History

Institution

On 6 October 1971, the “Hong Kong Translation Society Limited” was formally incorporated in Hong Kong. It represented the fruition of a vigorous campaign for the institution of a non-profit making academic association in the territory to promote standards, exchange, publication and research relating to translation from and into Chinese, seven months after an inaugural meeting was summoned by its seven subscribers: Louis Cha, T. C. Lai, Meng Ma, Stephen C. Soong, Alex H-H Sun, Philip S. Y. Sun and Siu-Kit Wong.

The staunch belief of these men of letters, six distinguished academics and one renowned martial arts fiction writer-cum-newspaper publisher, were engraved in the Society’s Memorandum of Association. As stipulated in Article 3, the first-and-foremost object of the Translation Society is:

To raise the standard of translation by assisting in the training of Chinese and other languages and by encouraging those engaged in scholarly pursuits to translate important works in Chinese and other languages, in order to cater to the needs of a developing society and to promote cultural exchanges, and for this purpose:

(1) To hold meetings of the Society;

(2) To publish books or periodicals, sponsor research on various aspects of translation, organise conferences on special topics and engage in other activities compatible with the objects of the Society;

(3) To print, publish, sell, lend or distribute the proceedings or reports of the Society.

Past Initiatives

The Society became a registered charitable organization with the government in 1991. As the only organization for translation scholars and professionals in the territory, it has been a member association of the Translators Association of China since 1986 and the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs since 1988.

The Society conducted its own Diploma and Advanced Diploma examinations from 1991 to 1995, specifically designed to be exacting, practical tests of translating and interpreting at undergraduate and graduate levels, offering opportunities to capable persons lacking a formal qualification in translation.

Over the years, the Society has provided free professional opinion and expertise upon request by the government and different sectors of the community on various issues, including translation and language education in Hong Kong, the English translation of the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, as well as the annual Hong Kong Youth Translation Competition.

Anniversaries

The Society celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1991, when a charity piano recital by virtuoso Fou Ts'ong was held for the institution of a Memorial Fund in dedication to modern Chinese translation master Fou Lei.

In 2001, the “Third FIT Asian Translators’ Forum” was held in commemoration of our 30th anniversary, further consolidating its contribution to the cause of translation in Hong Kong.

2005-06 witnessed our 36th Anniversary featuring the “Translation and the Arts Seminars”, a series of “Distinguished Scholars Lectures” and a “Charity Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition” showcasing the works of local scholar artist T. C. Lai, Founding Member-cum-President Emeritus of the Society.

In 2011, a public lecture titled “Translation in Hong Kong: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century” was held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Society.

The 45th-anniversary celebration in 2016-17 featured a large-scale “Translation and the Professions” Symposium, a Public Library talk series titled “Translation and Our Daily Life”, and a translation forum titled “Meet the Masters” where newly conferred Honorary Fellows of the Society shared their insights on translation with the public.

2021 is a watershed year for the Hong Kong Translation Society. In commemoration of our Golden Jubilee, a Specialized Translation Talk Series and a continuous project on Oral Translation History in Hong Kong are in the making. Details will be announced soon.

History

Golden Album

10th & 20th Anniversary

香港翻譯學會十週年晚宴，高克毅致辭。George Kao delivered his speech at the 10th anniversary.

1991.10.29傅聰為學會義演籌款。攝於“傅雷紀念音樂會”後。旁立著為學會會友。Photograph taken after the Pianoforte Recital by Fou Ts’ong for the set up of Fou Lai Foundation Fund.

1991.10.30學會成立二十週年晚宴上，傅聰與會友合攝。20th anniversary dinner reception.

1991.10.29學會籌款音樂會上，會長金聖華與嘉賓合攝。Serena Jin and guests of the recital.

1991.10傅聰攝於“傅雷逝世二十五週年紀念展”會場。Fu Ts’ong at the “Fou Lai’s Works and Memorabilia (1908-1965)”.

學會成立二十週年，舉辦“傅雷逝世二十五週年展”，由其次子傅敏蒞臨港主持。

1991.10.30會長金聖華在二十週年紀晚宴上講話。

1991學會成立二十週年晚宴上，傅聰與戈寶權伉儷合攝。Fou Ts’ong, Prof. and Mrs. Ge Baoquan at the dinner reception of the 20th anniversary.

1991.10.30會長金聖華致送紀念品給學會顧問賴恬昌先生。Serena Jin, the then chairman, presented souvenir to T. C. Lai, the Adviser.

二十週年紀念晚宴上榮譽會士高克毅先生與嘉賓蕭芳芳女士合照。George Kao and Josephine Xiao at the 20th anniversary dinner reception.

1991.10.29會長金聖華與學會顧問賴恬昌攝於“傅雷紀念音樂會”前

1991.10.29學會舉辦“傅雷紀念音樂會”，傅聰在義演後舉行簽名會

Conferences

1980香港翻譯學會研討會

左起：劉殿爵、宋琪、劉靖之。From left: D. C. Lau, Stephen Soong, and C. C. Liu

饒餘慶講《評凱恩斯〈一般理論〉的中譯》。Speech by Y. C. Jao

黃金鴻在翻譯研討會上主講《香港法律的中譯問題》。Speech by Dr. K. H. Wong on Issue of Chinese Translation of Hong Kong Laws at the Hong Kong Translation Conference 1980.

