Tung Lin Kok Yuen officially established on 17th May, 1935.

Founded by Lady Clara, wife of Sir Robert Ho Tung, Tung Lin Kok Yuen was led by her as its first Director. A dedicated Buddhist, she supported various Buddhist initiatives, including founding Po Kok Free School in Hong Kong and Macau, and establishing the Po Kok Buddhist Research Society under Venerable Ai Ting at Haiyun Lanruo in Castle Peak.

With a HK$100,000 gift from Sir Robert Ho Tung, Lady Clara purchased land on Shan Kwong Road, Happy Valley, to build Tung Lin Kok Yuen, naming it “Tung Lin Kok Yuen,” a combination of Sir Robert Ho Tung’s and her own names. Her goal was to defy the belief that women’s virtue lies in ignorance, promoting Buddhist teachings and educating women in the Dharma. Upon its completion, the Po Kok Buddhist Research Society and Po Kok Free School relocated to Tung Lin Kok Yuen, creating a unique institution that integrated a Buddhist school with a monastery, fulfilling the mission of “spreading the Dharma for the benefit of all and fostering education to cultivate talent.”