Among the delegates from Sandakan.
SANDAKAN : – The 14th Wrld Shunde Fellowship Conference officially opened on March 25 at the Fisherman’s Wharf Convention Centre in Macao, bringing together Shunde clansmen from around the world to strengthen ties and honour their shared heritage.
The biennial event has drawn a total of 1,188 delegates, including 31 representatives from Malaysia.
Among them, 15 delegates are from Sandakan, leading a contingent headed by Ho Sau Ping, Chairperson of the Pertubuhan ShunTak Sabah.
Notably, Thomas Lau Chi Keong, an advisor to the Sandakan ShunTak Association, is also among the delegates from the region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, organisers emphasised the importance of preserving Shunde’s rich cultural heritage while fostering closer economic and social connections among Shunde descendants worldwide.
The two-day event features a series of networking sessions, cultural performances, and business forums aimed at facilitating cross-border collaboration.
The next conference will be hosted in Daliang, Guangdong Province—the ancestral home of many delegates, including Lau—in 2028.
Delegates expressed enthusiasm over the opportunity to reconnect with long-lost relatives and forge new friendships.
For many, the gathering serves as a poignant reminder of their roots, with Daliang remaining a cherished point of origin that continues to unite the global Shunde community across generations.
