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in interviewing, were very perceptive researchers, and were dedicated to the subject. In addition, Miss Lee was most generous in allowing us to call on her many relatives and friends in North Sai Kung. This was most useful, and we greatly benefited from their connections.
My initial idea was that, at the Chinese University, we should have a few people interested in the subject who would form themselves into a team and do surveys as directed. We would periodically designate particular geographic areas to be surveyed, not unlike what people at Hong Kong University were doing with local architecture. For each of these surveys there is a minimal framework. We could briefly outline the history of the area as old people remember it, and add also detailed aspects for the research team who will add to it significantly. Of course, the research interest will change, but you can go back to people after you have built up contacts and still find out what you want to find.
I think building up the contacts matters a great deal. We were very lucky in this regard because we had the support of the Sai Kung District Office and Rural Committee, but I must also add that, like all researchers, you do not like to get all your contacts from one source. You tend to be given introductions to the more wealthy and active villagers from the District Office, such as those in the Rural Committee. We were lucky because we also had our students' families, and people met by our former students in their place of work, and others we got to know through our project and so on; so that we built up our own network of connections. At other times we simply knocked on doors. I was turned away quite a few times.
But on the other hand, I met very interesting people in this way. I always remember one case when I started my rural research. It was near the Border and there was this lady. The moment we walked in we asked about inscriptions. In fact, it is always a very good opening. You don't start off saying "I want to know your history". You simply want to know where the ancestral hall is.
You start by commenting on the beauty of the architecture and so on, and very quickly it takes you into the history of the village.
262
in interviewing, were very perceptive researchers, and were dedi- cated to the subject. In addition, Miss Lee was most generous in allowing us to call on her many relatives and friends in North Sai Kung. This was most useful, and we greatly benefited from their connections.
My initial idea was that, at the Chinese University, we should have a few people interested in the subject who would form them- selves into a team and do surveys as directed. We would periodi- cally designate particular geographic areas to be surveyed, not unlike what people at Hong Kong University were doing with local architecture. For each of these surveys there is a minimal framework. We could briefly outline the history of the area as old people remember it, and add also detailed aspects for the rescarch team who will add to it significantly. Of course, the research inter- est will change, but you can go back to people after you have built up contacts and still find out what you want to find.
I think building up the contacts matters a great deal. We were very lucky in this regard because we had the support of the Sai Kung District Office and Rural Committee, but I must also add that, like all researchers, you do not like to get all your contacts from one source. You tend to be given introductions to the more wealthy and active villagers from the District Office, such as those in the Rural Committee. We were lucky because we also had our students' families, and people met by our former students in their place of work, and others we got to know through our project and so on; so that we built up our own network of connections. At other times we simply knocked on doors. I was turned away quite a few times.
But on the other hand, I met very interesting people in this way. I always remember one case when I started my rural research. It was near the Border and there was this lady. The moment we walked in we asked about inscriptions. In fact, it is always a very good opening. You don't start off saying "I want to know your history". You simply want to know where the ancestral hall is.
You start by commenting on the beauty of the architecture and so on, and very quickly it takes you into the history of the village.
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