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Coordinates: 0°0′0″N 0°0′0″E 0, 0

St. Joseph's College

• Location & Contact Information
  • Address, Directions, & Map:
    • 7 Kennedy Road, Central, Hong Kong, China
  • Telephone Numbers:
    • 25221204
    • 28770232 (fax)
  • Official Website: [1]
  • Email: info@sjc.edu.hk
• History & Memorable Moments

• • Foundation of the College (1875-1880)

The College was previously a Portuguese commercial school named St. Saviour's College, established 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 the Universal Church. ^[1]

At the time of the takeover the school had just seventy-five students. That year, hundreds of Portuguese families had taken refuge in Hong Kong as a disastrous typhoon had swept over Macao, so after weeks the enrollment had doubled and it became evident that an extension to the present building had to be contemplated. Mgr. Raimondi purchased a house (Buxley Lodge) situated at 9 Caine Road for $14,000 in June 1876, and the Brothers at once moved into it. ^[1]

Experiences of the Lasallian Brothers proved to be beneficial to the school, especially when the first Director, Brother Hidulphe Marie, had success with schools in Agra and Colombo. In 1879 the enrollment had already increased to 259, making it the largest grant-in-aid school in the colony and second largest school overall; the largest school at that time was Central School (now Queen's College) with an attendance of 590. In the same year the first class for Chinese students (Anglo-Chinese school) was opened. Academic results were outstanding, with a passing rate at 90.71%. ^[1]

• Days at Robinson Road (1881-1917)

In April, 1880, Brother Cyprian was appointed Director. He had been a distinguished teacher in New York and Quebec and had held the directorship of several schools in his native land, Canada, previous to his experience in London and 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-storey Victorian building became home to the College in 1881. ^[1]

In January, 1884, Brother Ivarch Louis arrived in Hong Kong as Director. The College had already secured a prominent place among the leading education establishments and its influence radiated through all the countries of the Far East, with boarding students from the Philippines, Indochina, Siam, Malaya and elsewhere. In 1889 he was called to Colombo and Brother Abban took his place. Enrollment had been increased to 409 and two Chinese staff were employed by the college; in the same year a third storey was added to the school building for the accommodation of the boarders. The wings were further added in 1901. ^[1]

The College soon became outstanding in both academic and sports fields. Students from the three higher classes (the "Oxford Classes") led by Brother Stephen Buckley from Cork got top results in Oxford University examinations. The College also became a cradle for the success achieved on the sports field of the Colony, especially in the area of soccer. ^[1]

• The new Kennedy Road campus (1918)

On 13 February 1918, a fifty-second earthquake struck the colony and the Robinson Road campus was severely damaged. Subsequently Principal Brother Aimar bought the Club Germania with its commodious grounds at 7 Kennedy Road on 3 September - the splendid German building was confisicated by the Custodian of Enemy Property of the British Colonial Government since the outbreak of World War I. The top floor of the five-storey Victorian building was the Brothers' Quarters. The third floor was once a dormitory for students and boarders, while afterwards it served as the old Old Hall. The second floor was the office and quarters of the secretary; the first floor located the general office and recreation room. The ground floor was a library. ^[1]

Noting that pupils living on the Kowloon side had to cross by ferry round-trip every day, Brother Aimar set up a branch school on Chatham Road, Kowloon, which later became the La Salle College in 1932. ^[1]

In order to accommodate more students, the North Block (Classroom Block) was erected in 1920 and was opened by Governor Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs. The Chapel Block (Science Block) was opened on 24 October 1925, housing the Chapel, laboratories, and Li Shek Pang Hall (the current Old Hall). ^[1]

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. ^[1]

The College soon resumed class after the war. In 1962, Club Germania was demolished and a modern eight-storey building (New Building) was erected under Principal Brother Brenden Dunne. Governor Sir Robert Brown Black and Superior General Brother Nicet Joseph officiated the opening of the new building. ^[1]

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