Queen's College (皇仁書院), in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, was the first secondary school founded by the colonial government of Hong Kong in 1862. It is a sixth form college for boys with a secondary school attached.
| Queen's College (皇仁書院) | |
| School Emblem | |
| Motto | "Labor Omnia Vincit" (Latin)
"勤有功" (Chinese) [Latin for "Labour conquers all difficulties."] |
| Founded | 1862 |
| School Type | Public |
| Location | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong |
| Medium of Instruction | English |
| Enrolment | 1,200 students |
| Campus Size | Approximately 2.5 acres (16,766 m²) |
| School Magazine | The Yellow Dragon - First Published in June 1899. The first Chinese school magazine in the world |
Brief history
Initially named the Central School (中央書院) in 1862, then renamed Victoria College (維多利亞書院) in 1889, Queen's College obtained its present name in 1894.
The Central School was established in 1862 at Gough Street, Central. Dr. Frederick Stewart was appointed the first Headmaster of the Central School, as well as Inspector of Schools in the Colony.
The Headmaster of the Central School was responsible for supervising all schools in Hong Kong until March 1879 when the Government established a separate office for the Inspector of Schools, predecessor of the present Department of Education. During the school's early years, the student population consisted of a variety of nationalities. Whereas Chinese students enrolled in English, students from other nationalities were expected to study Chinese classics.
Secular schooling sparked much controversies among the Hong Kong Governor and religious leaders. In many occasions, the Governor personally scrutinized and intervened the school operations. The Government later established a grant program to put religious schools at the same funding level as the Central School. On April 26, 1884, Sir George Bowen, Governor of Hong Kong (1883-87), administered the stone-laying ceremony for the new school building at Aberdeen Street. As a student, Sun Yat-sen also attended the ceremony. On the recommendation of the Governor, the Central School was to be known as Victoria College when it moved to the new site.
The school moved to Aberdeen Street in 1889. At that time, the school was one of the largest and most expensive buildings in Hong Kong. In 1894, the school was renamed Queen's College.
The Japanese invasion forced school closure in 1941. During the Japanese occupation, the school site was used as the Army Headquarters. The two notable cannons at the current school entrance were found in the rubble at Aberdeen Street.
After World War II, the school re-opened in a temporary site on Kennedy Road in 1947. It moved to the present site on Causeway Road, opposite Victoria Park, on September 22, 1950.
A tourist tour on the history of Sun Yat-sen usually includes the ___location of the first site of the school at Gough Street, Central.
Mission statement
It is our mission to provide students with an all-round education aimed at excellence in moral, intellectual, physical, inter-personal and aesthetic development, whereby they can achieve self-fulfilment in all respects throughout their lives and become leaders of tomorrow.
School Missions
- To nurture students a love of learning;
- To promote the spirit of the school motto — Labor Omnia Vincit;
- To develop students' mind and inculcate in them a strong sense of responsibility, self-discipline, integrity and, above all, self-esteem;
- To produce our students a high level of intellectual development in praparation for further scholastic achievements;
- To provide students with a balanced range of activities conducive to good health and to make them aware of the importance of sports and sportsmanship;
- To impress upon students the significance of harmonious inter-personal relationship and of serving the community as well as to develop their skills of leadership;
- To cultivate students creative talents and appreciation of aesthetics;
- With a view to realising the aforesaid goals, to encourage the involvement of parents, alumni and members of the community in the activities of the school and to provide opportunities for enhancing the professional development and commitment of all staff.
Enrollment and Medium of Instruction
There are 33 classes with approximately 1200 students on roll. Secondary One students are allocated by the Secondary School Place Allocation System. The Medium of Instruction is English (except Chinese Language, Chinese History, Putonghua, and cultural subjects).
