Through the Mao Chun Fai Performing Art Charity Foundation, I hope to summarise and extend my decades of experience across both Chinese and Western stages. I believe this platform can serve as a rare cultural bridge—one that allows us to research, create, and nurture new talents and original works for a new era. As a theatre practitioner with professional experience spanning over half a century in both Eastern and Western theatre, I feel it is my responsibility to promote both inheritance and innovation. But true inheritance and innovation cannot rely solely on theoretical discussion or formalistic presentations—they demand time, effort, and deep commitment to exploration and creation. What Hong Kong sorely lacks are the actual conditions needed for such long-term and in-depth artistic practice—especially in terms of sustained resources. The Mao Chun Fai Performing Art Charity Foundation aspires to take on this mission: to develop unique artistic projects, cultivate professionals in the theatre arts, and promote cultural exchange within society. We must take Hong Kong as our base and, through concrete actions, raise the standards of theatrical art and enhance its recognition on the international stage. This aligns with Hong Kong’s positioning as a centre for cultural exchange between East and West. We firmly believe that through this foundation, we can move forward in step with the nation and with the world.
This organization is a non-profit entity dedicated to documenting, preserving, and advancing Professor Fredric Mao Chun Fai’s theatrical vision—a philosophy that merges Chinese and Western traditions with creative innovation. Through artistic creation, academic research, educational outreach, and community engagement, we aim to open new horizons for theatre and build a cross-cultural, intergenerational platform that supports the sustainable development of the performing arts and fosters international exchange.
Professor Fredric Mao Chun-fai obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Iowa in the United States. During his early career in the U.S., he was appointed Artistic Director of the Napa Valley Theatre Company in California at the age of 27. At 29, he made his Broadway debut in the original Harold Prince/Stephen Sondheim musical Pacific Overtures (1976).
In 1985, he returned to Hong Kong to join the newly established Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) as Head of Acting in the School of Drama. Over the years, he has trained a new generation of theatre professionals. From 2001 to 2008, he served as the first Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre following its corporatisation. During his tenure, he produced numerous acclaimed works with local cultural characteristics. He led the company in groundbreaking all-Cantonese performances in Shanghai and Beijing, as well as tours in the United States and Canada, receiving widespread acclaim. Upon his departure, he was honored with the title of “Director Laureate.”
In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2004. He was also named Honorary Fellow of the HKAPA in 2005, Honorary University Fellow of Hong Kong Baptist University in 2007, and received an Honorary Doctorate (Drama) from the HKAPA in 2014. In 2008, he founded the organization “Asian Performing Arts Research,” which produced the first government-commissioned study on the state of theatre practice in Hong Kong. The organization also launched various mentorship programs, known as the “Director-Friend Scheme,” to nurture future theatre professionals.
Professor Mao has directed numerous award-winning productions, including: Windy Path (《風中細路》) Following Sister in Circles (《跟住個𡃁妹氹氹轉》) Hong Kong Sweet and Sour (《酸酸甜甜香港地》) New Love in a Fallen City (《新傾城之戀》) Incense of Souls / Dream of Pear Blossoms (《還魂香／梨花夢》) Purple Hairpin (《情話紫釵》) Tao Yuen Complex (《杜老誌》) Road to Damascus (《往大馬士革之路》)
From 2010 to 2019, he served as Convener of the Hong Kong–Taiwan Cultural Cooperation Committee, successfully launching the annual “Hong Kong Week” in Taipei to showcase Hong Kong’s creative and cultural achievements. Between 2014 and 2016, he was appointed as the Founding Dean of the School of Chinese Opera at the HKAPA, where he established Hong Kong’s first Bachelor of Arts degree program in Cantonese opera.
In 2018, his adaptation and direction of the Cantonese opera Sword of the Floral Pavilion (《百花亭贈劍》) for the Hong Kong Arts Festival received critical acclaim. The production became the first in the festival’s history to be restaged in the following season and subsequently toured to Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, garnering enthusiastic responses.
