King's College, Hong Kong
King's College, Hong Kong Chinese: 英皇書院 | |
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Location | |
63A Bonham Road, ![]() | |
Information | |
Type | Public, single-sex |
Established |
1879 (Saiyingpun Anglo-Chinese School) 1926 (King's college) |
Principal | Mrs. Chan Woo Mei-hou, Nancy |
Staff | 69 |
Grades | Secondary 1-6 |
Number of students | ~1,200 students |
Color(s) | King's red |
Medium of Instruction | English, except Chinese Language, Chinese History and Mandarin, in which Chinese is the medium of instruction |
Campus Size | Approximately 6,500m² |
School Magazine | The Fig Tree |
Website | http://www.kings.edu.hk |
King's College, Hong Kong (Chinese: 英皇書院), often informally referred to simply as King's, is a single-sex boys' secondary school located at 63A Bonham Road, Mid-levels, in the Central and Western District. It is one of the most prestigious school in Hong Kong. Early 20 Century, King's College was known as Eton College of Far East. Since its founding years, King's College has been renowned for the high academic performance and exceptional inter-school competition achievements of its students. It is also notable that the College has many distinguished alumni who are well known in the region for notable accomplishments in their fields or currently holding important positions in public office, which may have contributed to the College's lasting reputation.The motto of the College is 慎思篤行, which translates literally as "meticulous thoughts, diligent actions".
School history
Pre-War and Establishment
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The name "King's College" was first bestowed in 1922 when the current site, 63A Bonham Road, was selected for the construction of a secondary school. Previously the school had been known as Saiyingpun Anglo-Chinese School and had been located on Third Street, then later on the present site of the Li Sing Primary School on Pokfulam Road. Saiyingpun Anglo-Chinese School dated back as far as 1879, when the authorities decided to set up a Free School at West Point, and appointed Fung Fu, a student who had returned from America, as headmaster.
The foundation stone of the new building was laid in 1923. Construction lasted over 3 years and was completed in 1926. Three months later the school building was opened, though it was immediately commandeered for use as a military camp and hospital for the British Shanghai Defence Force that was sent to protect the British subjects in the British Section of the then Shanghai Treaty Port. In 1928, the building was returned to the school and it on 5 March 1928 the school was formally opened by the Governor H. E. Sir Cecil Clementi, K.G.M.G., LL.D., M.A
When the College was first built, it had the enviable reputation of being the best school building in the entire Far East. Built around the three sides of a square, the building comprised a North Wing, a South Wing and an East Wing. The Bell Tower above the main entrance distinguished the overall appearance of King’s while the delicate school garden further enhanced its exquisiteness. In total there were 29 classrooms, two laboratories, a library and museum, a Geography Room, a Gymnasium, a Great Hall with gallery, a workshop, a Photographic Room, a playground and a swimming pool. Each student was given a numbered desk and the school could accommodate no fewer than 720 students. The playground was divided into three courts - for basketball, volleyball and tennis. It also contained a jumping pit. The school year commenced on 1 November and ended on 31 July of each year. From 1926–1930, it was a whole-day school but by 1930, it had become a half-day school with activities in the afternoon.
Ever since its founding, King's has played a significant role in the history of education in Hong Kong. Its contribution was highly commented on in the St. John's Review, which remarked that "to thousands of former students, many of whom are leaders in commerce and public life of the Colony, to be without King's was to be like an Englishman without his Oxford and Cambridge and an American without his Yale and Harvard." The massive success could be attributed to the high capability of the first three Principals – Alfred Morris (1926–1934), William Kay (1934–1939) and H.G. Wallington (1934–1941).
The Pacific War
Sadly while King's was enjoying this Golden Age, the Pacific War broke out after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. King's College was used as a first aid station, having been fully equipped as such by the first Principal, A. Morris St. John's Ambulance. When Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese on Christmas Day, King's College was used as a military mule and horse stable for the Japanese Army. Two of the teachers, Mr Coxhead and Mr Ferguson, were taken prisoner, and sent to Sham Shui Po Prisoner-of-War Camp, while the Principal, Mr Wallington, was sent to Stanley Prison. Coxhead was later sent to a labour camp in Japan.
The tragic war visited terrible destruction upon Hong Kong and King's College was not spared that. The Japanese occupation was undoubtedly an unhappy intermission, for all usual activities of the school came to a halt and the school building was entirely destroyed by looters. During the last two weeks immediately after the withdrawal of the Japanese Army, the school building was almost wholly shattered, leaving an unfilled red brick skeleton.
Post-War
In 1945 a number of former teachers, led with remarkable fortitude by J.J. Ferguson and the old boys, started the renewal of King's as a Primary School by sharing a bi-sessional school on Kennedy Road with Queen's College, Hong Kong. Afterwards King's moved back to Hollywood Road and was called Hollywood Road A.M. School.
