St Joseph's College, Hong Kong

St Joseph's College (SJC; demonym: Josephian), established on 7 November 1875, is the oldest Catholic boys' secondary school and one of the leading boys' schools in Hong Kong.[2] It is located in the Central Mid-Levels district and typically has 1,000 students.[1] Apart from Chinese related subjects and French language studies, the main language taught is English.

St. Joseph's College
Location
7 & 26 Kennedy Road, Central

Hong Kong
Coordinates22°16′36″N 114°9′31″E
Information
TypeGrant School, day, Boys' secondary school
MottoLabore et Virtute (Latin)
(Labour and Virtue)
Established7 November 1875 (1875-11-07)
FounderDe La Salle Brothers
PrincipalMs. Wong Yuen Fan
SupervisorBro. Jeffrey Chan FSC
GradesForm 1 – Form 6
Number of studentsc.1,000 [1]
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)Green   and White  
YearbookGreen and White Magazine
AffiliationRoman Catholic (Christian Brothers)
Patron saintSaint Joseph
School Rally
Websitewww.sjc.edu.hk
St Joseph's College, Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese聖若瑟書院

The sponsoring body of the College is the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, incorporated in Hong Kong under the St Joseph's College Incorporation Ordinance, Cap. 1048 of the Laws of Hong Kong. The stated mission of the College is "to educate students in areas of intellectual, physical, social, moral and emotional development" and "to impart a human and Christian education...and to do so with faith and zeal".[3]

The north and west blocks of the College are declared monuments of Hong Kong.[4] The extension of the campus at 26 Kennedy Road is also a Grade I historic building.

The school has been breeding all-rounded young men for the betterment of Hong Kong and the World, from Head of State, Nobel Laureate to Olympians.[5] It has earned its prestige and has been joined by both members of notable families and determined boys of all backgrounds.

History

Founding of the College (1875-1880)

The College was previously a Portuguese commercial school named St Saviour's College, located on Pottinger Street in 1860. Father Timoleon Raimondi, who was then the bishop of the Colony, convinced Rome to send the Lasallian Brothers to the British Colony.

On 7 November 1875, six Lasallian Brothers arrived in Hong Kong: Brothers Hidulphe Marie (Director), Hidulphe de Jesus, and Hebertus from the Boarding school of Marseilles, Brother Adrian Edmund and Aldolphus Marie from the Novitiate of London and Brother Isfrid from Paris. They renamed the school after Saint Joseph, the patron saint of workers and of the Universal Church.[6]

At the time of the takeover, the school had just 75 students. Later that year, however, hundreds of Portuguese families had taken refuge in Hong Kong after a disastrous typhoon had swept over Macau causing the school's enrollment to double after just a few weeks. As a result, Brother Hidulphe had to suspend the intake of Chinese students. To accommodate the increased number of students, a house (Buxley Lodge) situated at 9 Caine Road was purchased in 1876.[7]

Robinson Road (1881-1917)
St Joseph's College at Robinson Road c. 1910

In April 1880, Brother Cyprian was appointed Director. He had been a teacher in New York and Quebec, had held the directorship of several schools in his native land, Canada, and had taught in London and in Paris. In order to cater for the needs of the fast-growing school, a piece of land in Glenealy below Robinson Road was bought, and a two-story Victorian building became home to the College in 1881.[6]

In January 1884, Brother Ivarch Louis took over the directorship and was succeeded in 1889 by Brother Abban. Enrollment had then increased to 409, and two Chinese staff were employed by the college; in the same year, a third floor was added to the school building to accommodate boarders. The additional wings were added in 1901.

The Kennedy Road campus (1918- )
Front entrance
The North Block and West Block
7 Kennedy Road Campus
26 Kennedy Road Campus
Atrium of 7 Kennedy Road Campus

On 13 February 1918, the Robinson Road campus was severely damaged by an earthquake. The Club Germania at 7 Kennedy Road was subsequently purchased on 3 September. Because pupils living on the Kowloon side had to cross by ferry round-trip every day, a branch school was set up on Chatham Road, Kowloon, which became the La Salle College in 1932.

During the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945, the College was used as a clinical depot by the Imperial Japanese Army. Some Brothers fled to Vietnam and became guests of the Dominicans and the Jesuits, while others were kept as prisoners of war in the local concentration camps. The campus was kept in shape by a minor staffer called Ah Yiu, who would also smuggle essentials into the camps for the Brothers.[8]

The College soon resumed classes after the war. In 1962, Club Germania was demolished and a modern eight-storey building (New Building) was erected under Principal Brother Brenden Dunne.[9]

Campus

The College is located near the central business district of Hong Kong.

