[category]
[title]
The Hong Kong Public Records Building is not typically where you expect to find a viral moment – but here we are. If you’ve been scrolling through Xiaohongshu (known in English as the social media app RedNote) lately, you might have noticed a particular Hong Kong-related bag that’s been showing up everywhere on the feed.
Designed with a black-and-white print of Queen’s Road Central in 1924, this viral canvas bag is a souvenir from the Hong Kong Public Records Building, given away for free to encourage visits to their current exhibition ‘Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance’, featuring over 120 selected items that documented Hong Kong’s hardships and resistance during the Japanese occupation period from 1941 to 1945.
After announcing its release on their official Facebook page on March 3, the bag ran out of stock in just two days. Those who managed to get their hands on one were pleasantly surprised by the quality, with some saying it felt more like a boutique item than a typical freebie. Unfortunately, many were left empty-handed and found it rather inconvenient that the gift was only available from Monday to Friday during work hours (9am-5.45pm).
That said, there are still souvenirs available if you make the trip. All you have to do is grab an exhibition leaflet and complete different missions. For mission one, visitors will have to collect exhibition-themed stamps at the Reference Services Counter (1/F) and in the Exhibition Hall (2/F) to redeem a randomly selected ‘Hong Kong in Pictures’ postcard. Meanwhile, mission two requires visitors to follow the Public Records Office's Facebook page, take a photo against the themed backdrop (near the entrance of the Exhibition Hall), and share it on social media to receive a pen holder featuring photos of the Central and Sheung Wan harbourfront in the 1960s.
As for the tote bags, the official word is that the first batch has been fully distributed, which we secretly hope means a second batch will be coming soon, so keep an eye on the Public Records Office’s Facebook page for any upcoming announcements.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended stories:
Fan-favourite fondue restaurant Chesa is introducing a new menu of Swiss classics
What is villain hitting – or, why are old ladies smacking people with a shoe?
The Pizza Project’s new menu lets you pick three flavours on one pizza