With support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and nomination by the HKSAR Government, he completed the three-year “Jockey Club Mao Chun Fai Theatre Arts Research and Creation Project” in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the exploration and development of Cantonese opera. Currently, Professor Mao serves as Advisor to the China Theatre Association (Beijing and Hong Kong), Convener of the “Research Group on Intangible Cultural Heritage Development in Hong Kong and Macau,” and Founder and Director of Asian Performing Arts Research.
Senior Performing Artist / Clinical Psychotherapist
Amy Wu began her career in the performing arts in 1977 and has long been recognized as a senior artist with a wholesome public image.
In 1992, she became the first television actress to receive the Best Actress Award at the Hong Kong Drama Awards（香港舞台劇獎）, presented by the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies（香港戲劇協會）, for her performance in One Cage of Romance（《一籠風月》）.
In 2004, she was appointed Community Cultural Ambassador（社區文化大使） by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department（康樂及文化事務署）, tasked with promoting the cultural appreciation of Cantonese opera and Tang poetry.
In 2012, she received the “Hong Kong Outstanding Women Award”（香港傑出女性大獎） from the Hong Kong Women’s Federation（香港婦聯）.
In 2015, she was awarded the “Ambassador of Care”（關懷大使） title by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service（香港社會服務聯會）, in recognition of her seven-year role as host of the positive psychology radio program Sorry‧I Love You（《Sorry ‧ I Love You》） on Metro Radio（新城電台）.
In 2019, she founded the May Yee Psychological Studio（胡美儀心理工作室）, entering the field of psychological counselling as a clinical psychotherapist and life coach. She has since organized and co-hosted a wide range of psychological and emotional wellness seminars. In 2025, the studio received the “SEE MARK” enterprise certification（SEE MARK企業認證） from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises（社會企業總會）.
In 2020, she provided in-person charitable emotional counselling services to the public in response to growing social needs.
In 2021, she was appointed “Counselling Service Ambassador”（輔導服務大使） by the Hong Kong Christian Counselling Service（香港基督教輔導服務）.
That same year, she received the “Outstanding Active Women Excellence Award”（傑出活齡女性卓越大獎） from the Wing Cheung Women’s Group（詠翔婦女團體）, recognizing her commitment to community service.
In 2022, during the pandemic, she offered online charitable emotional counselling services to the public.
In 2023, she received the “Outstanding Resilience Award”（疫境自強傑出人士獎項） from the Greater Bay Area Innovation Centre of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong（香港恆生大學大灣區融創中心）.
She has hosted May Yee Smiles at the World（《胡美儀．笑眼看世界》） on KMRB 1430 Chinese Radioin Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Heart-to-Heart with Fred Mao and May Yee（《毛俊輝、胡美儀真情對話》） on KEST AM1450 Today’s Chinese Radio（今日華人電台） in the U.S.
She is currently a PhD candidate in psychological counselling, integrating art therapy into her practice by creating emotionally healing paintings used both for therapy and fundraising for organizations in need.
Current Positions:
Founder, May Yee Psychological Studio（胡美儀心理工作室） (SEE MARK Certified Social Enterprise)
Clinical Psychotherapist, Yan Tak Yin Medical Center（恩德賢醫務中心）
Special Emotional Counsellor, Rebirth Association（再生會）
Previous Positions:
Life Coach, Chung Ching Middle School（崇正中學）
Life Coach, Hong Kong Bauhinia College（香港紫荊學院）
Co-founder of Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation
Professor Alice Chiu has devoted her entire life to charitable work under the scope of elderly care, quality education and medical care since 1970. Her achievement is pivotal to the development of many charitable organizations in Hong Kong and has paved the way for Operation Smile to provide quality surgical care to the underprivileged children born with cleft conditions in China. Other than her philanthropy, she is also a successful entrepreneur who has been actively involving in a wide range of community services across the globe.
