"Chan Kwan Po Diaries" Manuscript Donation Ceremony
In celebration of the donation of the manuscript of "Chan Kwan Po Diaries" to the University of Hong Kong (HKU), a ceremony was held today (December 18).
Mr. Chan Kwan Po (1898-1982) was a teacher in the HKU School of Chinese and a former Fung Ping Shan Librarian. During the Second World War, he risked his life to protect and rescue more than 30,000 volumes of rare books from different parts of China as well as the birth and death records of the Hong Kong government. He was recognised for his important contributions to the preservation of national assets and post-war social reconstruction.
With the author's life record of over half a century (1921-1982), "Chan Kwan Po Diaries" is praised as "the witness of a great era". It will be a precious item for the studies of Hong Kong's modern history and cultural exchanges between China and Hong Kong. The manuscripts are also notable for its academic and cultural preservation value.
To commemorate the generous donation of the complete manuscripts of the Diaries by Mr. Chan Kwan Po's son-in-law, Mr. Tse Wing Kwon, a reading room has been named after Mr Chan Kwan Po in the University of Hong Kong Libraries (HKUL).
At the ceremony, Mr Tse Wing-kwon said: "Chan Kwan-po Diaries is among the most treasured records of Hong Kong history. I am donating it to the University of Hong Kong not only to be preserved in their collection but also with the hope that the University can promote and disseminate the diaries' significance."
HKUL will restore and digitalise the manuscripts. The Diaries will then gradually be made accessible to the public for viewing and research purposes.
