Hand-in-Hand for Benevolence – Tung Wah's Fundraising Culture and Social Development

Since its inception in 1870, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals has provided medical, educational and social services to the people of Hong Kong. Tung Wah has also been actively engaged in humanitarian efforts, such as disaster relief, burial and bone repatriation services, and refugee support for Chinese communities at home and abroad. Tung Wah's contribution to the Chinese populace is widely recognised and deeply appreciated in all walks of life.

To sustain and expand its diverse services, Tung Wah organises a variety of fundraising activities every year to reach out to generous supporters. In the Group's early days, this involved door-to-door alms collection. In the early 20th century it involved charity opera performances and religious rituals. In the post-war period, Tung Wah organised charity Cantonese opera concerts with prominent stars, and fundraising funfairs and television galas. And in more recent times, it has made personal appeals to individuals and families, fundraising activities are also held on online platforms. These activities have encouraged different levels of society to give to charitable causes and have raised public awareness of the importance of giving to charity. Visual and documentary records of these activities have captured the evolving faces of Hong Kong society through the years and reflected the 150-year-old Group's ability to keep abreast of the changing times. Tung Wah's success in connecting fundraising with mass entertainment has enriched people's lives, as they derive enjoyment through philanthropy.

This exhibition features more than 200 invaluable artefacts and a vast array of historical photos. It allows visitors to gain understanding on the social development of Hong Kong through Tung Wah's fundraising culture and to relive the collective memory of Hong Kong people embodied therein.

 

Date: 28.10.2020 – 7.3.2021
Venue: 1/F Thematic Galleries 1, 2 & Function Place, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

 

For more exhibition details, please refer to the website of Hong Kong Heritage Museum: https://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid266.html

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