“Dai pai dongs,” open-air food stalls with street kitchens, were once a staple of Hong Kong’s lively dining culture. Due to strict government regulations introduced in the 1970, however, fewer than 20 licensed dai pai dongs remain today.
In her talk, Naomi Schroeder delves into what defines a dai pai dong and its historical development, as well as its impact on people and space. Through the lens of film, Hong Kong’s aspirations as a world-class city, and nostalgia, she explores how images and constructions of authenticity are sites on which the value of dai pai dongs and their place in the city are contested.
In examining how appearance and ideas regarding public and private space, development and the economy, hygiene, and obstruction are employed to provide justification for regulation of dai pai dongs, her talk invites us to reflect on the place of dai pai dongs in Hong Kong’s present and future and why these humble stalls continue to capture the city’s imagination.
The Speaker
Naomi Schroeder is from Hong Kong and is a political science graduate of Vassar College in the United States. She wrote her honours dissertation on Hong Kong’s Dai Pai Dongs, which she spoke on at the International Studies Association’s 2025 Annual Convention. Naomi currently works on research regarding rural and cultural heritage conservation and revitalisation at the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Civil Society and Governance, in addition to being part of the legal team at Justice Centre Hong Kong. She has lived in India, the United States, Canada and France.
PROGRAMME
Speaker: Naomi Schroeder, political scientist
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Reception starts at 6:30 pm)
Admission: $175 for members, $220 for guests /non-members (Light refreshments are included in the admission fee)
Registration: Please email <membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk> and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration. Please kindly complete your registration by advance payment via Stripe's payment links below (using your Credit Card):
Members ($175):
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Non-member / Guest ($220):
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Details about the other payment option will be sent on registration. Upon receipt of payment, your registration will be confirmed by email. Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 28 January 2026.