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Po Leung Kuk Performed Rituals of Kwan Ti Festival

(26 July 2019, Hong Kong) Falling on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month was the Kwan Ti Festival (Birthday of Kwan Ti), which is included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory of Hong Kong. Po Leung Kuk follows its fine traditions to celebrate the festival annually. The ceremony was held today at Kwan Ti Hall in the Main Building of Po Leung Kuk Headquarters, Mr Ching Nam MA, CStJ, JP, Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, hosted the ceremony and led all members to perform rituals and offer their prayers to Kwan Ti, wish for a continued steady development of the Kuk’s services with 141 year history.

 

Po Leung Kuk is always dedicated to serving the community under the objective of “protecting the young and the innocent”. Since its establishment, the Kuk has already paid homage to Kwan Ti. In the past, trials in kidnapping cases, adoption oaths and marriage arrangement ceremonies were held in front of the altar of Kwan Ti to demonstrate fairness. This custom of worship Kwan Ti is still well preserved today.

 

The venue Main Building of the Kuk Headquarters is a Grade 2 Historic Building with significant historical and cultural values. The portrait of Kwan Ti is enshrined in the centre of the Kwan Ti Hall, with the inscription “Righteousness of the Universe”(乾坤正氣)mounted on top, and the couplets “Throughout the history, his aspiration and ambition overflow between the Heaven and Earth; Throughout the ages, his loyalty and righteousness shine brightly as the Sun and Moon.”(志在春秋氣塞天地、忠貫日月義薄風雲)on both sides, creating a dignified atmosphere inside the Hall. A large number of porcelain artworks, bronze statues, stone inscriptions, couplets and memorial tablets, including the plaques illustrated the relocation and service development of the Kuk, are also on display to witness its 141 years of history.

 

The ceremony was attended by the Po Leung Kuk Board of Directors 2019-20 including, Mr Ching Nam MA, CStJ, JP, Chairman; Dr Daniel C Y CHAN, MH,  Vice-Chairman; Mr William T W KOO, Mr Louie S N LAM, Mr Clement J W CHEN, JP, Mr Jonathan C K TONG and Mr Andrew NGAN, Directors, accompanied by Members of the Advisory Board; Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Directors of former Boards, and Senior Management. Apart from presenting sacrificial goods and roasted pigs, the simple and solemn ceremony also included “Three bows to Kwan Ti (三鞠躬禮)”, “Welcoming and Ushering in the deity (降神禮)”, “First offering (初獻禮)”, “Second offering (亞獻禮)”, “Third offering (三獻禮)”, “Burning of sacrifices (望燎禮)” and “Bidding farewell to the deity (辭神禮)”.

 

About Po Leung Kuk

Founded in 1878, Po Leung Kuk, as one of the largest charity organisations in Hong Kong, has been serving Hong Kong for 141 years with its objective of “Protecting the Young and the Innocent”(保赤安良). Currently, the Kuk has more than 300 units strategically located in Hong Kong and provides services in education, social welfare, recreation, culture and integrated health case. We have more than 45,000 students in our schools and attend to more than 600,000 visits for services a year. For more information about Po Leung Kuk, please go to www.poleungkuk.org.hk.

 

Media Enquiry

Mr Alan Ng, Senior Corporate Communications Executive

Corporate Communications and PR Department of Po Leung Kuk

Tel: 2277 8453  Email: [email protected]

The ceremony of Kwan Ti Festival was held at the Kwan Ti Hall in the Main Building of Po Leung Kuk Headquarters. The Kuk performed the rituals with the sacrificial robes for Kwan Ti, offerings and roasted pigs. Collections of cultural relics were also exhibited in the Hall.
The Po Leung Kuk Board of Directors 2019-20, Members of the Advisory Board, Chairmen and Members of former Boards, and Senior Management, performed a simple and solemn ceremony to ask for blessings from Kwan Ti.