China News Service, November 18, according to Singapore’s “Lianhe Zaobao” report, recently, the international assessment team responsible for reviewing the heritage application project recommended that Singapore’s hawker culture be included in UNESCO’s “Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage”. The results will be announced in the middle of next month.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC) appointed an evaluation team composed of 12 experts to submit a report in Paris, France, to make the above recommendations.
A total of 42 projects have been listed in this year’s "Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative List", of which 25 projects have been recommended by the assessment team, including Singapore’s hawker culture.
A total of 463 items are currently included in the "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage."
Announce the results of the application next month
The IGC will hold its 15th meeting online from the 14th to the 19th of next month to announce the final decision.
Generally speaking, the projects recommended by the evaluation team have a high chance of successful application.
The assessment team pointed out in the report that the hawker culture is part of the lives of Singaporeans. In the process of urbanization in Singapore, it provides locals with a sense of identity and continuity.
The evaluation team praised Singapore for mobilizing all parties in the society to participate in the process of applying for heritage in various creative ways.
According to a website established by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, more than 1.9 million people currently support hawker cultural heritage applications.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the epidemic has had a serious impact on the businesses of hawkers, but many diners strongly support their favorite stalls and support hawkers to tide over the difficulties.
Hope this news can inspire hawkers and their supporters.
Singapore’s Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and the second minister of the Ministry of Justice Tang Zhenhui said that it is gratifying that the application project has been actively recommended by the evaluation team, but the application process is not over yet.
"This is still good news and a good sign. Let us continue to support our hawkers and express our gratitude to them!"
Zhang Huini, director of the National Heritage Administration of Singapore, said in the statement that he hopes that the hawker culture can successfully apply for heritage and further enhance everyone's awareness of protecting intangible cultural heritage.
Chan Mingrui, director of the National Environment Agency of Singapore, said that hawkers are the core of hawker culture. The bureau will continue to attract new hawkers into the trade and cooperate with the people to maintain and upgrade hawker culture.
Lin Yuming (69), chairman of the Chinatown House Hawker Merchants Association, said in an interview: "If the application is successful, the hawker industry will be more recognized by the public." (Xu Xiangyu)