Four Decades of Commitment
Ms Kimberley Kwong
Reflecting on 40 years of service, Ms Kwong believes the Association’s greatest strength lies in its unwavering commitment to ‘turn the impossible into possible.’ She is delighted to see arts with the disabled flourish across Hong Kong and gain broader recognition, while encouraging the next generation to bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the field.
Looking back on Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK)’s 40-year journey, the achievements we celebrate today have only been possible through the unwavering support and dedication of the past and present committee members, artists with disabilities, carers, partners, funding bodies, donors, volunteers and members of the wider community. Amongst them is the Association’s Honorary Secretary, Ms Kimberley Kwong, who has been closely involved with the Association since the first Festival of Arts with the Disabled in 1986. For four decades, she has accompanied the Association through every challenge and milestone, witnessing its steady growth and transformation.
First Encounter with Arts with the Disabled
'Back then, I thought art was rather niche, elite and expensive. How could it possibly have anything to do with people with disabilities? Many were still striving to make a living, so where would they find the room to pursue art?'
Ms Kwong candidly admits that this was once her perception of the relationship between the arts and disability.
That view began to change in the mid-1980s when she met Ms Bernadette Tsui, who was spearheading Hong Kong’s first Festival of Arts with the Disabled. At the time, Ms Kwong served as Chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth and joined the Festival’s Organising Committee, taking part in its planning and preparation.
Speaking of Ms Tsui, Ms Kwong remains full of admiration. In her view, it was Ms Tsui’s vision, passion and determination that first brought forward the idea of staging a Festival of Arts with the Disabled in Hong Kong. With the support and dedication of many like-minded people, the Festival was successfully realised. The subsequent establishment of ADAHK enabled the Festival’s vision to continue, allowing the seeds of ‘Arts are for Everyone’ to take root and flourish in Hong Kong.
Witnessing the Growth and Transformation of ADAHK
In 1986, Ms Kwong joined the Government while devoting much of her spare time to the Association’s early development. From applying for registration as a society, accompanying then-Chairperson Dr Marion Fang to seek legal advice from Ms Elsie Leung, to searching for suitable premises, she played an active role in many aspects of the Association’s formative years.
Over the decades, she witnessed key milestones in the Association’s development. In the early years, the committee actively organised fundraising activities, which received enthusiastic public support. Just over a year after its establishment, founding Chairperson Legislative Councillor Ms Henrietta Ip stepped down and was succeeded by Lady Jeremy Fell Mathews. Dr Marion Fang later assumed the chairmanship and continued to lead the Association until her final meeting in 2003.
The memories of those pioneering years remain vivid for Ms Kwong. At the time, the Association had only two or three staff members, and committee members often took on multiple roles, working tirelessly to keep the Association moving forward. Amongst the many challenges, securing a permanent office was one of the most demanding.
In its early days, the Association was kindly offered temporary office space by Ching Hing Construction Company Limited. Later, with support from the District Officer (Eastern), efforts were made to identify suitable premises within the district. In 1992, the Association learned of an available space on the fourth floor of the Causeway Bay Community Centre, although the unit was originally a kitchen. In 1995, Ms Kwong took charge of the renovation project, personally participating in the planning process and preparing the layout drawings. She subsequently witnessed the official opening of the office.
More than two decades later, when the headquarters underwent a major refurbishment in 2019, Ms Kwong once again lent her support to the project. From a modest workspace to a comfortable and professional office environment, the transformation reflects the dedication and hard work of countless people over the years.
Ms Kwong recalls those days of rolling up her sleeves and handling everything herself with great fondness. Although the work was often demanding, it brought her immense satisfaction. From a small organisation with only a handful of staff, the Association has since grown into a professional team of more than 30 full-time employees. Its development over the years fills her with pride and gratitude.
Reflections and Hopes for the Future
Reflecting on four decades of service, Ms Kwong believes her greatest gain has been the wealth of experience she has accumulated, embracing both challenges and joys along the way.
Even when ideas she raised at meetings were not accepted, she regarded the experience as an invaluable opportunity to learn and grow. To her, every discussion and every attempt formed an important part of the Association’s progress.
In her eyes, the Association’s most treasured spirit is its unwavering belief in making the impossible possible. 40 years ago, a group of professionals in the rehabilitation sector began helping people with disabilities discover and develop their artistic potential. At that time, ADAHK was virtually the only organisation in Hong Kong dedicated to promoting arts development for people with disabilities. Today, many organisations across Hong Kong have established their own teams or service units promoting the arts for people with disabilities.
Ms Kwong is delighted to see the sector flourishing in such a diverse and vibrant way. She believes the growing number of organisations investing in arts inclusion reflects a broader recognition of the artistic talents and potential of people with disabilities. At the same time, she acknowledges that this has created new challenges for the Association. One enduring regret, however, is that despite decades of service since the 1980s, the Association has yet to receive recurrent government subvention.
Looking ahead over the next five to ten years, Ms Kwong says with a smile that the time has come for her to gradually step back and leave the stage to the next generation.
She holds no fixed blueprint for how the Association should develop in future. Instead, she believes that younger generations will bring fresh perspectives, new approaches and renewed possibilities.
From a member of the Organising Committee of the Festival of Arts with the Disabled to ADAHK’s long-serving Honorary Secretary, she has not only witnessed the growth of ADAHK but has also become an indispensable part of its history.
More Snapshots
