The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has received a generous donation of HK$100 million (US$12.9 million) from a distinguished local family, which has extensive business interests in the city. The funding will be used to enhance the university’s art museum, further establishing Hong Kong as a leading center for cultural interaction.

The funds for the significant 1,770 square meter expansion, set to be unveiled next month, were provided by the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation. The foundation’s namesake, Lo Kwee Seong, established the popular beverage company Vitasoy in 1940, while his descendants went on to create Café de Coral and Fairwood, two renowned fast-food chains.

Peter Lo Tak-shing, the foundation’s chairman, emphasized the critical role universities play as platforms for academic discourse. He noted that while many museums may have their own specific objectives and guidelines, one rooted in an academic setting can seamlessly merge research, curation, and promotion in a more neutral environment.

Peter Lo expressed his hope that the museum extension would become an integral part of Hong Kong’s artistic landscape. He envisioned the city emerging as a global hotspot for international cultural exchange, where Eastern and Western influences converge.

In addition to serving arts and humanities students, he emphasized the cross-disciplinary nature of the space, indicating it could also benefit those engaged in scientific research.

The newly constructed Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion is home to the Harold and Christina Lee Gallery. This was made possible by a separate HK$50 million donation from the family that owns Lee Gardens, the famous shopping malls located in Causeway Bay.