The Foundation
The Crescent Garden Foundation was established to advance philanthropy and scholarship in the fields of Architecture and the Built Environment, enhance access to education, and preserve cultural heritage.
The Foundation’s ongoing mission is to honour and perpetuate the century-long legacy and stewardship of the Siu family, whose multi-generational contributions have been important in shaping Hong Kong society through key architectural projects, urban development, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Through successive generations, the family has exemplified responsible custodianship, civic leadership, and cultural vision that transcends any single lifetime.
Reflecting the family’s global diaspora, the Foundation’s impact extends internationally, sustaining the Siu family’s connections across communities. Our purpose is not charity alone, but the guardianship of a heritage that continues to influence future generations.
By supporting Architecture, Culture, and the Built Environment, as well as educational institutions and cultural preservation initiatives, the Foundation affirms a belief that its efforts are measured not in visibility, but in the permanence, continuity, and careful stewardship of the values established over a century ago by the late Mr. Siu Un and now sustained by his descendants.
Philanthropic Mission
In tribute to Mr. Siu Un’s philanthropic vision, whose endowment over 100 years ago facilitated the establishment of the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, the Foundation remains guided by a spirit of enduring public service and civic responsibility.
Today, the Crescent Garden Foundation supports students, academic institutions, professional bodies, and cultural institutions engaged in advancing Architecture and the Built Environment, particularly in regions connected to the Siu family’s diaspora. Through awards, scholarships, and institutional partnerships, the Foundation seeks to promote excellence in architectural design, cultural preservation, and scholarly research, ensuring that the family’s architectural and societal legacy continues to benefit communities worldwide.
THE FAMILY - 100 years of iMPACT
The Pre-War Era
In the 1920s, at a time when access to modern medical care was limited for the Chinese community in Hong Kong, the Siu family made a significant philanthropic contribution toward the construction of the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital. This early act of civic generosity exemplified the family’s longstanding commitment to the welfare of its community.
The Grade II listed hospital stands as notable architecture today, where symmetry meets curves, verandahs and balanced colonnades. Its arched windows invite light and ventilation, while its well-proportioned form and aesthetic features reflect the ambition of British colonial architecture in the Far East.
The Post-War Reconstruction and
Development
In the decades following the Second World War, members of the Siu family contributed as architects, surveyors, lead contractors and urban development professionals in supporting the city’s transformative post-war urban expansion.
Their accomplishments spanned industrial, commercial, and civic projects, contributing to the city’s modernisation while preserving cultural heritage. These multi-generational architectural achievements reflect the family’s expertise, civic stewardship, and enduring cultural influence. The projects below represent a selection of key developments that members of the Siu family were involved with across generations.
South Sea Textile Manufacturing
Co. (Tsuen Wan, 1948):
A large-scale flagship facility that marked the inception of Hong Kong’s emergence as a textile manufacturing powerhouse of that era.
Printing house (duddell streeT, 1949):
Among the first large-scale printing establishments in Hong Kong. It catered to the expanding needs of local and Chinese-language media and commercial enterprises.
State theatre (king’s road, formerly empire theatre, 1952):
A culturally and architecturally significant structure distinguished by the innovative use of parabolic concrete arches. In 2017, it was designated as a Grade I listed historic building.
Alexandra House (Des Voeux Road, 1952):
A technically challenging commercial development in the Central business district, amalgamating several historic sites including the Royal Buildings and Cecil Hotel. Alexandra House housed several prominent British firms, and the offices of the Siu family's architecture and construction business, latterly known as G.W. Grey & Co., on the 10th Floor of the building.
RAIMONDI COLLEGE PRIMARY SECTION (sTUBBS rOAD, 1966):
A project that supported the expansion of Catholic educational institutions in Hong Kong.
Catholic Mission School of the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church (Rutter St, 1967):
A project that supported the expansion of Catholic educational institutions in Hong Kong.
