YMCA Kowloon Centre logo
Bridges Street Centre

The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港中華基督教青年會) is a social and charity institution in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1901.[1] 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.[2] 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 in England but founded differently and provide different directions of service.

Bridges Street location

In 1915, architecture firm Shattuck and Hussey 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.[3]

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.[3]

In 1979, Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) gave the building a Grade II which was upgraded to Grade I in 2009.[3] The building was declared a monument on October 20, 2023.[4]

References

  1. ↑ McPherson, Sue (Fulham) (2006). "J.L. McPherson: Hong Kong YMCA General Secretary, 1905-1935" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 46: 39–58. ISSN 1991-7295.
  2. ↑ 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.."
  3. 1 2 3 Dewolf, Christopher (2021-11-16). "Hong Kong's Colonial Heritage: The Chinese YMCA' s Chicago Roots". Zolima City Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  4. ↑ "LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BRIEF. Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53). Antiquities and Monuments (Declaration of Monuments and Historical Buildings) (Consolidation) (Amendment) Notice 2023" (PDF). Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Development Bureau. 23 October 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.