The college architecture is a combination of typical colonial European (British Imperialist) and modern styles. The Charles Kao Block[10] (Old Building, north block), constructed in 1920, houses most of the classrooms. The Chapel Block (west block) houses the Old Hall, music room, laboratories, lecture room and school chapel. These buildings were built in a Colonial style reflecting European influences. The two blocks are declared monuments of Hong Kong since August 2000.

The modern New Building (south block), which replaced the original Club Germania on the site, houses the higher grades' classrooms. The New Hall, senior laboratories, a library and computer rooms are also located here.

In 2016,[11] the College successfully acquired the former St. Paul's Co-educational (Kennedy Road) Primary School at 26 Kennedy Road, a Grade 1 Historical Building,[12] from the Education Bureau.[13][14] This block houses F4 and F6 classrooms, and the music hall.

Staff

The College is governed by the School Management Committee. Members of the committee include the supervisor, the principal, two vice-principals, a teachers' representative, a Parent-Teacher Association representative, an Old Boys' Association representative and three Lasallian Brothers.

The faculty includes 67 classroom teachers, a careers mistress, a discipline mistress, a counselling mistress, a sports master, a librarian, one Native English Speaking (NET) teacher, and a French teacher.[15] Laboratory technicians, IT technicians and a library assistant are also employed. A part-time social worker is accessible to the students. The current school supervisor is Brother Chan Jeffrey.[16]

Class Structure and Curriculum

There are 33 classes in the school.[17]
Form 1: 5 classes (A, B, C, D, E)
Form 2: 5 classes (A, B, C, D, E)
Form 3: 5 classes (A, B, C, D, E)
Form 4: 6 classes (A, B, C, D, E, F) (NSS Curriculum)
Form 5: 6 classes (A, B, C, D, E, F) (NSS Curriculum)
Form 6: 6 classes (A, B, C, D, E, F) (NSS Curriculum)

In junior secondary, the school offers a broad curriculum among languages, arts, humanities, business and technology subjects as well as religious education and physical education.[lower-alpha 1]

In secondary four to six, students can choose three elective subjects from 12 offered,[lower-alpha 2] besides the four core subjects.[lower-alpha 3] In secondary four, students are required to have aesthetic education as well as religious education in secondary four to five.

As an English as the medium of instruction school, the school adopts English as the teaching medium in most subjects except Chinese, Chinese history and putonghua. Events and activities such as open day and Green and White concert are also held in English.

Extra-curricular activities such as music ensembles and uniform groups are mostly held during lunchtime, after school or on Saturdays.

Extra-curricular activities

Sports

In 1877, just two years after its establishment, the College held the first local inter-school sports competition with St. Paul's College, and in 1880 it established one of the first modern football teams in China.

The first local inter-school athletic meet with Queen's College and Diocesan Boys' School was held in 1899, and in 1903 the first local inter-school football league was formed with the two schools.

Scouting, Red Cross and St. John Ambulance
Winners plaque of the Prince of Wales Banner Competition

The College established a Scout troop in 1913, which was the first within the Catholic Church community in Hong Kong. As other Boy Scouts in Hong Kong were connected with the Protestant Boys' Brigade and British Boy Scouts, the St Joseph's College troop registered with The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom as its first Hong Kong Boy Scout Troop, two years before The Boy Scouts Association established a branch in Hong Kong.[18]

On 1 November 1967, an ambulance cadet division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was established at the College and was the first ambulance cadet division after the first re-organization in the 1950s.

Music

Since 1974, the College has taken part in the champion title in Male Voice Quartet, Folk music, Solos and Duets, the Dorothy Smith Trophy (Boys Junior: Treble Choir), the Music Society Shield (Mixed Voice Choir), the Dr. Karl Hohner Shield (Melodica Band) and the Moutrie Challenge Trophy (Piano Solos: Final) in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival.

The school has set up different music groups so as to enhance students' interest in music through various performances and joint-school events. The School Orchestra was established in 2000 and has performed in different public events and concerts. In March 2013, the School Orchestra performed with Tonbridge School Orchestra from the UK during its overseas Tour to Hong Kong.