In 1950 invigorated and renewed, King's was fully reopened as a two-sessional co-educational Primary School, and was offered the name King's College Primary School. It then stood in its earliest site again. H.T. Woo was appointed headmaster, and remained so for only one year. In the following years, the school was restored as a Secondary A.M. school with C.W. Sargison as Principal. Then for the first time in the school's history, girls were admitted. The first phase of re-development of the school buildings was completed by 1953 with the addition of two laboratories, a Preparation Room, a Lecture Room, an Art Room and five classrooms in the South Wing and East Wing. The enrolment figure soared to 750.
In 1954 Sargison was succeeded by F.K. Leung, an old boy and a pupil of A. Morris, who made history by being the first Chinese Principal of the school. In the same year, an extra Secondary Upper Six was operated to make places available for students who planned to sit for the revised Hong Kong University Matriculation Examination. 1955 witnessed the first group of King's graduates, 14 in total, entering University after the war.
The pressing need for further expansion of the school finally received a positive response from the government. An additional floor was added to the South Wing and the two floors above the gymnasium were restored. Additionally, an extra floor was added on top of the East Wing in the front of the Hall gallery, which later became the library. The final stage of construction work was completed by December 1959 and fitting out of the new premises followed in the next few months.
It was during Coxhead's tenure of office (1960–1967) that King's College entered a new stage of alteration and progress. In 1963 Secondary Lower Six Arts classes were opened after a hiatus of several years. This restored the balance between Science and Arts classes though the demand for entrance to Science or Medicine classes was still greater. From 1966 onwards, girls were admitted only in Secondary 6.
In 1967 H.W. Clarke succeeded Coxhead as Principal and it was during the next three years that King's witnessed a climax of academic attainment. In 1968 64 distinctions were obtained by King’s College students in the Hong Kong University Matriculation Examination, an unprecedented achievement. By 1971, D.R. Madan was appointed Principal and King's students continued to achieve magnificent feats in both academic and extracurricular fields.
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In October 1977 K.F. Chu, an old boy who had graduated in 1938, became Principal. The fountain of the school garden was repaired and its pedestal was turned into a pond for the breeding of goldfish and various other species of carp. A Bauhinia tree was planted in the northern corner of the school garden while the palm tree planted in 1971 had grown to 3 storeys tall. In April 1986, a time capsule was buried in the school garden.
Late 20th Century-Present
In September 1986, W.T. Poon succeeded Chu Ka Fai as Principal and the entire enrollment soared to 1200. Poon was famed throughout the Education Department for being his lively and enthusiastic personality. With him came some great improvements in the school. A public address system was installed in the playground, which proved to be effective in developing a greater sense of unity in students. Under Poon's leadership, the students won the International Mathematics Olympiad Championship.
For the first time in the history of the school, Study Tours to Singapore and Malaysia were organized with part of the funds sponsored by the K.C.O.B.A.. Since then, Study Tours have proven to be very popular with King's students. In March 1992 the first K.C. Student Union was formed after a democratic election.
The transition year of 1997, when Hong Kong was returned to the motherland, provided King's College a golden chance to renew its oath to play a major role in the community of Hong Kong and China. This year was a year in which King’s College eminent graduates' achievements were recognized by Hong Kong society. King’s College old boy, Dr. Simon Li Fook Sean, received the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GMB) from the HKSAR Government in acknowledgment of his stupendous contributions to Hong Kong and China. Dr. Li was among the first recipients of this award.
Following the appointment of a new principal, Ho Yue Shun, in 1998, King's College has undergone massive changes, especially on the information technology front. King's was enlisted as one of the few secondary school participants in a pilot scheme for the application of IT in education. A sum of HK$6M was granted for the acquisition of hardware and the installation of King's College's own intranet. An Information Technology Open Day was launched, which was followed by the launch of the school website, school intranet and a renovated IT room complete with modern computer facilities.
The equally elegant red brick addition to King’s College current campus was not simply another piece accommodation with new, well-resourced classrooms and laboratories, but also represented the an initiation of a new stage in the evolution of King's College.
School Campus
The Neo-classical style historical building which houses the college has evolved over the years since its establishment in 1926. It was once damaged in World War II and rebuilt and refurnished after the war. Since then the orthodox structure has reserved its current facades of grey granite columns against a background of crimson bricks, arched corridors and cavernous garden, an image widely held by its students and the public as an epitome of the college. It has become a declared monument in December 2011.[1]
Facilities
- Central all-weathered playground
- 34 Classrooms
- Multi-media learning centre (MMLC)
- IT Room
- Scout Room
- 2 Student Activity Room
- 6 Laboratories
- 3 Special Rooms
- Medical-Inspection Room
- Library
- Lecture Room
- Main Hall
- Gymnasium
- Swimming Pool
Since the 2000s, with hold-up from the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Architectural Services Department, all the floors in the old wing were re-laid and the classrooms have been rewired. A central air-conditioning system was installed in the school hall. Every teacher's desk in all the staff rooms was endowed with a desktop computer and a digital display board was placed close to the doorway of the school. More contemporary and brighter lighting, together with fans, was installed in the covered playground, likewise the gymnasium.
