Hong Kong Chu Hai College (HKCHC) announced today (10 January 2024) that The Hong Kong Fujian Charitable Education Fund (HKFCEF) collaborates with Dr. Jose Yu Sunsay GBM GBS SBS JP, the outstanding alumnus and Chairman of HKI Group, and Mr. Liu Chi Jen, Honorary Chairman of HKFCEF and Deputy Chairman of HKI Land Zhang Zhou project, have generously donated HK$ 1 million to establish a Tea Culture Room at the college campus. Being the first of its kind in Hong Kong’s higher education institutions, the purpose of this facility is to promote Chinese tea culture in Hong Kong by organizing various literary creation courses associated with tea culture and hosting international exchange events, with the aim of telling China’s story well and promoting traditional

A signing ceremony was held for the donation designated to “Belt and Road Initiative: Tea Culture”. The signing was witnessed by Mr. Lam Kwong Siu GBS SBS, Chairman of Board of Governors at HKCHC; Mr. Hung Ting Yung, Chairman of HKFCEF; Mr. Liu Chi Jen and Dr. Jose Yu Sunsay. It was co-signed by Ms Jane Zhang, Executive Vice President of HKCHC; Ms. Juliana Yu, Member of the Jiangsu Provincial CPPCC, Kwun Tong District Council Member and Managing Director of HKI Tea Development Limited and Mr. Tony Liu, Executive Director of HKFCEF and General Manager of HKI Land Zhang Zhou project

China is the birthplace of tea culture. Tea has been deeply integrated into our daily lives and spiritual culture. “Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea” have been regarded as daily essentials. In terms of cultural significance, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine and tea are the most prominent aspects. Moreover, China’s traditional tea-making has been added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Speaking at the conclusion of the signing ceremony, HKCHC’s Executive Vice President Jane Zhang said, “Dr. Jose Yu Sunsay, the outstanding alumnus of HKCHC, has profound knowledge in the art of tea. Over the years, he has been committed to promoting Chinese tea culture. At the same time, he has not forgotten to give back to his alma mater. He hosted the first tea culture lecture at HKCHC’s 75th anniversary celebration. Today, he collaborates with Mr. Liu Chi Jen, Honorary Chairman of HKFCEF and Deputy Chairman of HKI Land Zhang Zhou project, donating HK$ 1 million to the college for the establishment of a tea culture room to inherit and carry 2 forward Chinese culture.” She believes the donation will be a big boost to HKCHC in pursuing research topics on “Belt and Road Initiative: Tea Culture”, as well as promoting tea culture international exchange activities.

The donation is of special significance to Dr. Jose Yu Sunsay and his family, whose ancestors have been engaged in tea business since the Qing Dynasty. On behalf of the donors, Mr. Tony Liu said, “Chinese tea culture not only integrates into the daily lives of ordinary people, but also incorporates into China’s culture and spiritual civilizations such as poetry, painting, calligraphy, religion, and medicine. That is why our country’s unique tea culture is different from the tea culture of other countries.”

Mr. Liu added, “At present, it is very necessary and timely to organize tea culturerelated courses and other tea-themed events at HKCHC, a higher education institution in Hong Kong. In addition to introducing different cultures and tea tasting methods around the world, it could help to encourage cultural exchanges associated with tea between the four regions across the Taiwan Strait and countries of the Belt and Road Initiative. It offers great opportunities of telling China and Hong Kong’s story well, as well as connecting and promoting different tea cultures. As a result, it has great significance.”

After the signing and handover of the donation cheque, the guests visited the newly completed tea culture room to enjoy a cup of tea. Chinese tea culture has a long history. Legend has it that it began in the ancient period of Shennong, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty that tea culture really took off. The Classic of Tea written by Lu Yu, regarded as the “Sage of Tea”, was arguably the earliest extant monograph on tea in the world. The book has a profound influence on Chinese people's tea drinking habits. Liu Zhenliang, a famous tea connoisseur in the late Tang Dynasty, also said in his book Ten Virtues of Drinking Tea: "Tea can be used to practice morality, and tea can be used to cultivate elegance." Tea culture in different periods often reflected the social conditions in different eras. It is expected that the establishment of the tea culture room at HKCHC will open a new chapter for promoting tea culture in Hong Kong. It will serve as a platform of attracting different ideas and play a role in carrying forward the past and linking up the future.