By PHYLLIS YAU

DR LEUNG Pui-kam, who devotes his life to research Chinese drama, has about 13,000 pieces of materials on the subject. He is also the first scholar to conduct research about Cantonese opera. He obtained a PhD in drama because of his incredible contribution and research in Cantonese opera. Here is an interview with Dr Leung.

Q: Why are you so interested in Chinese drama?

A: When I was in primary and secondary schools, I liked to be an actor in dramas and organise some performances as well as watching films and traditional dramas like Cantonese opera. Moreover, I used to go to dramas and shows with my parents. So, I have developed a great interest in drama since my childhood.

Q: Why did you choose Cantonese opera as your research topic?

A: At first, my research was concentrated on Kuan Han-ch’ing, but then I found that there was limited development as it was impossible for me to learn the music and language of the Yuan Dynasty. Although I had been doing my research for about nine years and written some books about Kuan Han-ch’ing which were published in Japan in 1968, 1 decided to change my research topic. And I finally chose the Cantonese opera.

Q: What are your main reasons for collecting those things?

A:As my research topic was about Kuan Han ch’ing and Chinese opera, a collection of Chinese drama materials would be helpful. Besides, as I was teaching in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, I could use them as teaching tools. It is also my great interest to collect these things, and I plan to write some books about my collections. But, have never thought of selling them to earn money or for a museum about Chinese drama in Hongkong.

Q: When did you start to collect materials about Chinese drama?

A: Actually, I started to collect materials, and talk to the people involved in Cantonese opera to obtain information before I studied at the University of Hong Kong. After the seminar on Cantonese Opera in 1970, 1 started my research formally.

Q: Where did you find your collections?

A: Since 1965, 1 have collected books, manuscripts, pictures and many other materials about Cantonese opera. I bought my collection not only from Hongkong, but also Macau, China and South-east Asia.

Q: What types of collection do you have?

A: I have books, manuscripts, pictures, costumes, masks, puppets, dolls and many things on Yuan drama, Cantonese opera, Peking opera, Ching Hsi and K’uei Lei (puppet show). They are now stored at my home, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and an apartment in the New Territories.

Q: Some people said that the value of your collections was about $8,000,000. What do you think of this?

A: It is only an estimated figure made by a consulting company. It is hard to estimate their value. I have used about $900,000 to buy the collection during these 30 years. But, it is hard to tell the value now. In fact, value for different materials varies. Moreover, different people do make different estimated values with various aspirations.

Q: Which is the most precious item ?

A: It’s hard to say. My whole collection is valuable in different senses. Some of them are academically valuable as they can reflect the concrete facts on drama at a particular period of time in the past; some are valuable in a monetary sense and some are rare. It depends on the angle of view. As a whole, the most important value is that it is the history of the Chinese drama.

Q: Why do you plan to donate all your collections of Chinese drama to the Regional Council?

A: Several years ago, I learned that the Regional Council had decided to build a museum in the New Territories. The museum is about Chinese culture including Chinese drama. It will be opened before 1997, and the construction work will start in 1995. About a year ago, I wrote to the Regional Council, offering to donate all my collection and finally my suggestion was accepted. Besides exhibition holdings, the collection can also be used for research work under the Regional Council’s promise to lend to any scholars who are interested in researching Chinese drama.

Q: Why don't you leave your collection to your children?

A: My son is a computer engineer and he does not have any interest in my collection. Although my daughter, who is working as a designer, has some interest, it is not as great as mine. Further, I have also refused to donate or sell my collections to some foreign countries and even museums in the Mainland China. I don’t want to keep my collection at separate places.

Dr Leung is the forerunner in recording history of the Cantonese performing art with his collection. His collection will be placed in the museum which is going to be built from next year onwards.