The Chinese Temples Committee (the Committee) is a statutory body established in 1928 in accordance with the Chinese Temples Ordinance (Chapter 153). One of its functions is to operate and manage 24 directly administered temples, of which 6 of them are Declared Monuments, namely Lin Fa Kung in Tai Hang, Hung Shing Temple in Ap Lei Chau, Hau Wong Temple in Kowloon City, Yeung Hau Temple in Tai O, Yuk Hui Temple (Pak Tai Temple) in Wan Chai and Tin Hau Temple in Joss House Bay, Sai Kung whereas 2 of them are Grade I Historic Buildings, including Kwun Yum Temple in Hung Hom and Yuk Hui Temple (Pak Tai Temple) in Cheung Chau. Also, other popular temples include Che Kung Temple in Shatin, etc.
The “Chinese Temple Fund (CTF)” and “General Chinese Charities Fund (GCCF)” managed by the Committee are charitable trusts exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The revenues of the Committee will be applied in the first instance to the due observance of the customary ceremonies and the maintenance of the temple buildings and temple properties, any surplus may be transferred to the GCCF. Other than meeting the daily operational expenses of the Committee, GCCF also provides grants to other organizations for the purposes of Chinese charity in Hong Kong, including the annual grants to the Home Affairs Department for disbursement of financial assistance to needy persons of Chinese race.
The Committee has 7 appointed members and 21 co-opted members with the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs as the Chairman. There are 5 Working Groups under the Committee, namely the Finance & Management Working Group, the Works Working Group, the Community Services Working Group, the Culture and Promotion Working Group and the Chinese Temples Ordinance Review Task Force. Decisions made by the Committee are carried out by its Secretariat.
According to the Chinese Temples Ordinance (Chapter 153)，"Chinese temple" (華人廟宇) includes －
- all Miu (廟, temples), Tsz (寺, Buddhist monasteries), Kun and To Yuen (觀及道院, Taoist monasteries) and Om (庵, nunneries); and
- every place where-
in accordance with the religious principles governing Miu, Tsz, Kun, To Yuen or Om, worship of gods or communication with spirits or fortune-telling is practised or is intended to be practised; and where
fees, payments or rewards of any kind whatsoever are charged to or are accepted from any member of the public for the purpose of worship or communication with spirits or fortune-telling or any similar purpose, or in return for joss candles or incense sticks, or on any other account whatsoever.
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs
Chairman, Board of Directors, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (Ex-officio member)
Mr SO Yiu-wing (*****)
Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, BBS, MH, JP (*****)
Dr LEE Yuk-lun, BBS, JP
Mr TSANG Chung-nam
Mr NG Hok-ming, Angus
Mr LAM Hon-wan, Nelson
To make recommendations on the following -
- Management of temples administered by the Chinese Temples Committee and related matters; and
- Investment matters of the Chinese Temples Fund and the General Chinese Charities Fund.
Mr TSANG Chung-nam
Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, BBS, MH, JP
Mr NG Hok-ming, Angus
Mr LAM Hon-wan, Nelson
Mr LUI Chi-wang, Robert Andrew
Dr CHANG Siu-wah
Mr MAK Yung-pan, Andrew
Ms WONG Chor-kei, Macy, MH
To make recommendations on the following -
- Planning and progress of works projects at temples administered by the Chinese Temples Committee; and
- Other works-related matters.
Mr SO Yiu-wing (*****)
Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, BBS, MH, JP (*****)
Mr TSOI Chun-sing
Mr LAU Ka-keung, BBS, MH, JP
Mr SZE Kyran, MH
Mr TSANG Heung-kwan, MH, JP
Mr CHEUNG King-wai
Mr HO Kui-yip, Vincent, MH, JP
To make recommendations on the following -
- Themes and modes of temple activities and services to support community development;
- Improve facilities at temples administered by the Chinese Temples Committee to support community development; and
- Subsidy schemes under the Chinese Temples Fund and the General Chinese Charities Fund.
Mr LAM Hon-wan, Nelson
Ms TANG Ming-wai, Mandy
Mr SO Yiu-wing
Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, BBS, MH, JP
Mr TSANG Chung-nam
Mr NG Hok-ming, Angus
Mr LAI Kwan-ho, Raymond
Ms WONG May-kwan
Mr YIP Siu-hong, Nelson, MH
Mr YIP Wing-shing, David, SBS, MH, JP
To make recommendations on the following -
- Publicity and promotion strategies and related activities of temples administered by CTC;
- Planning and implementation of activities to promote historical and cultural values of Chinese temples;
- Matters on promotion of inheritance of traditional temple-related Chinese culture; and
- Production of temple and cultural related publications.
Dr LEE Yuk-lun, BBS, JP
Miss ZHANG Ti
Dr WONG Shing-yick, Francis, MH
Mr CHAN Ching-yuen
Miss CHEUNG Ching-ting
Dr WONG Yin-yue, Sharon
Prof CHING May-bo
Mr CHIA Pun-kok, Herbert, JP
To make recommendations on the following -
- Work out a reasonable regulatory regime for Chinese temples to meet the present social conditions;
- Propose amendments to update the Chinese Temples Ordinance and related follow-up work; and
- Other related matters on the proposed amendments to the Chinese Temples Ordinance.
Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, BBS, MH, JP
Mr SO Yiu-wing
Dr LEE Yuk-lun, BBS, JP
Mr TSANG Chung-nam
Mr LAM Hon-wan, Nelson