It’s been a century since Mr Lee Hysan acquired East Point Hill in 1923. Since then, Causeway Bay has evolved along with people, business and streets of the district that we call home. Join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Lee Gardens by exploring our intertwined stories with the neighbourhood to remember our histories, embrace the present and look forward to the future.
Our story began in Causeway Bay on 27 November 1923, when my grandfather Lee Hysan purchased what was then known as East Point Hill. We commemorated the 100th anniversary of our establishment in the heart of Hong Kong.
Lee Hysan’s vision, first and foremost, was to create an area where Hong Kong people could have their own space for recreation and relaxation. For more than 100 years, Lee Gardens has grown with the city from a garden for the public to now one of the world’s most bustling and vibrant destinations. Within the embrace of Causeway Bay, the memories of generations of Hong Kong people are fondly held, from the 1920s with the Lee Garden Amusement Park and the Lee Theatre, to the modern day. The rich tapestry of Lee Gardens’ legacy unfolds as a unique reflection of the community’s development.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of the history, culture and memories of the Lee Gardens area. We are grateful for the contributions of our business and community partners, neighbours, colleagues, shareholders and friends, who have supported us throughout our journey.
While we will look back at what we have done in Hong Kong and how far we have come, it is important to plan for our future with conviction and confidence. We are committed to the long term. As we continue our journey, the expansion and rejuvenation of Lee Gardens will transform this precinct for our next 100 years, alongside our Community Business Model which remains fundamental to our support of Hong Kong and our strong commitment to the social aspect of ESG. We believe Lee Gardens will continue to be a community where people come to work, live, enjoy and play, now and for generations to come.
To celebrate a new century for Hysan, we have launched a series of celebratory events based in Lee Gardens. We hope you will join us in writing our new chapter.
To celebrate the 100 years of Lee Gardens’ story and revisit its milestones in Causeway Bay’s historical journey, Hysan presented an exhibition of photos and artefacts from private collections, under the theme of ‘The Colours of Causeway Bay’. This journey, which began when our founder Mr Lee Hysan acquired a plot of land known as East Point Hill, had led to a complete transformation of the neighbourhood over the century.
The exhibition revolved around five thematic photo collections, from ‘Legacy’, ‘Culture’, ‘Dream’, ‘Progression’ to ‘Connection’, allowing the public visit rarely seen images throughout the historical timeline, including historic milestones such as the Lee Garden Amusement Park in the 1920s, the opening of Lee Theatre and its star-studded stages in later years, the opening of Lee Gardens Hotel and many other iconic developments that created fond memories shared across generations. By bringing this storied history to life, the exhibition attracted more than 10,000 visitors during its run.
Guided community tours, ‘100 Years of Placemaking: A Journey Through the Lee Gardens Area’, were organised from June to July 2024, taking participants on an exclusive exploration of Lee Gardens’ century-long evolution. These tours showcased the distinct character and the rich cultural heritage of the iconic Causeway Bay neighbourhood. From Hysan Place’s sustainable design to Bizhouse’s panoramic rooftop and time-honoured shops in the low-rise neighbourhood, the journey offered an array of experiences, culture and taste from old to new.
More than 3,000 participants from the public, academics, industry peers, institutes, community partners and students joined the guided tours. Tours featured morning coffee, refreshing coconut water in the sunshine, herbal drinks during walks, and special Swiss wings in the evening. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our community partners for their unwavering support. We will continue our commitment to cultivating a fair understanding of the Lee Gardens area’s development, the century-long stories and fond memories the precinct contains.
Hysan, with Tramplus as the co-organiser, launched the ‘Hysan100 Student Ambassador: 3D Modelling Scholarship Programme’ in partnership with Lee Hysan Foundation to unleash students’ creativity and nurture young STEM talent. 30 students from more than 15 secondary schools were shortlisted to join the programme.
The programme encouraged students to explore new elements that enhance the Lee Gardens area and create fresh experiences for visitors in the future. Through a 20-hour HKUST-designed 3D Urbanist Programme, students created models and animations that elucidated potential placemaking approaches to the Lee Gardens area. Participants gained technical skills while developing appreciation for the area’s heritage and urban planning approaches that combine legacy with innovation.
During the summer vacation of 2024, over 1,000 students from more than 90 schools and NGOs grabbed their school bags, not for regular classes, but for Hysan’s STEAM and Generative AI workshops, in partnership with Lee Hysan Foundation.
At the workshops, participants applied their creativity to craft items like smart trash bins, pneumatic lifts and solar windmills, exploring energy conversion and scientific principles while getting acquainted with sustainable practices. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our workshop partners, Coding 101 and Preface.AI, for their effort to stimulate young minds for scientific exploration and future placemaking. We look forward to seeing more innovative ideas come to life as we inspire creative thinking about our city’s future.
The history of Hysan’s founder Mr Lee Hysan’s family represents nothing less than half the history of Hong Kong.
