Po Kok has a long tradition of commitment to the education and edification of young people in Hong Kong. On this webpage, we would like to share with you some of the major events and precious moments in the development of our school, from the good old days on our former campus in Happy Valley to the vibrant school life on our current school campus in Tseung Kwan O, so that you can better understand our history and the values inherent in our growth story.
1930
Being a faithful believer of Buddhism, Lady Clara Cheng Lin Kok was committed to promote the belief of Dharma and help the humankind. Recognized that women at that period generally lacked access to education, Lady Clara Ho-Tung, as a Buddhist laywoman, invited Venerable Master Aiting (靄亭法師) to help in the establishment of Po Kok Free School in Percival Street in 1930, providing free education for the underprivileged girls. Besides, Po Kok No.2 School and Po Kok Buddhist Academy were set up in Rua Central, Macau and Hoi Wan Lan Yeuk, Castle Peak respectively. In addition, under the auspices of Mr. Tam Woon Tong and financial assistance from Sir Robert Ho-Tung, the current address of Tung Lin Kok Yuen was established, serving as a majestic monastery. Laywoman Lin Kok and Venerable Master Aiting (靄亭法師) monitored and supervised everything, from the overall design to the internal furnishings.
1935
Po Kok Free School and Po Kok Buddhist Academy, formerly located in Percival Street and Castle Peak respectively, moved into Ting Lin Kok Yuen one after another upon its completion. Laywoman Lin Kok had a vision in the long run and made a will which entrusted Layman Wong Hok Yan, Layman Chan Ching To and Laywoman Lam Lim Chun with forming a board and selected Laywoman Lam Lim Chun as the successor to the head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen and school principal.
1937
During the Second-Sino Japanese War, laywoman Lin Kok had a patriotic pride and instructed the students in the school to sew military uniforms and transported them to the frontline.
1938
The founder Laywoman Lin Kok passed away. Laywoman Lam Lim Chun succeeded as the head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen and school principal.
1941
Due to the fall of Hong Kong, all activities of Tung Lin Kok Yuen and the school were shut. Also, Po Kok Second Free School in Macau was forced to close. It was a hard time for everyone in Tung Lin Kok Yuen. Fortunately, Laywoman Lam Lim Chun and the members of the board worked hard, and everyone could survive the difficult times.
1949
- Though the school received subsidies from the government, the board still raised funds to balance the expenditure to relieve the schoolchildren’s burden, which fulfilled the school mission. The board was registered as the legal foundation in accordance with government regulations, and the former board members were re-appointed as the permanent directors.
- The government intended to take back the land in front of Tung Lin Kok Yuen and listed it as land for sale. With the hard work of Sir Man Kam Lo and his wife, the government allocated the land to Tung Lin Kok Yuen for the permanent use of schooling. Sir Robert Ho-Tung then generously donated HKD$50,000 to transform the area into a school playground.
1950
Tung Lin Kok Yuen held a fair to raise funds for building a school building next to the school playground. In the meantime, Sir Man Kam Lo’s wife asked around for donations, and all sectors of the society responded enthusiastically.
1951
- The new school building was completed, and Madam Grantham presided over the opening ceremony. Students who previously attended classes at Tung Lin Kok Yuen moved into the new school building.
- Due to the rapid economic development in Hong Kong, Po Kok School that only provided primary courses had difficulty meeting the social needs. The board then decided to expand the school into ‘Po Kok Girls Junior Vocational Secondary School’, with a particular focus on Home Economics and Business Study, which made it easier for the graduates to make a living in society.
1954
Ever since the school developed into a vocational secondary school, its academic achievement was excellent, and the numbers of students increased. The campus was inadequate, and the board sought to expand again. It decided to hold a fair to raise funds for the construction of a school building behind the school as the new dormitory for the former resident teachers. The old dormitory became some new classrooms. The new building was completed in the year and was named ‘Lin Kok Memorial Building’ in the 80th commemoration of Laywoman Lin Kok. Sir Robert Ho-Tung presided over the opening ceremony.
1956
- A sales fair was held by Tung Lin Kok Yuen to raise funds to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the school, of which Sir Shiu-Kin Tang helped a lot.
- The board expanded the school with senior forms and changed its name to ‘Po Kok Girls Vocational Secondary School cum Affiliated Primary School’. At that time, the school was already well-organized, with the primary school during daytime and nighttime, junior secondary 1 to 3 and senior secondary 1. In 1959, there was the first cohort of secondary school graduates.
