The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China presented certificates to four local citizens today (6 July), namely Au Kuan Cheung for Cantonese Naamyam, Chan Kin Chun for A-Ma belief and customs, as well as, Chiang Kun Kuong and Ip Tat for Na Tcha belief and customs.
The Certificate Awarding Ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Luo Shugang; Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Alexis Tam Chon Weng; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R., Xue Xiaofeng; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; and Vice President, Leong Wai Man.
The transmitters of the representative items of national intangible cultural heritage have important knowledge in their fields and they are the transmitters of intangible cultural heritage, having acquired good knowledge about the intangible cultural heritage and exquisite skills, making them the important representatives of the dynamic legacy associated with intangible cultural heritage. In May, these four citizens were registered as the representative transmitters associated with the list of 5th Batch of the Representative Items of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, in recognition for their work and contributions in preserving and transmitting national intangible heritage in Macao.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau has always recognized great importance to the legacy of intangible cultural heritage in Macao, and facilitated the above-mentioned inscription, in 2015. This successful inscription counts with the strong support and assistance from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government, the Cultural Heritage Council, as well as, various experts in the field of intangible cultural heritage. Currently, a total of 7 people from Macao have been selected as representative transmitters of the representative items of national intangible cultural heritage, which include Ng Wing Mui (deceased) for Cantonese Naamyam, Tsang Tak Hang for Woodwork - Religious Figure Carving, Ng Peng Chi for Taoist ritual music and the recently nominated four representative transmitters selected at this time.