with Cantonese lyrics written by Sam Hui.</p>

<p><strong>Vinyl record of <i>Source of Love</i></strong><br/>1984</p> <p>The album includes many popular songs by Alan Tam, which were mainly adapted from Japanese songs. It also includes <em>Source of Love</em>, an original song, and <em>Love in Late Autumn</em>, which was adapted from a Korean song.</p>

Vinyl record of Source of Love by Alan Tam

1984

Danny Chan was posthumously awarded
the Most Unforgettable Melody Maker Award at
The 16th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Presentation Concert.

1993
Courtesy of Ms Siu Nga-lai

<p><strong>Danny Chan received the Most Unforgettable Melody Maker Award at <i>The 16th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Presentation Concert</i></strong><br/>1993</p> <p>Danny Chan made his debut in the music world in the late 1970s, and was a talented singer-songwriter. Unfortunately, he died young, yet left many golden songs. Chan was posthumously awarded the Most Unforgettable Melody Maker Award at<em> The 16th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Presentation Concert</em>, to commemorate his contributions to Hong Kong’s music world.</p>

<p> <strong>Admission ticket to the <i>Miss Hong Kong Pageant 1973</i></strong></p>

Admission ticket to the Miss Hong Kong Pageant 1973

1973
Courtesy of Mr Ng Kwai-lung

Trophy for the Ultimate Male Artiste Gold Award, won by Leslie Cheung

1988
Courtesy of Mr Daffy Tong
Care of Mrs Florence Chan

<p> <strong>Trophy for the Ultimate Male Artiste Gold Award, won by Leslie Cheung</strong></p>

<p> <strong>Anita Mui wore this stage costume at the concert <i>Anita Classic Moment Live 2003</i></strong></p>

Anita Mui wore this stage costume at the concert Anita Classic Moment Live 2003

2003
Donated by Mr Eddie Lau

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