Publications
- The Fig Tree - School Magazine
- The Bridge - School Newspaper
- King's Spring- Web-based Collection of Students' literary works
List of principals
Saiyingpun Anglo-Chinese School
- Mr. Fung Fu (1879-1903)
- Mr.W.H. Williams (1903-1905)
- Mr. Alfred Morris (1905-1926)
King's College
- 1. Mr. Alfred Morris (1926 March-1934 June)
- 2. Mr. William Kay (1934 June-1939 March)
- Mr. W. L. Handyside (Acting) (1935 March-1935 November)
- Mr. Herbert Howell Beddow (Acting)(1936 January-1937 July)
- Rev. George E.S.Upsdell (Acting)(1937 March-1937 December)
- 3. Mr. H.G.Wallington(M.A.)(1939 March-1941 December)
King's College (After war)
- 4. Mr. J.J. Ferguson (1946 October-1947 July)
- 5. Mr. J. W. Wilson (1947 August-1951 September)
Primary Section
- Mr. Woo Hing-tak (1950 August-1951 September)
King's College
- 6. Mr. C.W.Sargison (1951 September-1954 July)
- 7. Mr. Leung Fung-ki (1954 July-1957 January)
- 8. Mr. C.W. Sargison (1957 September-1960 July)
- Mr. Geoffrey Serville Coxhead (Acting)(1958 July-1959 March)
- 9. Mr. Geoffrey Serville Coxhead (1960 September-1967 June)
- Mr. P.R. Halliwell (Acting)(1963 January-1963 August)
- 10. Mr. Herbert W.Clarke (1967 June-1971 June)
- Mr. H.N.Mcneill (Acting)(1969 April-1970 January)
- 11. Mr. Das Raj Madan (1971 June-1977 October)
- 12. Mr. Chu Ka-fai (1977 October-1986 August)
- 13. Mr. Poon Wai-tong (1986 September-1998 December)
- Mr. Leung Chik-wing (Acting)(1992 July-1992 August)(1994 July-1994 August)(1995 July-1995 August)(1996 July-1996 August)(1996 December-1997 August)
- 14. Mr. Ho Yue-Shun (1997 September-2010 August)
- 15. Mrs. Chan Woo Mei-hou (2010 September-)
List of notable alumni
Old boys of King's College in Hong Kong, known as Old Kingsians. The abbreviation OK is used at the school.
Political leaders
- Simon Li(李福善) GBM, a Hong Kong senior judge and politician.
- Chung Sze-yuen (鍾士元) GBE GBM, a Hong Kong mechanical engineer, industrialist, business executive and politician.
- Leung Chun Ying (梁振英) GBM, GBS, JP, the third and incumbent Chief Executive of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
- KC Chan(陳家強) SBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury in the Government of Hong Kong.
- Hui Ki On (許淇安) GBS, CBE, QPM, the last Commissioner of the Royal Hong Kong Police from 1994 to 1997, and the first Commissioner of Hong Kong Police from 1 July 1997 to 1 January 2001.
- Patrick Lau Lai-chiu (劉勵超) JP, SBS, a former career civil servant in the Hong Kong Government. He retired in 2007 as Director of Lands, head of the Lands Department.
- Law Chi-kwong (羅致光) JP, a Hong Kong politician and an associate professor in social work at the University of Hong Kong.
- David Chan Yuk-cheung (陳毓祥), a prominent leader of the Baodiao movement in Hong Kong.
- Cheung Kwok Che (張國柱), a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (Functional constituency, Social Welfare).
Business people
- Raymond Or (柯清輝) SBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of G-Resources Group (SEHK: 1051 and the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Strategic Group (SEHK: 235), and the chairman of Esprit Holdings.
- Stanley Kwan (關士光) MBE, a Hong Kong banker who created the internationally known Hang Seng Index in 1969.
Academic leaders
- Lam Chiu Ying (林超英)SBS, a Hong Kong meteorologist, bird-watcher, conservationist and blogger. He was the director of the Hong Kong observatory 2003 through 2009. He is also an honorary fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, an Honorary University Fellow of the University of Hong Kong as well as the honorary president of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society.
- Sin Chow-Yiu (單周堯), the Hon-Yin and Suet-Fong Chan Professor in Chinese and the Head of Department of Chinese at the University of Hong Kong. He is also the Chief Editor of the Journal of Oriental Studies.
- Ching W. Tang (鄧青雲), is an American physical chemist.Tang was awarded the Wolf Prize in Chemistry.
See also
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to King's College, Hong Kong. |
- Official Website of King’s College, Hong Kong
- Website of King’s College Old Boys' Association
- The melody of the school song of King's College
Coordinates: 22°17′04″N 114°08′25″E / 22.28444°N 114.14028°E
References
- Historical Records 1955-1958
- Historical Records 1960
- Historical Records 1961-1964
- Historical Records 1965-67
- Historical Records 1968-70
- Historical Records 1971-75
- Historical Records 1976
- Historical Records 1977
- Historical Records 1978
- Historical Records 1979
- Historical Records 1980
- Historical Records 1881
- Historical Records 1982-85
- Historical Records 1986-93
- Historical Records 1994-2006
- Historical Records 2007-10