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Author:Tsui Chung Hui
Translated by: Corey Bell
Photos: Provided by Tung Lin Kok Yuen
Full of Love and Compassion
Lady Clara Lin-kok devoted much of her time and energy to charitable causes.
Lady Clara Lin-kok’s benevolence was well known, and touched those who were familiar with her. According to “The Supplementary Record of the Virtues of my Mother Lady Clara Lin-Kok” written by her third son, General Ho Shai-Lai, Lady Clara was “always at peace with her brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and [her husband’s] first wife Lady Margaret Mak. She also loved and cared for her nephews and their wives attentively. She was always kind to the poor, especially widows, widowers, the lonely, and the disabled, and when needed, rendered them assistance. She was especially caring to youngsters and children.” Lady Clara’s compassion and energy deeply influenced her husband, Sir Robert Ho Tung, whose assistance and support enabled her to embark on a remarkable career of charity work and philanthropy.
Lady Clara devoted a significant amount of her time and energy to responding to the plight of the disadvantaged and infirmed, and gave generously to a vast array of charitable institutions, including orphanages, elderly homes, institutes for the blind, etc. - all without discriminating as to their religious or sectarian affiliation. Amongst her personal projects she sponsored the education of many disadvantaged children, and upon realizing the full scale of such a need, established the Po Kok Open School - an entirely tuition-free institution which focused on the instruction of handcrafts and Buddhism. Noticing an epidemic of homeless dogs in Hong Kong, Lady Clara also lobbied the Government to implement a program to house them, and after a vigorous fund raising campaign, eventually secured a lot of government land where she established a shelter. In addition when the Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Lady Clara, with the assistance of her two daughters, Kam Chi and Dr. Irene Cheng, set out to raise relief funds, and collect gifts to support and console wounded soldiers. These are but a few of the many endeavours undertaken by Lady Clara that were to touch or transform the lives of thousands of beneficiaries.
Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara Lin-kok’s extensive charity work and philanthropy have made a significant contribution to Hong Kong society. The sum of donations made by Sir Robert Ho Tung, estimated to be at least HK$5 million (about HK$1 billion or approximately US$130 million in today's value), have also left an indelible legacy, having contributed to the establishment of a great deal of local education, health, and social service infrastructure. Beneficiary institutions include Queen’s College, The University of Hong Kong, Po Kok Free School, Kowloon European Children’s School, a Child Welfare Centre in the New Territories, the Aberdeen Children Handcraft School and the Tung Wah Hospital.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen is today continuing the work of Sir Robert and Lady Clara, and in addition to supporting the above institutions, has provided funds for a significant number of not-for-profit organizations. These include two important benificiaries: the Elderly Ministry, which is dedicated to promoting and providing care for the elderly, and the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, which has been assisting the recovery of those afflicted with mental illness.
THE SAGE TUNG LIN KOK YUEN CENTRE FOR THE YOUNG-AT-HEART
The SAGE (The Hong Kong Society for the Aged) was established in 1977 to provide and promote quality aged care. In 2001, Tung Lin Kok Yuen donated to the SAGE the sum of HK$ 20 million to found an aged care facility, known as "CENTRE FOR THE YOUNG-AT-HEART" in Causeway Bay. In addition to providing a comfortable atmosphere and environment for residents and visitors, this centre focuses on helping its residents find hope and inner peace. Its facilities include halls for Buddhist worship, libraries, meeting rooms, saunas and computers.
The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong's Lin-Kok Building
Founded by the Mental Health Association and sponsored by Tung Lin Kok Yuen, the Lin Kok Building functions as a halfway house for the treatment, care and rehabilitation of people recovering from mental illnesses. Its program emphasises resident’s cultivation of independence and autonomy, healthy personal interests, and positive lifestyle habits, providing them a safe environment to facilitate gradual recovery with the help and support of their families and professional counselors, and to equip them to face the stresses and challenges of reintegration into mainstream society.
In addition to the Lin Kok Building, Tung Lin Kok Yuen has also provided the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong funds to establish a “Community Residence Support Services Project,” which provides community halfway houses for recovering patients. The sum amount provided for the plan was more than HK$3 million (approximately US$380,000).
Tung Lin Kok Yuen has been tireless in its commitment to contributing to reputable charities, and since the passing away of Lady Clara Lin-kok, has inherited her passion and commitment to supporting worthwhile causes. What is more, the aforementioned projects constitute only a portion of TLKY’s endeavours. They are but a fragment of the story of Lady Clara Lin-kok and her husband Robert Ho Tung - the story of the Tung Lin Kok Yuen legacy and mission.
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