The Hong Kong Art Craft Merchants Association Limited was founded on November 26, 1968 with the approval of the Registrar of Companies. Its first Administrative and Executive Committees were subsequently elected at the beginning of the following year.

For over thirty years, the Association has adhered to its founding principle of "Serving our members and our society".

Shortly after its establishment, the Association set up the Authentication Committee to help the antique dealers among its members to promote sales and to win the confidence of their customers. Over the past three decades, the Committee has authenticated and issued Certificate of Antiquity for over a million pieces of antiques. It enjoys very high reputation worldwide.

To improve the professional skills and knowledge of its members and their staff, the Association has run a number of English and Japanese classes to offer them on-the-job training. Veteran traders, specialists and scholars have been invited to give lectures on a wide range of topics including ceramics, Chinese painting, gems and jade carving. Since 1975, a bulletin titled Gongyi yu meisu (Arts and Crafts) has been published regularly to give local and overseas buyers a systematic account of the brilliant culture and handicrafts of China. The publication has contributed greatly to promoting Chinese works of art in the global market.

The Association also puts much effort into organizing social activities for its members and fellow traders. Among its annual activities are the New Year cocktail party, Spring Festival celebration, National Day banquet and other recreational events. They effectively enhance solidarity, friendship, communication and collaboration among its members.

The Association also liaises between its members and the trading organizations in the mainland cities. It arranges for its members to participate in the Export Commodities Fairs held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn, and in trade fairs of smaller scale held in other mainland cities. It also serves as host in receiving visiting groups from the mainland. Recently, it has invited Sun Yiqing and Song Jianwen, both specialists in cultural relics in China, to be its honorary consultants. Following the further opening up of the Chinese antique market, a more frequent and closer relationship will certainly be established between the Association and the mainland counterparts.

In a nutshell, the Association has, over the past thirty-three years, sdhered to the principles of "Love China, love Hong Kong" and "Serving our members and our society". The solidarity and wholehearted dedication of its Executive Committee and members ensures a smooth progress of its undertakings. In the future, the Association will continue to seek improvement and to provide its members with the best service.