The school has established various music groups such as the Chamber Boys' Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Melodica Band and Chinese Drum Band. Each year, the school organizes a concert called the "Green and White Concert" in early July. The 10th G&W Concert was organized at City Hall in 2012 with various special features.

Information Technology

St Joseph's College developed an Apache web server as early as the 1990s and launched Green & White Online, one of the first secondary school websites in Hong Kong.

Motto, badge, and rally

The school motto Labore et Virtute (Latin); "勤勞與美德" (Chinese); Labour and Virtue (English) — is meant to summarize the life of Saint Joseph.[19]

The badge of the College displays a shield divided into three divisions. The top division shows the Signum Fidei (sign of faith) - a five-pointed, radiant star, which is taken from the insignia of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It reminds people of the spirit of faith in the Institute. The right lower division shows three chevrons symbolizing broken bones, reminding students of the bravery and zeal the Saint promoted.

The left lower division shows the book of knowledge on top (with the Alpha and Omega inscribed) and a lamp below; together they symbolize the importance of education, something which Jean-Baptiste de la Salle emphasised. The shield stands with a compartment with supporters each of the French lily, as the Lasallian family originates in Rheims, France. The top features a ribbon with the name of the College, and a crest with a cross (Catholicism) and a crown (used to symbolize Hong Kong as a British Crown Colony before 1997). Below the shield are three shells symbolising baptism. The motto of the college is also found at the bottom of the badge.[20]

The combination of green and white has become the College's official colours over the years. Green represents Ireland's shamrock, while white represents France's fleur-de-lis. The Lasallian Brothers of the College mostly come from Ireland and France. The school rally is based on a traditional Irish song O'Donnell Abú. Brother Marcian James Cullen (1868-1938), an Irish brother and director of St. Joseph's College in 1921, adapted the song and wrote the lyrics for the rally. Brother Marcian James also posted to other Lasallian Schools in Malaya and Singapore and the same song was used in a few other schools there as well.

Notable alumni[21]

Over a century and beyond, the school has been breeding all-rounded young men for the betterment of Hong Kong and the World, from Head of State, Nobel Laureate to Olympians. It has earned its prestige and has been joined by both members of notable families and determined boys of all backgrounds.

Government
  • Manuel Acuña Roxas (羅哈斯), Fifth President of the Philippines
  • Eric Peter Ho (何鴻鑾), Former Secretary for Trade and Industry
  • Donald Liao Poon Huai (廖本懷), Former Secretary for Housing
  • Peter Tsao Kwang Yung (曹廣榮), Former Secretary of Home Affairs
  • Adolf Hsu Hsung (許雄), Former Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
  • Li Yuet Ting (李越挺), Former Director of Education
  • Jerry Lam Chek Yuen (林淔源), Former Director of the Fire Service Department
  • Chau Tak Hay (周德熙), Former Secretary for Trade and Industry
  • Paul Leung Sai Wah (梁世華), Former Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
  • Benjamin Tang Kwok Bun (鄧國斌), Former Director of Audit
  • Paul Tang Kwok Wai (鄧國威), Former Secretary for the Civil Service
  • Peter Lau Ka Keung (劉家強), Director of Highways, Director of Drainage Services
  • Edwin Tong Ka Hung (唐嘉鴻), Director of Drainage Services
  • Wong Ho Yuen (黃灝玄), Former Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau

