HKMoA Unveils On Ink and Bamboo Exhibition Featuring Donated Artefacts from Dr. Kôssen Ho's Collection

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) has received a generous donation from Dr Kössen Ho, which comprises over 340 precious artefacts from his Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection. This diverse collection encompasses bamboo and wood carvings, Chinese painting and calligraphy, ink rubbings and textiles, with modern bamboo carvings forming the largest category. It also marks the largest gift of bamboo carvings to a local museum since 1985. The HKMoA is launching the "On Ink and Bamboo: The Hua-e Jiaohui Lou Donation" exhibition starting from tomorrow (October 30), which features about 200 selected sets of artworks from the donation, demonstrating the refined elegance of bamboo-carving art.

Speaking at the exhibition opening cum donation ceremony held today (October 29), the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, said that Dr Ho entrusted the fruits of his lifelong devotion to the museum, transforming his private treasures into public heritage. Building upon the historical lineage of the museum's existing collection of Ming and Qing bamboo carvings, the donation of modern bamboo carvings fills a gap in the study of modern Chinese bamboo craftsmanship. Not only does it establish the HKMoA's prominent position in the field of research and promotion of bamboo carving, it also further reaffirms the museum as a premier home for local collections.

Dr Ho said that the HKMoA continually strives for excellence, with its innovative approach to exhibition curation having earned widespread acclaim. Following the previous donation of Ming, Qing, and 20th-century bamboo wares by Dr Ip Yee, this latest gift further enhances the museum's collection of bamboo and wood carvings. He hopes this contribution will help advance the display, education, and promotion of bamboo and wood carving art, as well as foster cultural and creative development.

Other officiating guests included the Chairman of the Art Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Desmond Hui; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; and the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok.

Dr Ho began building his private Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection in 1997. Beyond mere acquisition, he actively participates in the conception, design and supervision of the production of bamboo and wood carvings, drawing inspiration from Chinese painting masterpieces and antiquities within his own collection. The brush pot carved with plum blossom and camellia from Song "Hundred Flowers" in liuqing low relief, a set of wrist-rests carved with Pu Ru's "Flowers in Autumn Garden" in liuqing low relief and more are fine examples that not only showcase exceptional craftsmanship of bamboo and wood carving, but also reflect his unique philosophy in collecting and appreciating this art form.

The exhibition breaks new ground by employing dynamic lighting and features an immersive art installation of a virtual bamboo grove, highlighting the techniques and historical development of bamboo carving through animated projections, which illustrate how artisans refine timeless beauty from humble materials. In the exhibition's dedicated educational corner, visitors are invited to create their own rubbings of motifs from the exhibits, taking home a memento of their visit.

The exhibition will run from October 30, 2026, to April 7, 2027, at the Chinese Antiquities Gallery on the third floor of the HKMoA (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon). Admission is free. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/on-ink-and-bamboo.html.

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKMoA receives donation of artefacts from Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection and launches new exhibition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SCS and PSC chairman at media session (with video)

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Ms Maisie Cheng, met the media today (October 29) on Tier II investigation into the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po under the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism. Following are their remarks:

Reporter: Will Winnie Ho be under the Commission's investigation given that she's at the minister's level, and if not, what will be done to find out if she is held liable for the deadly inferno? And also, what will be done to ensure that the Commission can carry out a comprehensive probe in three months amid the involvement of a number of departments that the CE said would cover 40 to 50 people. Thank you.

Secretary for the Civil Service: I'll answer the first question, and then Ms Cheng will answer the second question. The Heads of Department Accountability System and the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism are designed to investigate into the personal responsibilities of civil servants. Political appointees are not meant to be within the scope of investigation under this mechanism.

Chairman of the Public Service Commission: Regarding how we can conduct the investigation in a comprehensive manner within three months, I think the most important thing is to point out that we have already had quite a number of weeks of preparation. As I mentioned before, as early as August, the Civil Service Bureau has already gradually posted different grades of civil servants to our team, and this team has already put all the effort to familiarise itself with the information, especially the abundant information made public by the Independent Committee (Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po). With all this preparatory work and also the preparatory work done by the two members (members of the Public Service Commission Mrs Ann Kung and Mr Adrian Wong) and myself in the past few months, we are very confident that although the investigation team and the support office will be officially set up today, we can commence the investigation immediately because of all the preparatory work we have done.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: AI-found images