Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

Exchange with the Mainland Following the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China, there have been increasing exchanges between Taoist organizations in Hong Kong and their counterparts on the mainland. Local Taoist organizations pay frequent visits to the mainland, such as taking part in the Luotian Ritual at the Beijing Baiyun Temple. In September this year, Taoist temples from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan w i l l perform their respective ritual music at the Ritual Music Festival held in Beijing. C a n t o n e s e Opera R e s e a r c h Cantonese opera has a long history in Hong Kong. Understanding the genre w i l l throw light on the development of cultur e and language in the territory. The Department o f Music has, since 1972, collected research materials and data on Cantonese opera, including instruments, scripts, books, journals, literature, audiotapes, videotapes, records, and microfilms. It is a pioneer i n the i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a ry s t u dy o f Cantonese opera, and has been very active i n organizing seminar s and other research-related activities. I n 1990 ， the department set up a Cantonese Oper a Research Programme w i t h funding support f r om Kodak (Far East) and the Yam Pak C h a r i t a b l e F u n d . T h e p r o g r a m m e Chinese Opera Information Centre The C a n t o n e s e o p e r a r e s e a r c h p r o g r a mm e has accumulated large volumes o f data on Cantonese opera in the course of 10 years for the use of researchers on campus. It has also provided much information and services to Cantonese opera lovers throughout Hong Kong. In 1999 the programme succeeded in winning the bid put up by the Chinese opera committee of the Arts Development Counci l to organize a Chinese Opera Information Centre. The centre, opened in March 2000 with special staff to manage the collection and lending of materials, aims at enhancing the development of Chinese opera research in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Culture: A Multiplicity of Colours 21