On December 14, Hon Wah College 80th Anniversary Celebration & Gala Dinner was grandly held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over two thousand attendees, including prominent political figures, education sector representatives, former staff and students, alumni, parents, and friends from various sectors, gathered to witness Hon Wah’s eight decades of excellence. Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Leung Chun Ying, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Ms Choi Yuk Lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR; Mr. Wang Weiming, the Minister of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technology Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; and Colonel Jiang Junde of the Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison.
A 120-member choir commenced the evening’s festivities with a resounding rendition of “Ode to Hon Wah”, a re-written song sourcing from school historical archives and anthem. Imbued with patriotic fervor and educational mission, the performance vividly embodied the school’s enduring spirit of passing on its legacy. The lighting ceremony and dinner party maintained a warm and convivial atmosphere throughout, bearing witness to Hon Wah’s eighty years of heritage and advancement.
Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, Mr. John Lee, extended his congratulations via video message, acknowledging Hon Wah’s eighty years of deep roots in Hong Kong and its cultivation of numerous pillars of society who are patriotic, devoted to Hong Kong, and possess both moral integrity and professional competence. He mentioned that the SAR Government is vigorously promoting digital education, incorporating AI into the core curriculum of primary and secondary schools. He commended Hon Wah for keeping pace with technological trends and nurturing new talent for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development, stating that the Government will continue to support educational endeavors and youth development.
In his address, Mr Leung Chun Ying, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, lauded Hon Wah as a shining beacon of patriotic education. Recalling his tenure as a school manager, he shared how he and the staff members had jointly championed the construction of the Siu Sai Wan campus, emphasizing that the school’s achievements were hard-won and the result of concerted efforts by the entire Hon Wah community. Expressing his sentiments at having attended two anniversary celebrations within a decade, he extended sincere wishes for the school’s continued prosperity and looked forward to attending its 90th anniversary celebration.
In his address, Mr Ip Kwok Him, Chairman of the Hon Wah Educational Organization, recalled that the school was founded in Western District in 1945 after the victory in the War of Resistance, by patriots who held the ideal of saving the nation through education. The name “Hon Wah” embodies reverence for Chinese culture and aspirations for national rejuvenation. The school endured arduous conditions in its early years, with improvements only coming after becoming a Direct Subsidy Scheme school in the 1990s and relocating to its Siu Sai Wan campus in 2006. He revealed that the Education Bureau plans to seek funding approval from the Legislative Council early next year to enable Hon Wah to build a new subsidized secondary school in Tung Chung, aiming for completion by 2029. For eight decades, the school has steadfastly upheld its founding principles: “Educating for the Motherland, Serving the Students, Teaching for Truth”. It continues to nurture talents who possess both a sense of national pride and an international outlook, and will persist in pursuing excellence in the years to come.
At the celebration, Principal Kwan Wing Bun accompanied Secretary Choi Yuk Lin in presenting commemorative gifts to Ms. Lee Yuet Bor and representatives of Ms. Zeng Huan, pioneering educators of Hon Wah. Both teachers were not only founding pioneers but also veteran combatants of the War of Resistance Against Japan. This September, they were awarded the “80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression Commemorative Medal”. Their stories are profoundly moving.
The splendid programme showcased the spirit of generations of Hon Wah people: the School Choir (Primary Section)’s musical performance “Confucius and His Disciples: A Transcendental Encounter”, the Latin Dance Team (Secondary Section) together with member of the Hong Kong Latin Dance Delegation Team’s performance “Elegance in Motion”, and the Chinese Music Ensemble’s performance “Melodies Soaring in Celebration of the Anniversary”.