Academic and education
  • Charles Kuen Kao (高錕), Nobel Laureate of Physics 2009
  • Peter Tsui Yan Sau (徐仁壽), Founder of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and Wah Yan College, Kowloon
  • Richard Ho Man Wui (何文匯), President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong — Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Community College
  • Lam Shiu-kum (林兆鑫), Former Dean of Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
  • Cheung Wing-min (張榮冕), Founding Director of the Grantham College of Education
  • Lee Chack Fan (李焯芬), Former Vice-President of the University of Hong Kong and Director of HKU SPACE
  • Andrew Chan Chi Fai (陳志輝), Head of Shaw College, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Joseph Ting Sun Pao (丁新豹), Former Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History
  • Dennis Lo Yuk Ming (盧煜明), Director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Medical
  • Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (J.H.律敦治), Founder of Ruttonjee Hospital and the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association
  • Dhun Jehangir Ruttonjee (D.J.律敦治), Former Chairman of Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association
  • Albert M Rodrigues (羅理基), Founding President of The Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong
  • Woo Pak Foo (胡百富), Former Medical Practitioner and Member of the Urban Council of Hong Kong
  • John Ho Hung Chiu (何鴻超), Founder of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society
  • Peter Lee Chung Yin (李仲賢), Founder of the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians
  • George Choa Wing-sien (蔡永善), Former President of Hong Kong Medical Association and the Hong Kong Branch of the British Medical Association
  • Tsao Yen Chow (曹延洲), Honorary Life Member and Former President of the Hong Kong Paediatric Society
  • Leong Che Hung (梁智鴻), Former Chairman of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong
  • Raymond Wu Wai Yung (鄔維庸), Former President of the Physicians Society, the Hong Kong Cardiological Society and the Medical Association
  • John Leong Chi Yan (梁智仁), Chairman of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong
  • Leo d'Almada e Castro (廖亞孖打), Former President of the Hong Kong Bar Association
  • H.A. de Barros Botelho (布達勞), Former President of the Law Society of Hong Kong
  • Woo Po-Shing (胡寶星), Founder of Woo Kwan Lee & Lo
  • Woo Pak Chuen (胡百全), Former President of the Law Society of Hong Kong
  • Wong Chung Hin (黃頌顯), Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Law Society of Hong Kong
  • John Joseph Swaine (施偉賢), Former President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • Peter Nguyen Van-tu (阮雲道), Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  • Patrick Fung Pak Tung (馮柏棟), Former Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  • Arjan Heera Sakhrani (施鈞年), Former Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  • Peter Cheung Chak Yau (張澤祐), Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
  • Mohan Bharwaney (包華禮), Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  • Lawrence Lok (駱應淦), Former Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  • Benjamin Yu (余若海), Former Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  • Kumar Ramanathan (林孟達), Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association
  • Paul Shieh Wing Tai (石永泰), Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association
  • David Leung Cheuk-yin (梁卓然), Former Director of Public Prosecutions

Business
  • Li Pui-Choi (李佩材), Prominent Businessman who led the notable Li Family of Hong Kong
  • José Pedro Braga (布力架), Former Chairman of China Light and Power Company
  • José Maria Braga, Founder of Braga & Co
  • Lee Quo Wei (利國偉), Former Chairman of Hang Seng Bank Ltd and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
  • Simon Lee Kwok Yin (李國賢), Former Chairman of the Sun Hing Group of Companies
  • Lau Siu Wai (劉紹慧), Former Executive Chairman of Miri Housing Properties Sdn. Bhd.
  • Archibald Chan Tai Wing (陳棣榮), Former Director of Caltex Oil Hong Kong Limited
  • David Li Kwok Po (李國寶), Chairman & Chief Executive of The Bank of East Asia, Limited
  • Ronald Arculli (夏佳理), Former Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • William Junior Guilherme Doo (杜家駒), Former Director of FSE Holdings Limited
  • William Doo (杜惠愷), Former Chairman of Fung Seng Enterprises Holdings Limited
  • Edgar Cheng Wai Kin (鄭維健), Former Chairman and Managing Director of the World-Wide Investment Co. Ltd
  • Martin Hong Po Kui (康寶駒), Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Football Association
  • Abraham Razack (石禮謙), Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
  • Christopher Cheng Wai Chee (鄭維志), Chairman of Wing Tai Properties Limited
  • Lo Ka Shui (羅嘉瑞), Chairman and Managing Director of Great Eagle Holdings Limited
  • Vincent Lo Hong Shui (羅康瑞), Founder and Chairman of Shui On Group
  • Jeffrey Lam Kin Fung (林健鋒), Member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Hong Kong
  • Dickson Poon (潘迪生), Chairman of Dickson Concepts (International) Limited
  • Martin Lee Ka-shing (李家誠), Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Henderson Land Development and Henderson Investment Limited
  • William Shum (沈慧林), Founder of Memorigin

Other professional Iindustries
  • Li Fook Shu (李福樹), Co-founder of the Hong Kong Society of Accountants
  • Li Fook-Wo (李福和), Former Chief Manager of Bank of East Asia
  • Luke Him Sau (陸謙受), Founder of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects
  • Edward Ho Sing Tin (何承天), Group Chairman of the Wong Tung Group of Companies
  • Dennis Lau Wing Kwong (劉榮廣), Chairman of the Association of Architectural Practices
  • Jackson Wong Chack Sang (王澤生), Former President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects
  • Lam Wo Hei (林和起), Director of Wong & Ouyang (HK) Limited
  • Joseph Chow Ming-kuen (周明權), Former Chairman of Hong Kong Engineers’ Registration Board

