Recently the Women’s Welfare Club Western District Hong Kong celebrated its 60th Anniversary.   Its Chairperson this year and in so many past years is Mrs Siu Tsang Fung Kwan.  Her contributions have gone far beyond donating money and serving hands-on as she rallies other philanthropists to further the good causes of the Women’s Welfare Club.  She has been involved in this for over half a century and joined in its foundation, motivated by upholding the principles of aiding the elderly and young, promoting women’s welfare and youth development as well as adult education.  The Women’s Welfare Club Western District now operates a network of two elderly centres, three kindergartens and a primary school, and all these services are greatly appreciated by the community.

The Women’s Club was founded in 1955.  Its first services were day care, and helping with meal arrangements from eight in the morning to six in the evening. This core service was supplemented by classes on sewing, embroidering, knitting, cooking, tai chi and adult education, all highly popular and well received. At about the same time of course, the Extra-Mural Studies Department was formed in the University and Mrs. Siu’s contributions very much mirror the spirit of that age in promoting what we now call lifelong learning.  Mrs. Siu has been a Committee member and Chairman of the Women’s Club on several occasions since the 1950s and also particularly focused on Cantonese opera shows performed by artists to raise money to help develop the building and the services.  Indeed, Mrs. Siu herself formed her own performing group and took part in some of the fundraising shows.   

For all these services to the community and lifelong learning, Mrs. Siu is an exemplar and fully deserving of the HKU SPACE Honorary Fellowship.