Mrs. Chiu’s extraordinary achievements have been globally recognized through numerous awards, the recognition and awards are as follows, “The Outstanding Philanthropist” award from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, “The Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World”, “World Outstanding Chinese Award”, “Outstanding Businesswomen Leader”, “The Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Government of the HKSAR (2010)” and ‘The Belgium Knight in the Leopold II Order”.
She is also the Operation Smile Greater China Founding Committee Chairperson, Operation Smile Greater China & International Chairperson (Asia Pacific), Hong Kong AIDS Foundation Founding Fund Raising Committee Chairman, Hong Kong AIDS Foundation Executive Board Vice Chairman, Peking University Alumni Association Founding Director, Founding Chairman of Greater China Culture Global Association, Yan Chai Hospital Advisory Board Chairman, as well as The Community Chest of Hong Kong ( Chairman of Campaign Committee) Vice Patron.
Mr. James Ho is a member of the Zhuhai Overseas Chinese Affairs Association（珠海市海聯會）. He began serving clients in the financial and corporate services sectors in 2006. He has worked with foreign investment banks, state-owned enterprises, and the corporate finance platforms of many Fortune 500 companies in China. He maintains close professional relationships with chambers of commerce, intermediaries, and clients in both Mainland China and Hong Kong, and regularly organizes seminars for clients and industry peers. Mr. Ho also delivers corporate training and continuing professional education for universities, banks, and securities firms, and has many years of experience in voluntary service.
Deeply passionate about the arts, culture, and charitable work, Mr. Ho hopes to contribute to the innovation and preservation of Hong Kong’s artistic and cultural heritage by leveraging his extensive experience and network in the financial and professional services sectors. He is honored to serve as Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Mao Chun Fai Performing Art Charity Foundation.
Mr. Ho holds a Master’s degree in Risk Management Science from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is a Responsible Officer licensed for Type 6 (Advising on Corporate Finance) regulated activity under the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) professional qualifications.
Mabel Lau was born in Hong Kong and began her career in the import and export trade in the 1980s. She previously worked for the Swire Group（太古集團） and Wing On Department Store（永安百貨）, and has actively expanded brand businesses across Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Mainland China. She has worked closely with many internationally renowned brands on marketing strategy development. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unique positioning and core strengths, she successfully established her own clothing brand. With extensive multinational experience and decisive leadership, she secured exclusive brand licensing agreements with the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, lasting for 13 years. This collaboration covered design, production, marketing, retail, and wholesale, and she successfully introduced these brands into the China and Asia-Pacific markets, achieving remarkable commercial success.
Over the past decade, she has shifted into new retail and gradually redirected her focus toward art- and culture-related projects, with a strong emphasis on cross-industry collaboration, showcasing her creativity and dynamic energy. Since 2017, she has been actively involved in the field of art finance, contributing to the establishment and operation of art-focused private equity funds. In recent years, she has focused increasingly on art charity initiatives. Mabel Lau currently serves as Executive Director of the Organizing Committee of the Mao Chun Fai Performing Art Charity Foundation, where she continues to advance the integration of art and philanthropy with professionalism and dedication.
Jenny Chow is an experienced lawyer and strategist, specializing in corporate governance, compliance, and strategic advisory. She has served as Chief Strategist and Chief Compliance Officer of the United Nations SDG Innovative Finance, where she played a key role in aligning innovative financing solutions with global sustainability goals.
Her professional journey spans financial services, FinTech, and ESG-related innovation. With a forward-thinking mindset, she integrates sustainability principles into financial and legal structures, helping organizations navigate regulatory challenges while staying mission aligned.
Outside her advisory roles, Jenny is passionate about Chinese literature and history. She enjoys composing poetry and classical prose and is a lifelong collector of antiques and art. She owns and operates a private museum, and is active in the fields of art leasing and RWA (Real World Asset) tokenization.
As a pro bono lawyer for the foundation, Jenny is honoured to work under the guidance of Professor Fredric Mao. Embracing the role of dramaturg, she conducts research and curates contextual materials to support the artistic renewal of Cantonese opera—preserving its essence while helping it connect with today’s audiences.
