Course: GEN1304

Seminar: 03
Name: Ng Pui Lam Jasmine
SID: 22002093
Due date: 13/7
Word count:
 Field trip report to Po Leung Kuk Museum

Introduction

On 6th July 2023, we toured the Hong Kong Po Leung Kuk Museum, displaying

history and achievements of Po Leung Kuk, an influential non-profit organization

(NPO) in Hong Kong that targets on elderly, children, youths, and patients. This

report reflects my visit to the museum while stressing the Kuk's significance and

analyzing its services.

Relationship between Po Leung Kuk and Hong Kong

Significance of Po Leung Kuk

Characterized by the organized, self-governing, and private managerial style, the

Kuk is a local service-delivery NPO with income generating activities now

(OGCIO, 2023). Regarding the Kuk’s governance chart (2022), it includes 20

board directors who delegate 12 functional committees’ work without

governmental interference. Additionally, it has a 15-member advisory board

consisting of representatives from several government departments, who provide

advice unless requested by the board. The Po Leung Kuk Ordinance (Hong Kong

E. Legislation, 1973) prohibits the Kuk from gaining from revenues generated by

owners or equivalents. Therefore, income from fundraising, donations, and

selling souvenirs will be counted toward its operational costs. In the Ho Sze Shi

Memorial Hall (Kwan Ti Hall) and along the hallways, memorial plaques with

photos and inscriptions of former board and benefactors convey gratitude to the

Kuk for their efforts and generosities. For instance, commemorative painting of
HO SZE Chi and portrait of Aw Boon-haw. Moreover, it incorporates volunteer

inputs like flag-selling and PLK Volunteer Service Corps.

Further, the Kuk possess a lengthy history. It was founded in 1878 and has been

enduring for 144 years. The museum, founded in 1932, has preserved historical

artifacts, Sino-Western buildings, Chinese customs, and evolutionary history of

the Kuk. Not only does the Kuk's evolutionary story demonstrate efforts and

collective responsibilities uplifting the vulnerable, but also illustrates how it

connects the past and recent Hong Kong. Regarding intercultural architecture,

Mr. IU Tak-Chung's Neo-Classical and symmetrical main building from 1932,

Roman fasces, Sino hanging bat patterns, and Rome-conceived porch for

sheltering from 1950 remain in use. Chinese and Western meanings are

symbolized by these constructions, such as good fortune for hanging bats and

power, unity, and authority for fasces. The fanlight window, transom light, and

high ceiling are also applying with colonial and modern architecture. Regarding

classic artifacts, the museum preserves couplet calligraphies in Chancellery style

by calligraphers Zhu Ru Zhen, Cen Guang Yue, and Qing imperials. These retain

history from late 19th century and consequently promote traditional artwork.

Since 1932, the museum has constantly served as countless youngsters’ home

while serving as an educational resource with exhibitions since 1998 and a grade

II historic site for academic research since 2009.

Moreover, the Kuk devotes to serving the community aligning with social values.

In the Ho Sze Shi Memorial Hall's front gate, "Po Chit An Leung" is titled with

core message and spirit, namely guarding the young and innocent. On top of core

message, the Kuk emphasizes its social values, including respect for fine
traditions, adapting to modern needs, valuing people, showing care and

appreciation, promoting sound governance, improving professions and customer

service. Likewise, stakeholders including the public, the marginalized,

volunteers, board members, donors, and beneficiaries are all involved. Although

the Kuk does not practice any religion, it pursues a century-old practice of Kwan

Ti worship considering Kwan Ti's ideals are compatible with those of the Kuk.

When entering Kwan Ti Hall, also known as the Ho Sze Shi Memorial Hall, one

observes that a Kwan Ti's portrait, lacquer altar, and a pair of stone couplets from

Au Kin-kung are centered to show respect. The hall conducts important activities

solemnly and promotes Sino traditions. For example, dignitaries, elections of the

chairman, students’ graduations, weddings, donations counting, meetings, and

ceremonies.

Importance of Po Leung Kuk to Hong Kong

The Kuk has endured in doing charitable deeds in the Kuk’s spirit, including

mutual respect, united effort, benevolence, gratefulness and recognition.

Therefore, service scopes have covered education, cultural promotion,

protection, caring and aiding of the needs. Its evolution in service tier will be

discussed.

Early service tier

In mid-19th century, abduction and trafficking of women and children were

major social issues exacerbated by prevalence of oversea pig-like coolies,

prostitutes, and Mui-Tsai. Additionally, governmental failure and market

failure existed, namely corruption, inefficient police force and absence of

supportive centers. Thus, 8 Chinese merchants presented the Governor with

petition in 1878 to set up the Kuk to rescue the kidnapped victims based on

a mutual goal and subliminal altruism. The Kuk was then categorized as a

protective and campaigning charity under the old Po Leung Kuk

Incorporation Ordinance enacted in 1893. In alignment with their mutual

mission, "Po Chit An Leung", the Kuk proactively protects, provides

temporary shelter and assists victims in returning home. Afterwards, it has

developed in orphans’ adoptions since 1961 and offered women’s

matchmaking marriage in 1905. Concurrently, resulted from widespread of

oversea abduction and kidnapping, the Kuk has widely extended its

international influence by establishing sister NPOs and aiding victim

universal. For example, instituting Singapore and Kuala Lumper Leung

Kuk.

Subsequently, the Government concentrated effort on anti-prostitution and

anti-Mui-Tsai, kidnapping cases reduced in late 1930s. Contradictorily,

quantity of abandoned children and dependent women have surged.

Therefore, it broadened its service tiers by providing intra-educational

school and career-oriented skill training. Women's embroidery training since

1940, first intra-primary and intra-secondary schools for children since

1946, are some examples. Meanwhile, the Kuk moved service site from a

building shared with Tung Wah Group of Hospital to Sheung Wan

Headquarters owing to accumulation of sufferers. Since 1952, it has

introduced the first Charity Cantonese Opera, fundraising television

programs and movies. Not only do charitable events raise funds, but they

also provide entertainment and promote essence of Cantonese opera.

Modern service tier

As a result of Governor Murray MacLehose's innovations, social welfare,

access to public housing, and free and mandatory education have all

popularized in Hong Kong. The Kuk started to shift strategies on social

welfare and evolved from protective to empowerment role officially. In fact,

the Kuk remains its core values, “Po Chit An Leung” and social objectives,

namely sheltering the vulnerable and offering orphans’ adoption program.

However, as social and marital norms matured, matchmaking services

stopped in 1971. Coupled with enormous demand of out-of-school students,

underprivileged groups and medical, the Kuk has updated a new Po Leung

Kuk Ordinance in 1973 and 2014 respectively. Regarding education, the

amendment enables it catering for over 40,000 students starting in 1973,

ranging from pre-school, special SEN schools, professional education, and

community college. Regarding medical and social service, the modification

allows it to create bridges with social services and develop comprehensive

medical treatment. For instance, Sham Shui Po district Council PLK Shek

Kip Mei Community Services Centre opened in 2019 involves integrated

medical services instead barely providing child-care and food assisting

services. Also, first elderly center in 1986, Intergrated Health Centre in

2014 and Chinese Medicine Mobile Clinic for grassroots in 2015 are cases

in point. Besides, the Kuk is committed to cultural and recreational services.

For cultural services, the museum's establishment in 1984, Charity

Cantonese Opera in 1977 and 2018 and Charity raffle in 1970 and 2018 all

show diligence in preserving and promoting heritage. For recreational

services, the Kuk launched the first Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp in 1979

for the public, in which people can be educated by nature and relax.
Analysis

Financially, the Kuk has increased in income by 78% and risen by 72% in expenditure

from 2014 to 2022. Particularly, expenditures on administration, education, recreation

and medical have proportionally expanded, excluding reduced sundry expense.

Besides, the Kuk has decreased its administrative costs by 1%, costing around 58

million. These indicate that the Kuk loyals to invest its service scopes. Overall, the net

operating surplus (NOS) has also surged by 37% from 2014 to 2022. However, it is

controversial that the Kuk’s NOS has lessened by 12% in 2019’s pandemic, compared

with that in 2018. However, the Kuk has then recorded a surge in NOS by 12% in

2021, compared with that in 2018. This stresses that the Kuk is a financially

sustainable NPO.

As mentioned, the Kuk has five main service tiers now, namely education, medic,

recreation, culture, and social services. In terms of annual average attendance of all

services, it has escalated by 50%, compared with that in 2017 and 2022. Meanwhile,

the total service units have boosted by 6.2% and the staff size has maintained around

10,000. This signifies the Kuk has served the community with more inclusive services

and finest staff.

Firstly, for education, the number of academic units has increased by 36% between

2014 and 2022, reaching 45,000 junior and senior students. Regarding the satisfactory

level, 862 students from 15 affiliated schools participated 2022 DSE have met the

admissions requirements of local universities and tertiary institutions, exceeding the

territory average of 42.1%. Additionally, 80% students from HKU SPACE Po Leung

Kuk Stanley Ho Community College (HPSHCC) enrolled in local bachelor's degree

programs in 2020, attaining their goal to acquire a university education.

Secondly, for medical, the quantity of affordable and convenient medical units has

surged by 50% between 2017 and 2022. It is recorded that annual patients’

attendances for self-financed Integrated Health Centers and Chinese Medicine Mobile

Clinics is 60,000 in 2022. Meanwhile, Integrated Health Centre provided 7000 door-

to-door Sinovac vaccination services to the public during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Thirdly, for social service, the relative units have escalated by 12% from 2017 to

2022. During the pandemic, “Boundless Compassion • Solidarity in Action” COVID-

19 Response Program has recorded in supporting 18,272 citizens with medical issues,

521 students with academic issues, 79,000 applicants with financial burden and

supplying 3,000,000 anti-epidemic items. Concurrently, “Electronic Food Bank” for

ones with food shortage has received overwhelming response from public volunteers,

which number of beneficiaries surged by 175%.

Fourthly, the Kuk has regularly launched activities with over 1000 participants, such

as Cantonese Opera Seminars and Green Conservation Project, to advocate public’s

awareness on traditions and environmental sustainability.

Lastly, the Kuk also proposes its newest social innovation, namely Po Leung Kuk Lee

Shau Kee Youth Oasis. It offers housing, life skills, career development training,

green environment, healthy living and promotes youth volunteering, benefiting 1680

youth aged between 18 to 30. Particularly, it offers hostels with rent level at 50% of

the market. Coupled with uprising engagement of stakeholders, all social objectives

made have fulfilled the Kuk’s social values and missions.

Considering the use of social capital, the Kuk has strived for cross-sectoral

collaborations and international network. The Kuk has devoted in bonding the public

by festivals and virtual workshops, such as Gala Spectacular and 360 degree of

museum visit. This encourages individuals with mutual goal to join as part of the Kuk.
Besides, it acts as a bridge between local business and educational institutions. For

instance, collaboration with government educational sectors HKU SPACE Po Leung

Kuk Stanley Ho Community College and local private sector Fairwood launching

meal donations. Moreover, it performs as a linkage with local and international

institutions, like collaborations with Angels for Children in 2020 and Japanese royal

family in 1898. The linkage leverage resources and broaden the social impact, such as

funding for residential cared children and rescue of kidnapped victims. Additionally,

the museum displays a Silver Cup with Paulownia Crest given by Japan Meji

Emperor as an honor for the Kuk rescuing 40 Japanese girls.

Before and after

Prior to the field trip, my knowledge of the museum was limited to a basic

understanding of its historical significance. However, the visit provided a

comprehensive and immersive experience that deepened my understanding of the Kuk

and its contributions. For example, apart from the artifacts in the museum, itself is

also a historical preservation. Exploring the museum's exhibits, interacting with

knowledgeable staff, and viewing personal stories of beneficiaries allowed for a

nuanced perspective on the organization's history, values, and ongoing efforts. Once, I

thought donation is the only way to aid the needs, yet by being a volunteer handing

time is a way of creating social economy too. This firsthand experience expanded my

knowledge and appreciation for the Po Leung Kuk's significant impact.

Conclusion

To sum up, the Kuk as a important symbol of social responsibility and philanthropy in
Hong Kong has constantly innovated new social objectives tackling newest social

issues while persisting the previous services. Considering the Kuk’s social values and

concepts applied, I would also want to volunteer in its charitable event, namely

museum guide as to share my historical knowledge about the Kuk.

Reference
Office of the Government Chief Information Office (OGCIO). Non-profit making
organizations. (2023).
https://www.ogcio.gov.hk/sc/our_work/community/common_wifi_branding/doc
/NGO_list.pdf
Hong Kong E. Legislation. (1973).
https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap1040?xpid=ID_1438402538631_001
Chin, A. (2013). Colonial charity in Hong Kong: A case of the Po Leung Kuk in the

1930s. Journal of Women’s History, 25(1), 135–157.

https://doi.org/10.1353/jowh.2013.0008