The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong () is a social and charity institution in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
. It was founded in 1901. It operates several major facilities such as the
Wu Kai Sha Youth Village.
History
The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong was founded in 1918 by
Fok Hing-tong, wife of Cantonese Christian businessman
Ma Ying-piu.
[John Fitzgerald Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia 2007 - Page 204 "Ma's wife Huo Qingtang founded the Hong Kong branch of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in 1918, and two years later was elected founding.."] Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong is different from
YMCA of Hong Kong. They are two independent organisations in Hong Kong, both traced back to the same
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...
in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
but founded differently and provide different directions of service.
Bridges Street location
In 1915, architecture firm
Shattuck and Hussey Shattuck and Hussey was a Chicago-based architectural firm founded by Walter F. Shattuck (1871-1948) and Harry Hussey.
History
Shattuck studied architecture at the University of Illinois. After graduation, he taught construction and perspective a ...
was hired by the Chinese YMCA to design its new
Bridges Street location and construction began in 1917. The design was typical of the firm's work and indicative of the
Chicago School style. It included Hong Kong's first indoor swimming pool, gymnasium with a mezzanine running track, and a variety of conference rooms.
Upon its opening, hosted classes, workshops and lectures for Hong Kong men. In 1941, Japanese forces gained control of the building. In 1966, Chinese YMCA relocated to Waterloo Road in Yau Ma Tei and the building was adapted for use as a hostel and educational purposes.
In 1979,
Antiquities Advisory Board
The Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) is a statutory body of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the responsibility of advising the Antiquities Authority on any matters relating to antiquities and monuments. The AAB was establish ...
(AAB) gave the building a Grade II which was upgraded to Grade I in 2009.
Gallery
File:HK_ChineseYMCA_KowloonCentre.jpg, Chinese YMCA Kowloon Centre
File:HK_ChineseYMCA_NTCentre.JPG, New Territories Centre
File:HK HarbourviewInternationalHouse Entrance.jpg, Harbourview International House hotel
File:HK_TheCityview_Entrance.JPG, The Cityview Hotel
References
External links
Official websiteof the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong
{{Authority control
YMCA
Youth organisations based in Hong Kong