Sports
  • Tong Fook Cheung (唐福祥), Captain of China's triple—winning football team at the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Far East Asian Games
  • Charles Chen Chin Hin (陳振興), First Swimmer to represent China at the Olympics (1936 Berlin Games)
  • Kung Wah Kit (龔華傑), Represented Hong Kong in the HK Football Team in the East Asian Games
  • Peter Wong (黃興桂), Former coach of HK First Division football teams including Eastern A.A. Football Team, South China and Tsuen Wan
  • Leslie Santos (山度士), Former Hong Kong National Football Team member
  • Alexander Chung (鍾國樑), Hong Kong Swimming Representative at Pusan 2002 Asian Games, Pusan 2002 Asian Games and 2000 Sydney Olympics

Performing Arts
  • Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro (郭利民), The world's most enduring DJ (Guinness World Record holder)
  • Johhny Mak (麥當雄), Awardee of the Best Screenwriter at the Hong Kong Film Awards
  • Joe Junior (羅利期), Actor
  • Damian Lau Chung Yan (劉松仁), Film and television actor, TVB
  • Tommy Leung (梁家樹), Head of Drama Production of TVB
  • Luke Tsang Chi Wah (曾智華), Radio & television presenter for RTHK
  • Anthony Tang Ho Kwong (鄧浩光), Film and television actor
  • Jan Lamb (林海峰), DJ of Commercial Radio Hong Kong
  • Chiu Tsang Hei (趙增熹), Cantopop composer and producer
  • Alex Fong Lik Sun (方力申), Singer, actor and TV game show host
  • Ivan Wang Yoa Leung (王友良), Cantopop singer & CEO of KING Enterprise
  • Wilfred Lau Ho-lung (劉浩龍), Actor and Singer
  • Andy Leung (梁釗峰), Singer
  • Alfred Hui Ting Hang (許廷鏗), Dentist and Cantopop singer

See also

References
  1. "About SJC - St. Joseph's College". www.sjc.edu.hk. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  2. Ho-him, Chan (1 February 2020). "Hong Kong's oldest Catholic boys' school to get swimming pool, arts centre and hostel in HK$500 million upgrade". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. St. Joseph's College (2006). St. Joseph's College School Profile 2006-2007
  4. List of declared monuments of Hong Kong as at 12 Jan 2007
  5. "Prominent Old Boys". St. Joseph's College.
  6. The Birth of Lasallian Schools in Hong Kong Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, lasalle.org.hk; accessed 4 February 2018.
  7. "About SJC". St. Joseph's College. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  8. St. Joseph's College Editorial Board (2003). "The Unique School: a detailed account on the campus of our college". Green & White 2003 134-147.
  9. Felix Chun (1998). "My days in St. Joseph's College". Green & White 1998 1:132-143.
  10. St. Joseph's College. "SJC Annual Report Final Version (2013-2014)" (PDF).
  11. "Results of School Allocation Exercise 2016" (PDF).
  12. "School extension applications open". Government of Hong Kong.
  13. "堅尼地道前校舍 批予聖若瑟擴校 (Kennedy Road former campus approved for St. Joseph's extension)". Sing Tao Daily.
  14. St. Joseph's College. "Message from Principal". Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. "Staff - St. Joseph's College". www.sjc.edu.hk. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  16. List of current teachers, sjc.edu.hk; accessed 4 February 2018.
  17. St Joseph's College School Profile 2020-2021 (PDF). Hong Kong: St Joseph's College. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  18. Scout Association of Hong Kong History of Hong Kong scouting, scout.org.hk; accessed 4 February 2018.
  19. "Vission and Mission". St. Joseph's College. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  20. "School Rally and Badge". St. Joseph's College. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  21. "Prominent Old Boys". St. Joseph's College, Hong Kong.

Notes
  1. F1-F3: Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Humanities, Computer Literacy, Chinese History, Music, Physical Education, Putonghua, Religious Studies and Visual Arts
    F1-F2: Integrated Science
    F2-F3: Business Fundamentals
    F3: Physics, Chemistry, Biology
  2. Business, Accounting & Financial Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Chinese History, Economics, Geography, Information & Communication Technology, Mathematics Extended Parts: M1 / M2, Physics, Tourism & Hospitality Studies and Visual Arts
  3. Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies
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