162
The South China Research Circle
In 1988, a small group of scholars - historians, sociologists and anthropologists - founded the South China Research Circle which is now very much centred upon the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Among other things, it promotes the study of Hong Kong in the larger context of South China. In using Chinese (both Cantonese and Putonghua) rather than English as the main working language, it caters to the local community and scholars from Mainland China and Taiwan in a way the RAS has so far been unable to do. In this way, it fills a crucial gap. Drawing much of its strength from visiting scholars, the locally-based members remain small in number, but that does not prevent them from exerting their influence through their newsletter, journal and seminars.
It is worth mentioning the Hong Kong History Society as well. While this society is interested in history in general rather than Hong Kong history, it does organize local visits to places of historical interest and has published.
1990s: Recent Developments
School Curriculum Changes
One of the major developments in the 1990s was the change in the school curriculum. Since 1994, Hong Kong history has been included in the A-level and AS level (matriculation level) History examination syllabus. Moreover, from 1998, Hong Kong history will also be taught at the lower secondary level (about 12-14 year olds), and here the local history element will be more conspicuous. We may foresee a rush of text books and other reference materials emerging to meet the demand of the thousands of students involved in the curriculum change.
It is important to point out that teaching Hong Kong history at the secondary school level is only possible with a mature infrastructure based on the accumulated knowledge and understanding resulting from the research by several generations of scholars and the collective efforts of the various institutions.
162
The South China Research Circle
In 1988, a small group of scholars - historians, sociologists and anthropologists - founded the South China Research Circule which is now very much centred upon the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Among other things, it promotes the study of Hong Kong in the larger context of South China. In using Chinese (both Cantonese and Putonghua) rather than English as the main working language, it caters to the local community and scholars from Mainland China and Taiwan in a way the RAS has so far been unable to do. In this way, it fills a crucial gap. Drawing much of its strength from visiting scholars, the locally- based members remain small in number, but that does not prevent them from exerting their influence through their newsletter, journal and seminars,
It is worth mentioning the Hong Kong History Society as well. While this society is interested in history in general rather than Hong Kong history, it does organize local visits places of historical interest and has published,
1990s: Recent Developments
School Curriculum Changes
One of the major developments in the 1990s was the change in the school curriculum. Since 1994, Hong Kong history has been included in the A-level and AS level (matriculation level) History examination syllabus. Moreover, from 1998, Hong Kong history will also be taught at the lower secondary level (about 12-14 year olds), and here the local history element will be more conspicuous. We may foresee a rush of text books and other reference materials emerging to meet the demand of the thousands of students involved in the curriculum change.
It is important to point out that teaching Hong Kong history at the secondary school level is only possible with a mature infrastructure based on the accumulated knowledge and understanding resulting from the research by several generations of scholars and the collective efforts of the various institutions.
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