Checkpoint 8 - College hall
Located behind the foyer of the main entrance of the College on Bonham Road, the College Hall has functioned as the College’s assembly hall since its completion in 1965. As such, it has been the location for many of the College’s major events, including Speech Days, Christmas Balls, and many important dinners and meetings organised by the College, the Parent-Teacher Association, the Alumni Association, and other groups.
The hall was renovated in 2010 under the supervision of Mr Rembert Lai Siu Kin, an alumnus who graduated in the 1970s. Mr Lai was also the chief designer of the renovation of Wong Ming Him Hall. Apart from boasting a brand new look, there were also several additions, including a cross and a portrait of our patron saint, Saint Paul. Both serve to remind our students of the Christian faith on which our College is built and our strong connection to the Hong Hong Sheng Kung Hui.
One thing unbeknown to most students nowadays is that the College Hall used to be named ‘Mok Kon Sang Memorial Hall’ (莫幹生紀念堂). Although not an alumnus of St. Paul’s, Mr Mok Kon Sang was a former compradore of the Swire Hong Kong Group and a keen philanthropist, especially for education. He contributed much to the construction of the College Hall, and so the Hall was named in his honour.
Principals
Along the sides of the Hall are portraits of the College’s founder and former principals, paying respect to their contributions to the College over years.
Prefects’ Council
The Prefects’ Council of St. Paul’s College was founded in September 1965 and put under the supervision of the College’s discipline master. The Council is responsible for the management of College prefects and endeavours to maintain the well-being and good conduct of the students.
The Prefects’ Council was once responsible for the welfare of the students, though that role has been taken over by the Students’ Association.
Students' Association
St. Paul’s College Students’ Association was founded in 1963, making it one of the oldest student bodies in Hong Kong. Yet various small-scale student organisations preceded the founding of the S.A.. It was founded with the aim of providing the students with extra-curricular activities, welfare, and services. It was hoped that through the activities of the S.A., students would be able to refine their general conduct and mature both in general knowledge and minds.
The S.A., in addition to serving all the above purposes, is also the only organisation officially registered with the Education Bureau to represent the students of St. Paul’s College. It acts as the supervisor of all the College’s clubs and societies and ensures that they provide a comprehensive range of activities that can fulfil the different needs of every student in the College.
During its infancy, the S.A. was very simple in its operation and structure. Yet, as the years went by and more clubs and societies developed, the workload for the S.A. greatly increased. In order to streamline and ensure the effective running of the S.A., a constitution was drafted, specifying the responsibilities of each post, the responsibilities of each sub-committee, and other items essential to the operation of the S.A.. In keeping up with the progress in society, the S.A. Constitution has gone through amendments from time to time.
The power of the S.A. is vested in the president. Every proposal has to be approved by the Executive Council, which can be described as the brain of the S.A., comprising the president, the vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer, class representatives, and the chairperson of the Affiliated Clubs Committee. The affiliated sub-committees of the E.C., meanwhile, are responsible for various tasks, such as students’ publications, programmes, welfare, and club management. The president of the S.A. was originally the head prefect of the College, and when this was changed in the academic year 1973-1974, the president was appointed by the teachers. An election for the president with all the students voting was first held in 1977. Since then, every S.A. presidential candidate has had to go through the process of selection through democratic election.
College Badge
The College badge that hangs above the stage was designed and handcrafted from wood by our former visual arts teacher Mr Leung Tse Sau in the 1960s. Mr Leung, an alumnus of the College in the 1950s, served the College as a teacher for forty years. Mr Leung’s other works inside the College include the bronze College badge outside Wong Ming Him Hall, which was intended as a longer-lasting replacement of the original wooden College badge installed during the construction of Wong Ming Him Hall.
The Cross of Blessing and the Icon of Saint Paul
The Cross was installed in the College Hall in 2010, as part of the renovation of the school hall. It was bought by our former College Chaplain, Fr Robert Martin CMP, and shipped from the United Kingdom. The cross was formally dedicated and blessed by the Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Dr Paul Kwong, as part of the re-dedication of the hall.
This type of cross is known as the Cross of Blessing because it has a version of the Priestly Blessing of Aaron, from Numbers 6:22-27, inscribed upon it as a blessing on all the staff and students of St. Paul’s College.
The text runs
‘The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.’
The Cross is also inscribed in the centre with the traditional Jerusalem Cross motif consisting of a single Greek cross enclosing four smaller crosses. Representing Christ in the centre surrounded by the four evangelists, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. This style of cross was commonly used by early pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Besides, a Byzantine style icon of Saint Paul the Apostle, Patron of the College, was also installed. This icon was a gift from Fr Robert’s former parish in London, also dedicated to St. Paul. The icon was blessed by the Bishop of London in St. Paul’s Cathedral before being brought to Hong Kong. Both additions were intended to reflect the identity of St. Paul’s College as an Anglican school and the international nature of the anglican communion.
(written by Fr Robert Martin 2016)
