Its roots can be traced back to the period just after the Second World War and the influx into Hong Kong of immigrants from Shanghai. It became mainstream in the 1970s and experienced its golden age in the 1980s, when it became a hit on the mainland and in overseas Chinese communities. Cantonese popular music, or Cantopop, remains an essential part of Hong Kong's popular culture and its influence persists today.


The idea behind this Cantopop exhibition was sparked by a generous donation to the museum of memorabilia from the career of Roman Tam, the godfather of Cantopop, from his sisters Ms Tam Man-yuk and Ms Tam Ming-yuk in 2006. Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, organized by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the School of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and co-presented by Radio Television Hong Kong, the exhibition will showcase stage costumes, scores by composers and lyricists, music awards and many other items marking important events in the history of Cantopop. Some have been selected from the museum's own collections while others have been loaned from public and private organizations and collectors. A pop mix of artefacts, photos and audiovisual programmes, the exhibition traces how this musical genre has progressed from the 1950s to the present day, describing its relationship to social change, the influence of the mass media and the development of Hong Kong's music industry.


So get ready for a magical musical tour of Cantopop, the soundtrack to our popular culture!


To coincide with the exhibition, the museum has produced a collection of souvenir photographs featuring famous Cantopop stars. These will be given away in batches throughout the exhibition period to visitors holding a valid museum admission ticket or a yearly / half-year museum pass while stocks last. For details, please contact our museum staff.