A hundred years since acquiring East Point Hill, the Lee family’s unwavering determination has transformed ‘the hill with two houses’ into the prosperous Lee Gardens area today. Based on meticulous research through the family’s historical archives, over 30 interviews, and three years of work, the book 《愚公不愚—利氏家族與香港世紀變遷》 eloquently recounts the little-known yet captivating story of the Lee family.
A book reception was held together with Bei Shan Tang Foundation to honour the Lee family’s century-long history and its deep ties with Hong Kong.
A hundred years ago our founder Mr Lee Hysan bought ‘a hill with two houses’. At that time, many probably thought the purchase was a dreadful financial mistake as Hong Kong was going through a strike-laden 1920s. Little did they know it was the creation of the present-day Lee Gardens and Causeway Bay, one of the world’s most vibrant commercial districts.
Following the publication of the book 《愚公不愚—利氏家族與香港世紀變遷》about the Lee family’s history, we co-organised a book forum with Bei Shan Tang Foundation. Dr Zheng Wan Tai and Dr Ong Kok Chung, authors of the book, were invited to give a talk on an insider’s look at the research process. They shared how fragmented historical facts were meticulously sewn together to form the basis of this book that highlights the Lee family’s and Hong Kong’s growth in the past century.
Historical Chinese businessmen’s mansions often showcased classic Chinese aesthetics. Hysan presented this display, together with Bei Shan Tang Foundation and Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, offering visitors a glimpse into the interior of the Lee family’s residence that used to situate at Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels.
The exhibition showcased a collection of cherished Canton-style furniture pieces and silverware. Particularly striking were the Canton-style square table with marble inlay and the lacquer wooden screen with jade inlay. These pieces marked the exceptional craftsmanship and unique East-meets-West features.
Art and culture have always been at the heart of placemaking in Lee Gardens. From the Bei Shan Poets Society at Lee Garden Amusement Park to the legendary Lee Theatre that made countless dreams come true, our spaces consistently celebrate creativity.
To energise the community through street art while showcasing Lee Gardens’ century-long legacy as an art and entertainment hub, Hysan and Lee Gardens Association launched the ‘Art Too’ Festival. Partnering with HKWALLS, we presented a special edition of the ‘Tools of the Trade’ exhibition, featured with creative works by U.S. artist Spenser Little, Hong Kong sign painter Katol, and fine artist Wong Ting-fung. Visitors not only observed art, but also engaged with it, discovering artistic elements spanning across the Lee Gardens area and learning craft techniques to create their own artwork with authentic paints, brushes and other tools of the trade.
Our founder Mr Lee Hysan acquired Hong Kong’s East Point Hill in 1923. The hill was then renamed Lee Garden Hill, with establishment of the popular Lee Garden Amusement Park on the slopes. The visionary had wanted to create a welcoming space for Hong Kong people to come together for recreation and relaxation.
This spirit of providing recreational activities lives on. In partnership with Lee Hysan Foundation, we organised a Sports Carnival in November 2024 at the Running Track of Lee Garden Three. The event brought together 10 corporate teams for lively team games and entertainment activities, while wellness-centric activities helped participants unwind and build meaningful connections, nurturing both physical and mental wellbeing in this special community gathering.
Placemaking is more than just designing physical spaces. It is about curating relationships, emotional connections and shared memories. A century of placemaking in Lee Gardens reflects countless collaborative efforts amongst stakeholders in the community.
Hysan organised the ‘100 Years of Making: From Space to Place’ Lee Gardens Community Dialogue, which celebrated a century of transformation in Lee Gardens Area. Over 100 attendees joined to explore the placemaking journey, from past, present to the future.
Rhythm and movement have long been integral to the cultural heritage of Lee Gardens. From the enchanting 1920s, when dance flourished as an art form in Hong Kong and entertainment reigned supreme, to the legendary performances at Lee Theatre and beyond, swing dance, as a widespread cultural hallmark, has consistently embodied the city’s unique charm.
To revive this rich legacy and connect the community with the historical roots of Hysan, the ‘Swing Back in Time’ dance performance event was held in December 2024. The celebration featured a series of captivating performances led by the swing dance group Swing Pocket and the jazz band Swing Pocket Quartet. Visitors experienced more than merely performances – they engaged in interactive workshops, learnt vintage dance moves, and immersed themselves in a carnival atmosphere that brought the 1920s to life.
One hundred years on, Hong Kong remains global, cosmopolitan and connected. While we celebrate our history, we celebrate the future.
As a flagship event celebrating Hysan’s 101st anniversary and heralding new beginnings, the ‘Hysan 101st Anniversary Gala Dinner’ brought together top executives from the finance, trade and technology sectors and Government officials, to reflect on Hong Kong’s resilience and future opportunities. Panellists including Ms Irene Lee, Chairman of Hysan Development Company Limited, Mr Peter Wong, Chairman of HSBC Asia-Pacific, Mr Hans Michael Jebsen, Chairman of the Jebsen Group, and Mr Brian Gu, Vice-Chairman and President of Xpeng, shared equally optimistic views about Hong Kong’s ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamically changing environment.
As we look forward to Hysan’s next century of growth, we will continue to expand and transform Lee Gardens for the people who visit, work and live there.