1958
To provide an opportunity for the out-of-school children in the rural with education, Sir Man Kam Lo’s wife spared no effort and set up Po Kok Branch School in Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long under the generous donation of the property located in Tan Kwai Tsuen as the school building by Mr. H.W. Tang and Ms. K.Y. Tang. Po Kok Branch School was officially opened in September of the year. Po Kok Branch School was a subsidized co-ed primary school. It is also the first Buddhism primary school in Yuen Long district.
1959
Sir Man Kam Lo passed away.
1961
Due to the increasing number of classes, there was a shortage of classroom. Sir Man Kam Lo pre-allocated a huge amount of money for the expansion of the school. Sir Man Kam Lo’s wife inherited Sir Man Kam Lo’s last wish and expanded a teaching building named ‘Man Kam Memorial Building’ in a garden in front of Tung Lin Kok Yuen. The opening ceremony was presided over by Sir Robert Black, the former governor of Hong Kong.
1963
- Head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen Laywoman Lam Lim Chun retired. Venerable Master Kok On (覺岸法師) succeeded as the principal of the secondary and primary school. Venerable Master Mung Seng (愍生法師) became the deputy head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, helping with the work.
- Hung Shui Kiu Po Kok Branch School was expanded, and the three-story teaching building was completed and opened in the year.
1964
The number of students increased rapidly, and the classrooms were inadequate. In the meantime, it was the 90th commemoration of the founder Laywoman Lin Kok. Therefore, the board planned to construct some special rooms to commemorate the founders. On 25th December, Sir Shiu-kin Tang was invited to hold a groundbreaking ceremony, and the construction was completed the following year. The secondary school changed from the old system to a new one.
1966
Head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen Laywoman Lam Lim Chun passed away.
1967
Chairperson Chan Ching To passed away. General Ho Shai Lai became the chairperson. Venerable Master Kok On (覺岸法師), Venerable Master Mug Seng (愍生法師) and Ms. Ho Min Kwan were hired to be the directors. Venerable Master Mung Seng (愍生法師) became the head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen.
1970
Venerable Master Kok Kwong (覺光法師) accompanied the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand to visit our school.
1971
The expansion of the covered playground at Hung Shui Kiu Po Kok Branch School was completed. The school development was well-structured.
1973
The Buddhism class was registered as a non-profit-making private secondary school and was renamed as Po Kok Buddhism College.
1975
- The classroom building in the 100th commemoration of the founder Laywoman Lin Kok was completed, and Sir Shiu-kin Tang presided over the ceremony.
- The number of secondary one classes increased from two to three and there were 12 classes in total.
1983
- Venerable Master Kok On (覺岸法師) retired and Ms. Yip Shuk Ping became the principal of Po Kok Secondary School.
- The board subsidized the purchase of televisions and video recorders, which were installed in the classrooms of both the primary and secondary schools to help teaching.
1986
With the continuous development of the secondary school, the number of subjects was increasing, and its courses were getting closer to regular grammar schools. In order to match the status, the school was renamed ‘Po Kok Girls Secondary School’ and the primary school was renamed ‘Po Kok Girls Secondary School Affiliated Primary School’.
1987
The board decided to install air conditioners in both primary and secondary schools to improve the learning environment.
1990
There were three classes in each form for the secondary one to four. The school implemented the ‘balancing system’. There were 16 classes in total for secondary one to six.
1991
On 27th and 28th December, the school celebrated its 60th anniversary and held an open day.
1992
- Sir Man Kam Lo’s wife passed away.
- The matriculation courses changed from one-year to two-year. From 1993, there were 17 classes in total for secondary one to seven.
1996
The secondary school received a donation of HKD$4,800,000 from Ms. Chan Pui Ngan’s will and set up a ‘Ms. Chan Pui Ngan Scholarship’ to reward the alumni studying in the university who had excellent academic and moral achievement.
1998
- General Ho Shai Lao passed away.
- The board allocated HKD$2,000,000 to the secondary school to set up an IT education fund to promote IT teaching. The fund was used to set up a multimedia teaching room, purchase various IT equipment and train teaching staff members to use IT in teaching.
- The Parent-Teacher Association was set up in secondary school.
1999
- The secondary school was rated by the Education Bureau as one of the 44 value-added schools in Hong Kong, which showed the school’s excellent performance in teaching.
- To further improve the teaching environment and curriculum, the board requested relocation of the secondary school from the Education Bureau. A new school building was granted by the Education Bureau. The name of the new secondary school is ‘ Po Kok Secondary School’.
