REFLECTION
Echoing to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage drafted by UNESCO in 2003, China as one of member states of UNESCO revealed the 1st batch of Masterpiece of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006.(General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, 2006) Chinese Herb Tea was selected as one of the national intangible cultural heritage attributed by the application submitted by the governments of Gongdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly.(GOVHK, 2006) Hence, 62 Chinese herbal tea formulas owned by 19 Chinese herbal tea brands, including Wong Lo Kat, Jiansheng Tang and Wong Chun Loong has been protected since 2007.(Hu & Kwan & Chui, 2014) In Hong Kong, Leisure and Cultural Services Department then established a working group to promote the culture of Chinese herbal tea to the public systematically.(Apple Daily, 2006) For whom want to own a shop selling Chinese herbal tea in Hong Kong, they just need to apply for a Chinese Herb Tea Permit provided by Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. There is no restriction set by our government to hinder the development of Chinese herbal tea. From here, it seem that the prospects for a Chinese herbal tea industry are much brighter than before.
But why the number of traditional Chinese herbal tea shops are still decreasing? Cheng Po Hung, an expert adviser of Hong Kong Museum of History, said that “Chinese herbal tea shops stood 5 to 10 steps apart” in its heyday. (Sing Tao Daily, 2006) However, the number of traditional Chinese herbal tea shops dropped to less than 400 in 2015.(Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, 2015) Many Chinese herbal tea shop winded up because they cannot afford the constantly increasing rent and rate.(Oriental Daily, 2014) Taking the interviewer, Zhang Qiuji who owns a 50-year-old herbal tea shop in Sheung Shui as an example, her shop moved to the back lane because the landlord increased the rent. The reason her shop still can survive is not about a stable amount of income, but that she needs not bear the high rent as the landlord of the shop is her son. Although she does not need to pay the rent, the increasing rates are still a burden on her. There is no doubt that Hong Kong government do nothing to hamper the development of Chinese herbal tea. However, the government does nothing to help these people as well. So, what on earth did our government protect? Traditional herbal tea shops, the way to produce herbal tea, the culture of Chinese herbal tea or as some criticism said these 19 Chinese herbal tea brands?
In the era prevailing “Chinese herbal tea” likes Hung Fook Tong, the original values and meanings of Chinese herbal tea and the herbal tea shop are gradually fading out. Will there be a day people no longer regard Chinese herbal tea as an intangible cultural heritage, but a drink likes Coca-Cola or Pepsi?
But why the number of traditional Chinese herbal tea shops are still decreasing? Cheng Po Hung, an expert adviser of Hong Kong Museum of History, said that “Chinese herbal tea shops stood 5 to 10 steps apart” in its heyday. (Sing Tao Daily, 2006) However, the number of traditional Chinese herbal tea shops dropped to less than 400 in 2015.(Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, 2015) Many Chinese herbal tea shop winded up because they cannot afford the constantly increasing rent and rate.(Oriental Daily, 2014) Taking the interviewer, Zhang Qiuji who owns a 50-year-old herbal tea shop in Sheung Shui as an example, her shop moved to the back lane because the landlord increased the rent. The reason her shop still can survive is not about a stable amount of income, but that she needs not bear the high rent as the landlord of the shop is her son. Although she does not need to pay the rent, the increasing rates are still a burden on her. There is no doubt that Hong Kong government do nothing to hamper the development of Chinese herbal tea. However, the government does nothing to help these people as well. So, what on earth did our government protect? Traditional herbal tea shops, the way to produce herbal tea, the culture of Chinese herbal tea or as some criticism said these 19 Chinese herbal tea brands?
In the era prevailing “Chinese herbal tea” likes Hung Fook Tong, the original values and meanings of Chinese herbal tea and the herbal tea shop are gradually fading out. Will there be a day people no longer regard Chinese herbal tea as an intangible cultural heritage, but a drink likes Coca-Cola or Pepsi?