In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), the “International Conference on Macau Documentary Heritage and Memory of the World – Inheritance and Contemporary Significance” and the Celebration of “Archives and Manuscripts of Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple” Inscribed to the MoW were recently held by the Memory of the World Knowledge Centre – Macau (City University of Macau), Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple, Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association, and the Macau Documentation and Information Society. The event brought together experts and scholars at home and abroad to discuss the preservation and inheritance of documentary heritage and its contemporary significance. This event aimed to further promote the global significance of Macao’s heritage, polishing the shining feature of Macao as a city of culture.

The opening ceremony took place at the Ho Yin Convention Centre on 28 June 2024. It was graced by officials included Lin Zhengyi, deputy director of the National Archives Administration of China; Fackson Banda, head of the Secretariat of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme; Huang Zhihu, deputy director-general of the Research Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Wu Zhiliang, president of the Administrative Council of Macao Foundation; Lou Hong Wai, representative of president of the Macao SAR Government Cultural Affairs Bureau and acting director of the Archives of Macao; Minh Huong Vu Thi, vice chair of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific and member of International Advisory Committee; Lao Ngai Leong, vice president of Board of Directors of the Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association and chairman of the City University Macau Foundation Trust Committee; Buddy Lam Chi Seng, director of Corporate Affairs of GEG; Master Miaozhi from the Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple; Lau Veng Seng, president of Board of Directors of Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association; Ung Pui Kun, vice president of Board of Directors and general-secretary of Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association; Vice Rector Zhou Wanlei; Tang Chon Chit, president of Macau Documentation and Information Society; Helen Ieong Hoi Keng, chief of the Executive Board of Documentation and Information Society; and Shi Limei, librarian of CityU. A total of 130 participants took part in the event, including Johannes Bos, former chair of the Register Sub-committee of the UNESCO’s MoW Programme; Lothar Jordan, chair of the Education and Research Sub-committee of the Programme; as well as representatives from religious associations, academic units, heritage associations, libraries, archives, and schools.

In his speech, Vice Rector Zhou Wanlei highlighted CityU’s close engagement with the MoW Programme. He emphasized the establishment of the first Memory of the World Knowledge Centre at CityU in 2016, made possible with the support of the National Archives Administration of China. He expressed his joy and pride in the successful collaboration with the Macau Documentation and Information Society in inscribing the Archives and Manuscripts of Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple in the “Memory of the World International Register.” He stated that this achievement will help enhance the University’s connection with the world and promote educational and research development.

Deputy Director Lin Zhengyi stated that China highly recognized the MoW Programme and actively participated in it since its initiation by UNESCO in the 1990s. He highlighted the establishment of the National Committee for the MoW Programme in 1996, led by the National Archives Administration of China, with the aim of organizing the implementation, promotion, research, exchange, publicity, and exhibition of the MoW Programme. Deputy Director Lin underscored the 17 items from China inscribed on the Asia Pacific Regional Register, of which three are from Macao, and mentioned the 15 items listed in the International Register, of which two are from Macao. He believes Macao residents should be proud of these achievements.

Head Fackson Banda emphasized the importance of UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme in safeguarding documentary heritage. He acknowledged its role in shaping individual and community identities, and highlighted how knowledge is created and disseminated in the contemporary context, including documentary heritage in virtual and digital forms. These forms, he stressed, have a profound impact on all aspects of human civilization and society. He expressed his gratitude to the University, GEG, Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association, and various sections in Macau for their contributions in making this important event possible.

President Wu Zhiliang stated that the successful inscription of the Archives and Manuscripts of Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple is a testament to the temple's profound history of promoting Buddhist education for women. He said that this exquisite temple holds significant value in Buddhism, education, and gender equality, recognized internationally, serving as a world-class cultural feature of Macao. “Macao is small,” he stressed, “but it has the potential to become a cultural silicon valley for China, with undeniable breadth and depth.”

In the opening ceremony, Dr. Helen Ieong Hoi Keng introduced the work of the Memory of the World Knowledge Centre – Macau and the Macau Documentation and Information Society, highlighting their efforts in promoting the MoW register, education, and research. She emphasized key projects, including the MoW promotion initiative at Tong Nam School, which received high praise from MoW experts for its educational impact. She also shared clips from a video series production of the MoW Programme, a collaborative effort with Puiching TV, a YouTube channel run by a local middle school in Macau. She emphasized the importance of these videos in engaging students in promoting historical heritage, hoping to garner attention and support for the initiative.

Officiating guests hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the activity. The symposium was divided into two sessions, morning and afternoon, hosted by Agnes Lam Iok Fong, ddirector of the Centre for Macau Studies at the University of Macau, and Simon Chu Fook-keung, professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, respectively. Experts and scholars attending the symposium approached the discussions from various angles, exploring different topics such as the contemporary significance of the MoW Programme, the inheritance and contemporary significance of Macao’s documentary heritage, and the unique value of the archives of Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple. They also shared insightful perspectives on documentary heritage preservation, educational applications, and international cooperation. The speeches and discussions of these experts and scholars provided new ideas and directions for the preservation and promotion of Macao’s cultural heritage, and also built bridges for cultural exchange between Macao and the international community.

This conference was part of a series of events celebrating the successful inscription of the Archives and Manuscripts of Macau Kong Tac Lam Temple. It aimed to deepen the understanding of the temple and its documentary value among Chinese and foreign scholars, showcase Macao’s documentary resources, strengthen cultural exchange and engagement, and make significant contributions to the development of Macao’s cultural sector.