The Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme this year features Dr Louis Ng, Director of HKPM
Shaping the curator within
Distinguished alumnus Dr Louis Ng shares his life trajectory and cultural mission
The sixth Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme, under the theme “Cultural heritage journey from Hong Kong to the world”, was held from 17 to 19 October. The programme this year featured Dr Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM). He returned to his alma mater to share his invaluable insights in the cultural industry and interact with the CUHK community. He also gave a guided tour to participants visiting the museum. The three-day programme was well received with over 1,000 applications.
Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa (1985/NA/HIS, 1989/GS/MPhil in HIS, 1999/GS/PhD in HIS) is a seasoned museum professional, historian, and arts administrator with over three decades. Delivering his keynote speech “Shaping the curator within: How CUHK guided my professional journey” at the opening ceremony, he recounted his grassroots upbringing in Tai Kok Tsui and his journey from his undergraduate years to doctoral studies at CUHK.
As a museum administrator and historian, he believes that “historical virtue” is very important, saying: “Intellectuals should respect virtue and learn by the way, and we are responsible for interpreting history and reflecting it as it is.” The holistic education philosophy of CUHK and his teacher Professor Xu Guansan of the Department of History have tied him with Chinese culture and instilled motivation for continuous enhancement, which have profound impact in his life trajectory and career in the arts and culture industry.
After the opening ceremony, Dr Ng went to the Institute of Chinese Studies for a dialogue with students from the Faculty of Arts. Drawing on his three-decade long career in museum planning and management, he imparted insights into arts administration and offered practical tips to students on preparing for the industry. The next day, at HKPM, he shared participants an overview on its architectural design, event planning and cutting-edge curation techniques, showcasing the fusion of Chinese and Western influences across various historical epochs. Dr. Ng led a guided tour for participants, allowing them to explore the thematic exhibitions and deepening their appreciation for the allure of traditional Chinese culture. The participants immersed themselves in the captivating essence of traditional masterpieces firsthand in the special and thematic exhibitions.
The keynote “The foundation that powers the future: The amazing journey of the Hong Kong Palace Museum” cum closing ceremony successfully ended on 19 October. In addition to being an adjunct professor at CUHK’s Department of Fine Arts and Department of History, Dr Ng is providing half-yearly mentorship to outstanding students, with the aim of nurturing new blood for the arts and culture industry and carrying on the mission of cultural heritage.
Dr Ng has been the founding Director of HKPM since August 2019, overseeing the planning, construction and operations of the museum. The museum has welcomed over 2.5 million visitors since its opening in July 2022. He was the founding Director of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and the Executive Secretary of the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Before joining HKPM, he was Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Department, where he oversaw the department’s culture-related institutions such as museums, performing arts centres and public libraries.
Professor Tuan thanked Dr Ng for gracing the CUHK community with his presence at the Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme. He says, “The HKPM has the important missions to support Hong Kong’s development as a centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the West, to promote education about traditional culture and to facilitate intercultural dialogues. These align closely with the mission of CUHK. It is essential for us to gain a deep understanding of our own traditional culture to broaden our global perspectives. Therefore, the work of the University and the HKPM is equally arduous and crucial.”
Video highlight of the sixth Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme
