CUHK
News Centre

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) received a generous donation of HK$50 million from the family of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lee on the occasion of the Art Museum’s Golden Anniversary. Together with an earlier donation from the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation, the Lee family’s gift enabled the Art Museum to build a new building with substantial increment in gallery space.

The Lee family gift had precedent over half a century ago, when the late Mr. Harold Hsiao-wo Lee, founder and first chairman of Television Broadcasts Limited, and his brother Mr. Jung-sen Lee provided the University with critical financial support to build the Art Museum and the Institute of Chinese Studies of CUHK. This year, Ms. Irene Lee, Chairman of Hysan Development Company Limited, Mr. Anthony Lee, Director of Lee Hysan Company Limited, and Ms. Marie-Christine Lee, Founder of the Sports for Hope Foundation – built on their father’s legacy to support the study of Chinese art and culture at CUHK.

A ceremony was held recently in appreciation of the donation from the Lee family. Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, expressed his gratitude for the munificent donation and renewed support from the Lee family, and noted that “Mr. Harold Lee was a close friend of the late Professor Choh-ming Li, founding Vice-chancellor and President of CUHK, and offered enormous support to the establishment of the Institute of Chinese Studies and subsequently, the Art Museum, at CUHK. While the Hong Kong community is familiar with the philanthropic work of Mr. and Mrs. Lee in supporting local education, health care and senior care, I hope that their promotion and preservation of Chinese arts and culture will also be recognised. From the planning and building of the Art Museum half a century ago to this expansion, the Lee family has taken the lead to move the visionary projects forward. The expansion will allow the museum to curate special exhibitions in collaboration with major museums and art collectors globally to promote Chinese art and culture.”

Ms. Irene Lee said, “My brother and sister and I are honoured to continue our parents’ vision and commitment to promote the study of Chinese artistic legacy at CUHK. Their vision fifty years ago is just as clear and relevant today and we hope to inspire the community to celebrate our cultural heritage.”

The new building of the Art Museum of CUHK is expected to be completed in 2023. Designed by renowned Rocco Design Architects Associates Ltd., the new museum is set to become an iconic landmark on campus. For a teaching museum that has been known among scholars and collectors for its original exhibitions and scholarly catalogues, the dramatic expansion will draw the attention of students, faculty members, other university stakeholders, and general visitors to the cultural relics conserved in this remarkable institution. The main gallery of the new museum building, measuring over 600 m², will be the largest gallery of the entire museum and suitable for large-scale special exhibitions. The university has decided to name the new main gallery Harold and Christina Lee Gallery in perpetuity, in recognition of the benefaction and support from Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lee and their family members.