Hong Kong is an international metropolis that draws in expats and tourists from around the world. Currently, over 60 countries have established consulates general in the city. In addition to serving as a bridge in trade and commerce, they are also tasked with the promotion of cultural exchange. Over the past eight episodes, we interviewed the Consuls General of Ireland, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Qatar, Germany, and South Africa. Together, we embarked on a voyage of cultural exchange through activities related to various aspects of daily life, such as food, art, and festivities. The consuls general gave us a better understanding of their respective countries’ cultures and values, while also learning about local heritage and customs.
In this episode, we will look back on the highlights and relive these joyful journeys full of cultural colour.

Hong Kong people are so into the Japanese culture that they have incorporated into their daily life such Japanese kanji as hōdai (“all you can”) and ōen (“support”).

That is why this time we have Mr. Okada Kenichi, the consul general of Japan in Hong Kong. He is going to try Japanese taiko with our host Chris Leung, learning about the taiko’s history and its roles in contemporary performing arts.

Mr. Okada came to Hong Kong to study in as early as 1989, so he is no stranger to the city. He likes visiting local coffee shops, so Chris has invited him to learn making Hong Kong-style milk tea. Speaking of Japanese tea ceremony, Mr. Okada mentioned ichi-go ichi-e (“once in a lifetime”). That marks a stark contrast in socialising practice between Japanese and Chinese when considering our common saying "得閒飲茶 dak1 haan4 jam2 caa4" (“having tea when free”).

Ms. Yokoyama Katsue, a Japanese woman who has lived here for 28 years, shows a stronger passion about traditional Hong Kong culture than most locals. A fluent Cantonese speaker, she has taken us to Ko Lau Wan Village in Sai Kung to observe An Loong Ching Chiu which takes place every 7 years.

Germany is the 4th largest economy in the world. German merchants came to Hong Kong for business as early as the 18th century. The country is renowned worldwide for its technological products and automobile industry. Also, the German Bauhaus architectural style has had its influence on modern architecture. Between the 1960s and the 1970s, it was widely adopted by publicly funded buildings in Hong Kong, including Hong Kong City Hall and Choi Hung Estate.

Stefanie Seedig, former consul general of Germany to Hong Kong, has taken us to Hong Kong Arts Centre for appreciation of Bauhaus architecture. In addition, at Goethe-Institut Hongkong located in the Centre, we tried to learn the German language, which is said to be difficult, and gain insights into the German life and culture. In return, our host Mishy has invited Stefanie to learn the Chinese seal script and understand the differences in Chinese and Western seal engraving, as well as the similarities in Chinese and German word formation.

Till Kraemer is a German who has lived in Hong Kong for over 10 years. He noticed that there are many ethnicities living in the city, which has created a unique cultural diversity. Therefore, he decided to start a cultural career in Hong Kong by hosting workshops in primary and secondary schools, to provide opportunities for youngsters to communicate with people of different ethnicities and widen their cultural vision.

With a rich sense of rhythm in music and its people’s free-spirited dance moves, South Africa showcases a vibrant passion everywhere. In this episode, we can experience the South African culture through the National Day Reception , a visit to the South African Consulate General in Hong Kong , and its cuisine.

Cantonese opera, a form of the traditional Chinese theatre, features singing and dialogues in the Cantonese dialect. Its origin can be traced back to the time of Emperor Jiajing during the Ming Dynasty. This style of opera is particularly popular in Cantonese-speaking areas, such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Mr. Mogono, the South African Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao SAR, and Chris are going to learn Cantonese opera from Hoi, the Cantonese opera instructor, in this episode. Let’s see if Mr. Mogono’s portrayal of ‘Bao Zheng’ and Chris’ performance as the young male lead bear some resemblance with Hoi’s guidance this time.