1997.12.2翻譯教學研討會。

廖永勤（左）、劉靖之（右）在一九八一年香港翻譯研討會主席台上。K. K. Liu (left) and C. C. Liu at the Hong Kong Translation Conference 1981.

學會會員參加1985年研討會。Members attended the conference held in 1985.

（從左至右）金聖華、紐瑪克（Peter Newmark）、劉靖之、周愛華在香港翻譯學會主辦的翻譯研討會上。(from left) Serena Jin, Peter Newmark, C. C. Liu, and O. W. Chow at the Translation Conference organized by the Society.

1986年2月舉辦Eugene Nida Forum。

1997.12.2翻譯教學研討會開幕禮於香港中文大學祖堯堂外全體合照。Group photo outside Cho Yiu Conference Hall after the opening ceremony of Conference on Translation Teaching.

一九九七年十二月二至四日，翻譯教學研討會在香港中文大學祖堯堂舉行，圖中為圓桌會議，由論文發表者、講評人及主持人參與，其他為旁聽者。Roundtable discussion at the Conference on Translation Teaching at Cho Yiu Conference Hall, the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 2-4 December 1997.

左起：林戊蓀、劉靖之、金耀基、金聖華。(from left) Lin Wusun, C. C. Liu, Y. K. Kim and Serena Jin.

Honorary Fellows

1986.9.27攝於賴恬昌先生（左）、楊憲益（右）領取榮譽會士銜之後，中為當時之學會會長劉靖之教授。Mr. T. C. Lai (left) and Prof. Yang Xianyi (right) after the award of Honorary Fellowship. Prof. C. C. Liu (middle) was the then chairman of the Executive committee.

1987.9.26劉靖之頒發香港翻譯學會榮譽會士給林文月。Prof. Lin Wen-yueh received the certificate of Honorary Fellowship from Prof. C. C. Liu.

1988.10.8殷張蘭熙與劉靖之在榮譽會士頒授典禮上。Nancy Chang and C. C. Liu.

1988.10.8（從左至右）黃邦傑、賴恬昌、金聖華、殷張蘭熙、劉靖之、劉殿爵、苗華安（香港政府中文專員）攝於榮譽會士頒授典禮上。(left to right) Ian Wong, T. C. Lai, Serena Jin, Nancy Chang, C. C. Liu, D. C. Lau, and W. O. Miu.

劉靖之（左）、金聖華（中）、鄭仰平（右）在榮譽會士頒授典禮上。C. C. Liu (left), Serena Jin (middle), and Y. P. Cheng (right).

香港翻譯學會執行委員會宴請獲得頒發榮譽會士的鄭仰平，前排從左至右：劉靖之、賴恬昌、金聖華、鄭仰平、龐林淑蓮；後排從左至右：丁紹源、何信勤、黃邦傑。Dinner with Honorary Fellow, Y. P. Cheng. Front row (left to right): C. C. Liu, T. C. Lai, Serena Jin, Y. P. Cheng, and Elizabeth Pong; second row: Samuel Ding, Ben Ho, M. V. Lee, and Ian Wong.

1985年金聖華教授初認識翻譯名家楊憲益與戴乃迭伉儷(1986年榮譽會士)

1987年學會辦授榮譽會士與林文月，執委金聖華、劉靖之合攝

1988年學會頒授榮譽會士與張蘭熙(中)、楊絳(金聖華代領)，劉靖之合攝

1994年學會辦授榮譽會士與齊邦媛(左)、金聖華(右)，林文月合攝

1997年金聖華教授(學會榮休會長、榮譽會士))因推動翻譯獲頒OBE（英帝國官佐）勳銜

金聖華教授探訪名家楊絳(學會1988年榮譽會士)

Other Activities

1979.2金聖華與劉靖之。Serena Jin and C. C. Liu.

左起：劉靖之、羅新璋、金聖華及童元方。(from left) C. C. Liu, Luo Xinzhang, Serena Jin, and Y. F. Tung.

1985香港翻譯學會執委會一行八人，訪問上海外語學院。Visit to Shanghai Foreign Language College by eight Executive Committee members.

香港翻譯學會執行委員會一行八人，於一九八五年四月訪問上海、北京，此為李勉民、丁紹源、梁寶生、賴恬昌、劉靖之、余丹、張同、金聖華在北京外文出版局大門外合影。(from left) M. V. Lee, Samuel Ding, B. S. Leung, T. C. Lai, C. C. Liu, Diana Yue, T. Chang, and Serena Jin outside the main entrance of the Beijing Foreign Language Publishing Bureau in April 1985.

執行委員會訪問上海及北京，圖為丁紹源（左）、錢鍾書（中）、劉靖之（右）在中國社會科學院外國文學研究所主辦的座談會上。Visit to Shanghai and Beijing by the Executive Committee. Samuel Ding (left), Qian Zhongshu (middle), and C. C. Liu (right) at the seminar organized by the Research Center of Foreign Literature, Institute of Social Science of China.