To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and to commemorate the generosity of Sir Robert Ho Tung in donating the building to the Macao Government for the establishment of a public library, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will hold a plaque inauguration ceremony on 4 August (Saturday), at 3pm, at the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, followed by a series of activities held during the same month, including a talk by architect Carlos Marreiros which aims to introduce the architectural style and restoration history of the building; and a sketching tour of the adjacent buildings to Sir Robert Ho Tung Library by architect Andre Lui Chak Keong. Admission to the activities is free.
Before it was turned into a library, the building was a private villa bought by Sir Robert Ho Tung in 1918. After his death in 1956, Ho’s family executed his will by donating the building and HK$25,000 to the Macao Government to purchase books and turn it into a Chinese public library. The Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, at the time the largest public library featuring a collection of about 3,000 books, officially opened to the public on 1 August 1958.
To commemorate Sir Robert Ho Tung and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, a series of exceptional activities will be held at the Library to introduce the history of the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the contributions of Sir Robert Ho Tung. On 4 August (Saturday) at 4pm, Thematic Talk: ‘Steeped in History – Reflections from Sir Robert Ho Tung Library Building’ will be held by architect Carlos Marreiros, who coordinated and implemented the repair projects of the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the Chinese Ancient Books Chamber in the 1980s, he will talk about the architectural styles, the restoration history and the layout of the Library from the perspectives of the person in charge of the project.
Architect Andre Lui Chak Keong will conduct the ‘Relaxing Moment at St. Augustine’s Square – Guided Architectural Tour and Sketching Activity’ on 5 August (Sunday) and 18 August (Saturday) at 3pm, introducing Eastern and Western architecture in the area near St. Augustine's Square, assisting the participants in sketching the urban landscape of the area and sharing information about the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the historical buildings nearby as to architectural and artistic aspects. The Public Library will also organize a guided tour to the Chinese Ancient Books Chamber at Sir Robert Ho Tung Library on 11 August (Saturday), at 3:30pm, allowing the public to have a better understanding of the Library and the Chinese Ancient Books Chamber.
The aforementioned activities are conducted in Cantonese without simultaneous interpretation. Registration for the activities is open now. Interested residents can register through the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s “Activity Registration System” at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event. For more information, please visit the Macao Public Library website at www.library.gov.mo or call the MPL through tel. no. 2893 0077 or 2825 9220, during office hours.