St. Paul's College Heritage

1842 - 1861 1862 - 1904 1905 - 1942 1945 - 1980 1981 – Now

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The Rise to Prominence:

The College nurtured a wealth of Chinese talents, including Wang Ch‘ung-hui, Chan Ayin, and Mok Sau Tseng

Responding to Community Needs:

During this period, the Government established the Government Central School, Education Department, and Grants-in-aid Scheme. It also introduced entrance examinations for British universities.

History of St. Paul’s College

1876

St. Paul’s College joined the Grants-in-Aid Scheme

The College fell under Category 4 of the Scheme, as a school that taught a European curriculum in European languages, including Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar, History, Geography, etc.

1901

St. Paul’s College restructured into a seminary

Bishop Joseph Charles Hoare restructured St. Paul’s College and suspended its Anglo-Chinese section, which had catered to Chinese students since 1849. The restructuring effectively turned the school into a seminary for only training Chinese clergymen, in collaboration with the Church Missionary Society.

Development of Education in HK

1862

The Government Central School was established

The Government Central School was located in Gough Street in Central District. Frederick Stewart was its first headmaster. The school provided Western-style primary and secondary education and had both a Chinese Section and an English Section.

1865

Education Department was established

The Government established the Education Department to replace the Board of Education. Frederick Stewart was appointed the first Inspector of Schools. Education was officially integrated into the public affairs of the Government.

1873

The Grants-in-aid Scheme was implemented

The scheme stipulated that grants schools were required to offer four consecutive hours daily of secular instruction, within which religious instruction should be avoided.

1886

Entrance examinations for the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and other universities in Britain were introduced in Hong Kong, giving Hong Kong students a pathway to be admitted to foreign higher education institutions.

1898

The Convention between the United Kingdom and China, Respecting an Extension of Hong Kong Territory, was signed by the two countries

The convention enabled the United Kingdom to forcibly “lease” the area of land north of the Boundary Street in Kowloon up to the Shum Chun (Shenzhen) River, as well as 235 islets, for 99 years.