Hong Kong’s oldest Catholic boys’ school to get swimming pool, arts centre and hostel in HK$500 million upgrade
- 145-year-old St Joseph’s College relying on ‘old boys’ to help fund its redevelopment plan
- First major upgrade in 60 years will blend old and new, protect school’s historic buildings
Principal Perrick Ching King-bor has three guests in his office at St Joseph’s College, and they are brimming with excitement as they discuss ambitious plans to give the 145-year-old school a major facelift.
The three “old boys” – as alumni are referred to at Hong Kong’s oldest Catholic boys’ secondary school – are frequently breaking out in laughter as they recall their schooldays.
Ching graduated in 1976, marketing company boss Michael Yen is from the class of 1987, and public relations professional Gordon Yau Yick-chung is from the class of 2002. With them is the current student union president, Parco Wong Pak-tou, 16.
The school’s HK$500 million (US$64 million) campus redevelopment plan, which could span 22 years, includes adding facilities it does not have, such as an indoor swimming pool, a standard-size basketball court, and a student hostel.
There will also be an activities hub for uniformed groups and extracurricular activity teams, an innovation hub for design and technology lessons, and a performing arts centre.
“I think it’s time to redevelop our campus since it has been almost 60 years since the last major campus construction,” Ching says.