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After the establishment of the Fung Ying Seen Koon for Taoist Studies Scholarship in 2002, the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Taosit Fung Ying Seen Koon joined hand again to set up the Centre for the Studies of Taoist Culture, with the hope of promoting Taoist culture and studies.

Over a hundred Taoist Masters and followers, government officials, scholars and guests from Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau attended the inauguration ceremony held at Cho Yiu Hall on CUHK campus today. Officiating at the inauguration ceremony today were Mr Qi Xiaofei, Vice-Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Dr Patrick C.P. Ho, Secretary for Home Affairs of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Master Ren Farong, President of Chinese Taoist Association, Master Lai Hin Wa, Permanent Chairman of Taoist Fung Ying Seen Koon, and Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University.

At the ceremony, Prof. Lawrence J. Lau of CUHK and Master Lai Hin Wa of Taoist Fung Ying Seen Koon exchanged the agreements on the collaboration signed earlier. Prof. Lai Chi Tim, Professor of the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies and director of the new centre, said the centre will focus on advancing academic research on Taoist studies, promulgating knowledge of Taoist culture to the general public, developing Taoist education in local secondary schools and enhancing cultural and academic exchanges among Taoist organizations in Hong Kong and on the mainland. He also thanked the Taoist Fung Ying Seen Koon for their generous support to the centre.

CUHK is committed to the promotion of Chinese culture. The Department of Cultural and Religious Studies has launched various research projects and offered a number of courses on Taoist culture at doctoral and master’s levels some years ago. The new Centre will take the initiatives to release publications on the research of Taoist culture and studies, produce teaching materials for the use of secondary schools, and publish newsletters and academic journals. The Centre also plans to introduce a certificate programme on Taoist culture for the general public and organize summer intensive courses and field trips for Taoist masters and followers.