The Hong Kong Buddhist Association was founded in 1945 with the objective of propagating Buddhism and providing charitable social services to the public. It is the largest and leading Buddhist organization in Hong Kong with a total membership of about 10,000 comprising bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas and upasikas. The Association is actively engaged in the following services and activities :
Propagation of Buddhism
The Association holds the Annual Dharma Function at Ching Ming Festival, Celebration of the Birthday of Lord Buddha, Transmission of Buddhist Commandments Ceremony, talks on Buddhism and participates in seminars and exhibitions on Dharma Preaching work. It sets up an Editorial Board to publish Buddhist textbooks for the students of Buddhist secondary schools. It also publishes the Buddhist Youth Fellowship Newsletters, and runs the Hong Kong Buddhism Magazine.
Medical Service
The Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital run by the Association is a large medical service centre with 285 beds. It has joined the Hospital Authority and is open to all races and creeds.
Education
With Government subsidy, the Association runs 13 secondary schools and 8 primary schools. In addition, 7 kindergartens are run on a non-profit-making basis.
Child Care Service
Premises at Wan Hon Estate, Kwun Tong has been allocated to the Association by the Social Welfare Department for running a day nursery. This nursery covers an area of 437 square meters and is capable of accommodating 112 children aged 2 to 6.
Youth Activities
The Association’s Buddhist Youth Fellowship has over 20,000 members and organizes healthy activities including sports competitions, essay contests, quiz contests on knowledge of Buddhism and so on. The Association runs a Buddhist Youth Camp and a Children and Youth Centre, provides a great variety of educational and cultural activities for young people aged 6 to 25.
Services for the Elderly
The Association runs a Government subvented Care & Attention Home for the Elderly of capacity 276. Four Social Centres for the Elderly were transformed into three Neighbourhood Elderly Centres and one Cultural and Services Centre for the Elderly in 2003 providing a full range of community support services for elders.
Charity Welfare Service
Members of the Association’s Women and Charity Welfare Committee arrange annual visits to old people’s homes before Chinese New Year to distribute gifts and red packets to the elderly people.
Burial Service
The Association runs a Buddhist Cemetery covering an area of 2.65 hectares and providing over 3,800 burial spaces and 4,600 ash or bone niches to cater for the need of local Buddhist’s and members of the Association.
International affairs
The Association maintains close relationship with Buddhist organizations and international organizations in other countries and is a member of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, the World Fellowship of Buddhists and World Conference on Religion and Peace. Delegates of the Association attend international meetings held in other countries while members of Buddhist organizations from other countries also visit Hong Kong to exchange views and experience on Buddhist activities.
Address: 1st Floor, 338 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
EMail: enquiry@hkbuddhist.org
Website: www.hkbuddhist.org
