Before the liberation in 1949, there were already groups of professional gong and drum players [mainly Pak Sau (cymbal players)] who frequently traveled to and from Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Their meeting place was at the house of their peer at 83 Temple Street (formerly known as Kong Yau). Musicians who often settled there included: Tam Kwai-wah, Cheung Yan Yiu (original surname - Kan), Da Lor Shu (Law Ka-shu), Yung Cheung-yip (King of Gongs), Leung Kam (owner of Golden Phoenix Musical Instrument Store), and others. Because of the associations with Mr. Wong Yuet-sang and Mr. Lam Siu-lau who played Western music, the group of gong and drum players developed the idea of organizing a musicians' union. In 1951, under the arrangement of Mr. Ho Hoi-ki, the rooftop of the Seamen's Union School in Sai Kung Street was lent to them as a temporary office for their Music Department in Hong Kong. Since then, a union-like organization of Cantonese opera musicians appeared. Back then, there were about 18 members. In 1952, the Music Group of Hong Kong Barwo Association was formally established, with Mr. Wan Chi-chung appointed as the first group leader. Since the CAAHK was not formally established back then, the Music Group was in fact an independent organization. However, the Group was still dependent upon the Guangzhou Barwo Opera Professional Trade Union - Hong Kong Branch. In 1953, the CAAHK was formally established. Since the Music Department was related to the Association and there is no official club-house, it was necessary to arrange a desk in the CAAHK for handling official matters. Meanwhile, the application was made for members to officially join the Music Department to the CAAHK. After years of borrowing the venue at the CAAHK, the directors of the Music Department decided to purchase their own club-house through fundraising. While requesting those who worked in major troupes to donate two days of salary, other members were welcome to help at their own will. Unfortunately, there was still insufficient fund for purchasing a premise. Finally, Mr. Lam Siu-lau, the then vice-chairman of the Board of Directors, borrow two $2,000 from Ms. Ng Kwan-lai, his protégé, and was able to purchase one of the units at the current site at the Alhambra Building in 1966/67. The Board of Directors once leased out the unit for generating profits. However, since the tenants were unable to afford the rent, the directors decided to use the unit as an official club-house of the group. Meanwhile, the venue was also opened for recreational activities, such as Mahjong, in order to increase income. As the Department continued to develop and generate more income, the Board of Directors once again asked members to raise funds in 1958 for the purpose to purchase and merge the adjacent unit for expansion of the club-house. The Department was later formally registered as the Hong Kong Po Fook Tong Cantonese Opera Musicians’ Association Limited on November 15, shortly known as Po Fook Tong. The welfare offered by Po Fook Tong is roughly the same as that of the CAAHK, which distributes welfare payments at lunar year end to members as well as condolence money for relatives of those members who have passed away. In order to protect the rights and interests of its members, there is a rule set to prohibit cooperation with non-members for opera performances. Meanwhile, the troupes must also hire 16 musicians for large, public performances, 12 for medium-sized performances, and 9 for performances of small-scale. In the past, there was also a system to put unemployed musicians on the list to assign work for them. With the revival of Cantonese opera and music shows in the past ten years, it has been not necessary for members to be listed anymore. Thus, the system nowadays exists in name only. There are currently about 280 members in the Music Department. Except for some retired musicians or those who have migrated, most of the members are full-time musicians, while some work on a part-time basis or are engaged in other industries. The current Directors are full of ambitions to expand the size and bring more benefits for its members. According to the written information provided by the Music Department, the first council for the CAAHK Music Department (usually called the Music Department or Music Group) was formed in 1955. By the 24th session in 1984, members started to discuss about the possibility of registration, which was formally realized in 1985. Mr. Mak Wai-man, the current Chairman of the Board of Direction, formally took over the role since 1994.