Cantonese Museum Tong Hok 8: Made in Hong Kong | Hong Kong & Macau Exclusive

Author: Cantonese Museum Publisher: Bright Light Publishing Dimensions: 130mm x 210mm Pages: 264 ISBN: 978-988-8716-84-5 [Synopsis] This is the 8th book in the "Tong Hok" series, focusing on "Made in Hong Kong." It meticulously details Hong Kong-made brands and products across various categories, including local toys, soft drink brands, food brands, traditional Chinese pastry brands, Western pastry brands, sauce brands, the brewing industry, pharmaceutical brands, cosmetic brands, local comics, and industrial products. Did you know that the toy industry was once a key traditional industry in Hong Kong? Besides the much-loved sticker cards, paper doll cutouts, tin toys, and the iconic "watermelon ball," many well-known toys were also exported. Soft drinks, once referred to as "Holland water," have been manufactured in Hong Kong since the 1970s. But were any of these drinks actually from Holland? Hong Kong's food manufacturing industry has been significant, with government records noting local manufacturing activities as early as the 1870s. Brands like Wang Lo Kat, Hui Lau Shan, Crossroad Milk, and Yan Chim Kee might be familiar even if you haven't tasted them. How many traditional Chinese pastry and Western pastry brands can you name? Do you know that Hong Kong's brewing industry has a long history? The late 1950s marked the golden age of soy sauce brewing in Hong Kong, with most soy sauce factories located near Kowloon Walled City. Regarding the pharmaceutical industry, Hong Kong traditional Chinese medicine has had various preparations like "pills, powders, ointments, and elixirs" for a very long time. The development of Western medicine in Hong Kong is first documented around 1879, as mentioned in a surgeon's report. Hong Kong's cosmetic manufacturing began in the early 20th century, though the industry's scale was not large, with some companies producing mid-priced brands. After the 1950s, the Hong Kong cosmetic market was gradually dominated by imported brands. It's surprising to learn that Hong Kong comics have records dating back to the late Qing Dynasty, boasting a truly long history!