China News Service, December 18, according to Singapore’s “Lianhe Zaobao” report, on the 16th local time, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage announced that Singapore’s hawker culture will be listed as the representative of human intangible cultural heritage Directory.
Hawker culture is Singapore’s first project to be included on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
It is also Singapore’s second successful inscription after the Botanic Garden was successfully included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2015.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote on his personal social media as soon as the news was announced on the 16th: “We must express our sincerest gratitude to the hawkers for generations. No hawkers have put in the sweat, hard work, and what they have done to the industry. We will not have the affirmation of today’s dedication."
Singaporean President Halimah also expressed gratitude to the successful application of hawker culture.
"The hawker culture has shaped the identity of Singaporeans in many ways. The hawker center is a community dining room for many Chinese, allowing people from all walks of life to enjoy affordable and diverse cuisine. This is our rich food culture."
Singapore’s Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister of Law Tang Zhenhui expressed his gratitude to all local hawkers and Singaporeans for their support for the application.
He also thanked the international assessment team for their recommendation and support for Singapore's intangible cultural heritage, and promised to continue to maintain Singapore's intangible cultural heritage and follow the spirit of the Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage.