On 15 August 1945, upon Japan’s declaration of unconditional surrender, local Buddhist masters came together to form the Buddhist Association of Hong Kong and took over a four-storey timber building at 117 Wanchai Road from by Japanese monk. Among the founding masters of great virtue are, Ven. Fat Ho, Ven. Kok Kwong, Ven. Mou Fung, Ven. Mou Yue, Ven. Yiu Tan, Ven. Wun Cing , Ven. Hoi Yen , Ven. Shui Yung, Ven. Oi Ting, Ven. Wang Zi, Ven. Tsze Cheong, Mr. Chan Ching To, Mr. Wong Hok Yan and Mr. Lam Lim Chun.
In post-war Hong Kong, there were a large number of orphans who urgently needed to be looked after and educated. After taking over the above property, the Association carried out simple renovation work and wasted no time to set up the Charitable Chinese Buddhist School to offer free education.
In the early years, the Buddhist Association of Hong Kong did not have a permanent address. We had an office inside Tung Lin Kok Yuen where we held meetings to discuss association affairs. To indicate our presence there was a teakwood sign board next to the main entrance of Tung Lin Kok Yuen. All meeting notices to association members and council members were in memo form and printed in-house. They were delivered across the territory by hand. Subsequently, thanks to unstinting support from board members over the years, the Association enjoyed rapid development and membership saw significant growth. In 1967, the Board purchased the premises at 338 Lockhart Road Wanchai where the Association has remained to date.
Today, the Buddhist Association of Hong Kong is the largest and most prestigious Buddhist group in Hong Kong. We operate more than 40 units which include hospitals, schools, elderly services, youth services, childcare services, cemeteries and magazines. Embracing a primary principle of uniting all Buddhist monks and followers, we are committed to practising the Buddha way and guiding all mortals. It is our mission to spread the word of Buddha actively and unite all Buddhist groups and members of the Buddhist order from Hong Kong and across the world. The Association now plays a bridging role to facilitate communication between Buddhist groups and the central and Hong Kong governments. Following years of lobbying by the Association and local Buddhists, Buddha’s Birthday became a statutory holiday in 1999.
Buddhism has been gaining status and importance in Hong Kong, while the Buddhist ideology is now an important element of local ethical education. The Buddhist Association of Hong Kong will continue to uphold the spirit of Buddha and serve the public. We sincerely hope that masters of all monasteries, Buddhists everywhere and the general public will render us continued support so we can relieve more people from pain and guide them to happiness.
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, 6 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.