Facilities
- 27 Classrooms
- 6 Laboratories (1 Senior Biology lab; 1 Junior Biology lab; 1 Senior Chemistry lab; 1 Junior Chemistry lab; 1 Physics lab; 1 Integrated Science lab)
- 2 Lecture Rooms
- 2 Computer Rooms
- Multi-media Learning Centre
- History Room
- Music Room
- Art Room
- Photography Room
- Astronomy Room (and part of the roof)
- Scouts Pavilion (which has been listed as one of the statutory monuments in Hong Kong)
- Tuck Shop
- School Canteen
- Cafeteria
- Student Council Building
- Student Activity Centre
- Entrance Hall
- School Hall
- Reception Room
- School Office
- Interview Room
- 9 Staff Rooms (Rooms A to F, one for teachers of Physical Education, one within the Art Room, and 1 Librarian office)
- Staff Quarters
- Staff Common Room
- Printing Office
- 2 Courts (South Court and North Court, which can normally accommodate three basketball courts and one tennis court)
- Library
- Lawn (which is of approximately the size of a stardard football pitch)
- School Garden (Morning Sun Corner)
- Gymnasium
Activities and achievements
All students are divided into eight School Houses (Stewart, Wright, Dealy, Tanner, Crook, de Rome, Kay, and Williamson). The School Houses compete in Athletic Meets, Swimming Gala and other interhouse competitions. School teams regularly participate and excel in inter-school competitions.
There are also 54 clubs grouped under Sports, Recreational, Religious, Social Services, and Academic (Science & Arts) areas. Many clubs organize joint events with sister schools. School clubs also co-ordinate many charitable activities.
Students excel in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). In fact, there are more QC students receiving 10As than students from any other secondary school in Hong Kong. Out of over 400 secondary schools, fewer than 30 ever produced 10A students.
Between 1990 and 2005, 44 QC boys have achieved 10As in HKCEE. Queen's College alone has been generating over 25% of HKCEE's 10A students.
In 2003, QC students achieved 455 A grades in HKCEE with a form 5 student population of 200, whereas La Salle College scored a record high 501 A grades with a form 5 student population of 280. QC produced more A grades per student than any other school in most of the history of HKCEE. No school had reached such a record since the HKCEE first started in the 1960s.
Starting from 1987, students can take 10 subjects in HKCEE. Queen's College, Hong Kong is the undisputed record holder for the total number of 10A students graduating from this school over the years.
| Total | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | |
| Queen's College | 44 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Diocesan Girls' School | 27 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| La Salle College | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Wah Yan College, Hong Kong | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Diocesan Boys' School | 10 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Wah Yan College, Kowloon | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| St. Joseph's College | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| St. Paul's Co-educational College | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Shun Tak Fraternal Assn. Leung Kau Kui College | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sha Tin Government Secondary School | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Maryknoll Convent School | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| St. Paul's College | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pui Ching Middle School | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| King's College | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| St. Mary's Canossian College | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Salesian School | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Queen Elizabeth School | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Po Leung Kuk CFA No.1 College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tuen Mun Government Secondary School | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cheung Chuk Shan College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kwun Tong Maryknoll College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Good Hope School | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| St. Paul's Convent School | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ying Wa College | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| </td> | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL: | 163 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
QC old boys are traditionally well-represented in many of the world's best universities, including Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Cornell University, University of Virginia, University of Michigan, Washington University in St. Louis,University of Texas at Austin and University of California, Berkeley, while most other Form 7 graduates enroll in reputable local univerisites such as University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Queen's College, Hong Kong is being recognised as one of the finest schools in Hong Kong and its students are regarded as the crème de la crème because of their outstanding achievements in both academics and extra-curricular activities.
Publications
First published in June 1899, the Queen's College school magazine, The Yellow Dragon (《黃龍報》), is now the world's oldest existing Anglo-Chinese school magazine. The Yellow Dragon is a priceless historical witness of the educational development of Hong Kong, as well as the social changes in Asia Pacific. The 100th volume of The Yellow Dragon has been published in 2005. In the Chinese section of the centenary volume, a brief conclusion of the past 100 volumes (百期回望專輯) was written by seven students in 2005 to commemorate the special centenary occasion.
In commenoration of the school's 125th anniversary in 1987, a limited-edition book entitled Queen's College Its History 1862-1987 was published by Queen's College Old Boys' Association. The book was written by Gwenneth Stokes and John Stokes.
Gwenneth Stokes was the first woman to become Associate to the Chief Justice of South Australia. With her husband, she has written a number of history texts that are used in many countries. John Stokes (husband of Gwenneth) was the Principal of Queen's College from 1965 to 1970.
Gwenneth and John Stokes spent two years to compile the 494-page school history. They conducted research at Queen's College, as well as in archives and libraries in Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
School song
Hail Alma Mater! Long Life to Queen's College,
Kindly instructor and guide of our youth,
Lighting the land with the bright beams of knowledge,
Teaching thy children to reverence truth!
Bound in close brotherhood all thy collegians,
Cherishing memories tender and strong,
Scattered asunder in various regions,
Q.C.'s and O.Q.C.'s join in the song.
(Chorus) Q.C.! Q.C.! Q.C.! Q.C.! Q.C.!
In that cry what a magic is found.
Let us roll out the glorious sound;
Q.C.! Q.C.!
From the proud city and from the lone valley,
From the rich districts of Kwang-tung we come.
Hakka and Cantonese round thee we rally,
Far from our kindred in thee we find home.
Sternly we strive in our sports and our studies,
For the race goes to the wise and the strong.
Moulding our manhood, our mind and our bodies,
Q.C.'s and O.Q.C.'s join in the song. (Chorus)
Time speeds along. Soon our schooldays are ended,
Comes the sad hour when from thee we must part!
Thee who so kindly and skillfully blended,
Lore of the Orient with Western art.
We will not falter nor fearfully wonder,
Nurtured by thee we feel valiant and strong.
Sons of Cathay, raise your voices in thunder,
Q.C.'s and O.Q.C.'s join in the song. (Chorus)
(Lyrics by: William Kay (1920); arranged by: Dr. Lau Kai-chi, Anthony (Music Panel Head at Queen's College) (1996))
The melody of the Queen's College School Song is very similar to that of Heep Yunn School.
Some Notable alumni
Politicians, Government Officials, and Legislators
- Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), the chief leader of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, the founding Provisional President of the Republic of China. He has been recognized as the "Father of the Nation" by the Chinese in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas; while being called the "Forerunner of the Revolution" by the People's Republic of China Government.
- Liao Zhongkai (廖仲凱), major Chinese revolutionary leader, the executive member of the Kuomintang Central Committee, foreign minister, military minister, financial minister, and labour minister of the Republic of China. He was assassinated by the rightists in Guangzhou, 20 August 1925.
- Tang Shaoyi (唐紹儀), First Prime Minister of the Republic of China. He was an early overseas student who studied in Yale University.
- Wang Chunghui (王寵惠), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice, First Cabinet of the Republic of China, 1912.
- Chan Kam-tao (陳錦濤), Minister of Finance, First Cabinet of the Republic of China, of Dr. Sun's Southern Government in Guangzhou during the 1920s.
- Wen Tsung-yao (溫宗堯), Administrative Director, Dr. Sun's Southern Government in Guangzhou during the 1920s.
- Luk King-fo (陸敬科), Head of the Bureau of Foreign Intercourse, Dr. Sun's Southern Government in Guangzhou during the 1920s.
- Leung Lan-fan, China's first Consul General to Australia during the 1900s, and Superintendent of Customs in Guangzhou during the 1920s.
- Rafael Hui (許仕仁), Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government (Effective 12/2005).
- York Chow (周一嶽), Secretary for Health, Welfare, and Food, the HKSAR Government (Effective 12/2005).
- Szeto Wah (司徒華), Legislative Councillor, Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China .
- Tong Ka-wah, Ronny (湯家驊), Legislative Councillor from the Article 45 Concern Group as of 2004, former Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
- Wong Yan Lung (黃仁龍), Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR Government (Effective 12/2005)
- Kwok Kwok-chuen (郭國全), Government Economist, former Chief Regional Economist, East Asia, of the Standard Chartered Bank (Effective 12/2005).
- Leong Che-hung (梁智鴻), Executive Council Members.
- Tsz-Kit Ho, Calvin (何子傑), Associate Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Effective 8/2006).
Businessmen
- Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (律敦治), founded first brewery in Hong Kong, the founder of the Ruttonjee Hospital.
- Tse Chuen-tai (謝纘泰), the founder of the South China Morning Post.
- Sir Ho Kai (何啟), the founder of the Hong Kong College of Medicine, predecessor of the University of Hong Kong.
- Sir Robert Ho Tung (何東), successful businessman and philanthropist.
- Ho Fook (何福), successful businessman and philanthropist.
- Lau Chu-pak (劉鑄伯), the founder of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
- Lee Hysan (利希慎), the founder of Hysan Development Company Limited, prominent businessman who transformed Jardine's Hill into Lee Gardens.
- Kan Tung-po (簡東浦), prominent banker who established the Bank of East Asia.
- Henry Fok Ying Tung (霍英東), a businessman who has been active in political field. He is the Vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as of 2004. He was recognized as one of the national leaders of the People's Repulic of China (Effective 2005).
- Stanley Ho (何鴻燊), nicknamed "King of Gambling", the wealthiest person in Macau. He is the Chairman of Shun Tak Holdings Limited (Effective 2005).
Academics
- Huang Wenshan (王文山), sociologist, anarchist, students leader in the Peking University during the May-fourth Movement 1919. Having contacted the Chinese communists, he once had the chance to meet Vladimir Lenin in Moscow.
- Wong Kai-chi (黃繼持), writer, translator, literary critic of Chinese literature, former Head of Department, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
- Cheung Yau-kai (張佑啟), Honorary Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering, formerly Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (Effective 2005).
- Cheung Ng-sheung (張五常), well-known economist in Hong Kong, former Professor of Economics, University of Hong Kong.
- Edward K.Y. Chen (陳坤耀), Vice-Chancellor of Lingnan University, Hong Kong (Effective 2005).
- Kwan Tsz-wan (關子尹), Professor, former Head of Department, Department of Philosophy, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Effective 2005).
- Fok Tai-fai (霍泰輝), Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Effective 2005).
- Sung Jao-yiu, Joseph (沈祖堯), one of the most significant figure in Hong Kong's fighting with the SARS in 2003. He is the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Effective 2005).
- Yuen Kwok-yung (袁國勇), another significant figure in the SARS crisis in Hong Kong. He is Henry Fok Professor in Infectious Diseases, and is currently working at the University of Hong Kong as the Chair and Head of the Department of Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine.
- Chiang Mung (蔣濛), Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University (Effective 2005).
- Shen Xuhui, Simon (沈旭暉), international politics critic, Table-host of ROUNDTABLE, doctorate candidate of the Oxford University (Effective 2005).
- Wong Kwok-pun, Lawrence (黃國彬), Professor at the Department of Translation of Lingnan University in Hong Kong. His famous Chinese poem 'On Listening to Chan's Zither Performance' (translated from the Chinese title '聽陳蕾士的琴箏'), written in the 1980s, has been one of the prescribed texts of the Chinese Language syllabus of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination from 1993 to 2006.
List of principals (formerly headmasters)
- Dr. Frederick Stewart (1862-1881)
- Dr. G.H. Bateson Wright (1881-1909)
- Mr. T.K. Dealy, FRGS, FEIS, FCS, DRF (Paris) (1909-1918)
- Mr. Bartram Tanner, ISO (1918-1925)
- Mr. A.H. Crook, OBE (1925-1930)
- Mr. F.J. de Rome, MBE (1930-1939)
- Mr. M.G. O'Connor (1939-1941)
- Mr. L.G. Morgan (Acting) (1947)
- Mr. J.J. Ferguson (Acting) (1947)
- Mr. H.N. Williamson, OBE (1947-1961)
- Mr. Cheung King-pak (1961-1964)
- Mr. Wong Yee-wa (Acting) (1964)
- Mr. F.C. Gamble (1964-1965)
- Mr. John Stokes (1965-1970)
- Mr. Raymond Huang (1970-1973)
- Mr. William Cheung Yuk-ming (1973-1976)
- Mr. Timothy Yung (1976-1982)
- Mr. Chew Tung-sing (1982-1987)
- Mr. Kong Shiu-chung (1987-1994)
- Mr. Lee Kar-hung (1994-2000)
- Mrs. Cheung Lam Lai-king Kitty (2000-2003)
- Mr. Li Lok-yin (2003-present)