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Alexander Mak

The 1970s, 80s and 90s were decades in which December grew into a lively festival season in Hong Kong – one that blended Western traditions with the city’s unique charms. Here’s how South China Morning Post photographers captured some of that Christmas magic.
Christmas shopping



Sending Christmas cards



Enjoying the Christmas lights




Feasting for Christmas






In pictures: how Hong Kong celebrated Christmas from the 1970s to 90s

Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund launches in 2000 – from the SCMP archive

Princess Diana admits adultery in blow to monarchy in 1995 – from the SCMP archive

In pictures: when textiles drove the golden age of ‘Made in Hong Kong’

From our archives

Christmas decorations in Landmark in Central, Hong Kong, in 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

Japanese department store Daimaru in Causeway Bay during the 1976 Christmas season. Photo: SCMP Archives

Throngs of Christmas shoppers in the Daimaru department store in 1976. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Matsuzakaya store in Causeway Bay in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

School girls pick out Christmas cards at the Matsuzakaya store in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Island School students admire the latest Christmas card designs in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

Workers sort mail at the General Post Office in Central in December 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

The old HSBC Building decorated for Christmas in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Chater Road in Central is lit up on Christmas Day in 1981. Photo: SCMP Archives

Crowds gather to see the Christmas lights in Tsim Sha Tsui East in 1985. Photo: SCMP Archives

Lan Kwai Fong in 1995. Photo: SCMP Archives

Furama Hotel chef Roland Sager prepares a Christmas turkey in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

The San Francisco Steak House in Tsim Sha Tsui serves festive feasts in 1986. Photo: SCMP Archives

Kwok Ping-kwan, pastry chef at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, displays the hotel’s treats in 1964. Photo: SCMP Archives

Pierre-Alexis Dumas, then Hong Kong-based regional marketing director of Hermès and now the French label’s artistic director, whips up a Christmas feast in 1996. Photo: SCMP Archives

This week in PostMag: festive food styling and Cantopop Christmas ballads

A festive tablescape by food stylist Gloria Chung features on the cover of this week’s PostMag print edition. Photo: Jocelyn Tam


In pictures: what are Hong Kong’s most beloved winter foods? Snapshots from the 1970s to 2000s

On a cold winter night in 1984, people tuck into a hotpot meal at a street-side food stall in Hong Kong, locally called a “dai pai dong”. Photo: SCMP Archives

Diners tuck into snake soup at the She Wong Lam restaurant on Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, in 1972. Photo: SCMP Archives

Westerners prepare to taste snake soup at a restaurant on Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok, in 1982. Photo: SCMP Archives

People enjoy hotpot and other meals at a street-side food stall, or dai pai dong, on Portland Street, Mong Kok, in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

A cook prepares claypot rice at a food stall in Jordan’s Temple Street Market in 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

Workers at a shop in Sheung Wan Market enjoy hotpot in 1989. Photo: SCMP Archives

A chef serves up a signature dish at a snake soup restaurant in 1993. Snake soup is popular in winter because it keeps the body warm and is believed to cure coughs and colds. Photo: SCMP Archives

A family enjoys hotpot in a Wan Chai restaurant in 2001. Photo: SCMP Archives

Hawker Mak Leung-fun roasts chestnuts in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay in 2003. Photo: SCMP Archives

A chef prepares claypot rice at a restaurant in Causeway Bay in 2006. Photo: SCMP Archives

How Hong Kong food stylist Gloria Chung creates a festive table at home

An “East-meets-West” festive tablescape by Gloria Chung. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Food stylist Gloria Chung in her studio in Tai Tong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Sliced plum with olive oil-drizzled burrata. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Persimmon with torched lardo. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Gloria Chung’s show-stopping trifle. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Chicken bake with olives, tomato and oregano. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

How Hong Kong’s famous Christmas decorations came to life, as told by one of their creators

Christmas lights on Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong, in 1981. Photo: SCMP Archives

Despite the rain, crowds throng Tsim Sha Tsui East on Christmas Eve in 1994 to see the festive decorations. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong’s HSBC building is beautifully decorated to celebrate Christmas in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Christmas lights in Chater Road, Central, in 1981. With vehicular traffic banned from the area, pedestrians had the streets to themselves and were able to view the lights in comfort. Photo: SCMP Archives

People gather at the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui to look at the Christmas lights outside Harbour City in 1990. Photo: SCMP Archives

Christmas lights in Tsim Sha Tsui East in 1992. Photo: SCMP Archives

People take pictures with the outdoor Christmas installations on the Ocean Terminal Deck, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui in 2000. Photo: Nora Tam

A 20-metre Christmas tree, equivalent to a six-storey building, lights up Statue Square Gardens in Central for Christmas  this year. Photo: Dickson Lee

The impossible art of being a good guest at a Hong Kong Christmas gathering

Remembering to remove your shoes at a Christmas gathering in Hong Kong is one thing; dancing on the table is quite another. Illustration: Silvia Celiberti

Arriving “on time” is a tricky business. Illustration: Silvia Celiberti

Should you help do the washing-up when the party is over? Illustration: Silvia Celiberti

Hong Kong dinner parties: where every rule contradicts the last. Illustration: Silvia Celiberti

PostMag

Culture

In the late 20th century, Hong Kong transformed into a hub of festive cheer with bright lights, seasonal decor and plenty of Christmas treats


In the late 20th century, Hong Kong transformed into a hub of festive cheer with bright lights, seasonal decor and plenty of Christmas treats.


In pictures: how Hong Kong celebrated Christmas from the 1970s to 90s

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}In the late 20th century, Hong Kong transformed into a hub of festive cheer with bright lights, seasonal decor and plenty of Christmas treats

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Christmas shopping

Sending Christmas cards

In the late 20th century, Hong Kong transformed into a hub of festive cheer with bright lights, seasonal decor and plenty of Christmas treats

Christmas shopping