The Beginning

1930s

Lady Clara Ho Tung, the wife of Sir Robert Ho Tung and the founder of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, established free schools for girls in both Percival Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, and Macau.

1932

Venerable Ai Ting was invited by Lady Clara from Jiangsu to Hong Kong and established the Po Kok Buddhist Research Society in Haiyun Lanruo, Castle Peak. Venerable Ching Zhen (3rd from left in back row) was one of the first cohort of graduated students .

1935

The gift from Sir Robert: HK$100,000 in celebration of the golden wedding anniversary, encouraged Lady Clara to build Tung Lin Kok Yuen, a landmark Buddhist temple in 1935, comprising the Po Kok Buddhist Society and Po Kok Free School. ​

After the establishment of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, well-known Masters from Mainland China were invited to have speech and lectures in Tung Lin Kok Yuen to spread the wisdom of Buddha, such as Master Hsu Yun and Master Tai Xu.

1936

Buddhist periodical “The Lamp of The sea of Men” was published by Tung Lin Kok Yuen.

1937

The Sino-Japanese War broke out because of Lugouqiao Incident. Lady Clara led the women committees to raise fund for relief. Dharma classes of Tung Lin Kok Yuen were temporarily suspended, students sew the quilted jackets to support the army.

1938

Lady Clara passed away, Madam Lam Ling Chun succeeded as the Superintendent of the Yuen and the Principal of Po Kok School. 
In Lady Clara's will, she also assigned "Mr. Hsu Ti Shan, Mr. Chan Ching Tao, Mr. Fong Yeung Chau, Mr. Wong Hok Yan, Venerable Ruo Shun, Superintendent of different temples in Hong Kong and Macao, Mr. Man-kam Lo, Ms. Irene Hotung and Mr. Robert Ho Shai Lai be the Permanent director members“

1939

Venerable Bo Jing was invited by Mr. Wong Kit Wan and established the “Wang Fat Buddhist Seminary” in Wang Fat Ching She, Tsuen Wan. Venerable Kok Kwong, one of the founder of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, was one of the students of the “Wang Fat Ching She Seminary”

1941


“Propagation of Buddhism in Po Kok” commenced publication. 

1949

Venerable Tan Xu was invited by Mr. Yeh Kung Cho, Mr. Wong Hok Yan, Madam Lam Ling Chun and Mr. Wong Kit Wan, and founded “Wah Nam Buddhist College” in Wang Fat Ching She for the cultivation of monastic talent.

“Propagation of The Board of Tung Lin Kok Yuen was registered as a corporate without the addition of the word “Limited” to its name pursuant to the directive of the Governor.

Po Kok Primary School was subsidized by the Government.