University Hall (University of Hong Kong)

University Hall
大學堂

University Hall
Motto "We go with brothers"
Motto in English
 Ambition - Unity - Brotherhood
Type Student residences, The University of Hong Kong
Established 1956
Chancellor Dr. Henry Lau, Hall Warden
Students 110 max.
Location 144 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong
Colours Green     
Affiliations The University of Hong Kong, Student Union
Website http://www.uhall.com.hk/portal/
University Hall
Traditional Chinese 大學堂
Cantonese Jyutping daai6hok6tong4

University Hall, (Chinese: 大學堂) or just UHall is a historical male students residence of the University of Hong Kong. Uhall is one of the oldest student residence under the university's hall system[1] and gives shelter to about 110 students. It is located at No. 144 Pok Fu Lam Road, close to the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir within the Pok Fu Lam Country Park on the western side of Hong Kong Island.

The building itself dates back to 1861 when a wealthy Scottish trader named Douglas Lapraik build Douglas Castle as place of his residence.[2] University Hall was formally established in 1954 after the University of Hong Kong bought the heritage building from the French Mission in Hong Kong, as part of one of the early enlargement plans to the university's student residence.

UHall counts as one of the traditional halls with an emphasis on self-discipline and active participation in hall culture, such as sports and cultural activities. Admission to UHall follows the standard procedure of hall admissions set by the University of Hong Kong and conssus of the standing committee of UHall system.[3]

Within the over 50 years of existence, UHall has hedged some of the most outstanding political figures, social changers and businessmen in Hong Kong.[4] The hall is well known within the university for its spectacular Hall cheers performances and a yearly Halloween ball. The Hall is occasionally target for wedding photographers and film makers as well as painters. It is largely managed by its current residents.

History

The founders of Douglas Castle

Douglas Castle, Pokfulum.

The History of University Hall dates back to 1954, when the management of the University of Hong Kong acquired a historic building in the Pok Fu Lam Country park from the Hong Kong Government. Even through the Halls history accounts only for about 55 years, the much longer story of its building is constant part of the halls spirit and culture. Its Building was established by Douglas Lapraik, a Scottish trader who also made his wealth with shipbuilding and dock renting.[5] Douglas talent for business opportunities soon made him one of the richest people in Hong Kong at his time and inspired him to improve his living conditions in line with the standards of a Tai Pan in Hong Kong. In 1860, Douglas had heard about the government's plans to build a water reservoir and park on the island's south-western part at the valley around Pok Fu Lam. The reservoir was a solution to the emergent problem of clean water supply in Hong Kong. The hill next to the reservoir is in close proximity to the busy Central piers, yet a quiet retreat with panoramic views over the southern sea. Pok Fu Lam Road developed soon as the connection of the Western district to the smaller harbor of Hong Kong in Aberdeen, where Douglas planned to set up his docks. In 1861 he bid for a 75-year lease for his perfect lot on the hill where he soon started to build his own castle.

Douglas Castle under the French Mission

In 1894, Hong Kong Hong Kong was declared to be an infected port of the bubonic plague.[6] The killing spree of the plague claimed thousands of lives and made about half of the population hastily leave Hong Kong. John Steward, who was managing Douglas castle after Lapraik had returned to Britain in 1864, had no option, but to sell the castle to the French Mission, who were some of the few who remained in Hong Kong. The building soon turned into a monastery and got renamed Nazareth. After the plagues was sit out, Nazareth went through a major renovation under the leadership of Father Monnier, who enlarged the building with a printing house that operated one of the busiest bible printing and translation facilities of the early 20th century in Asia.

During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, Douglas Castle was confiscated by the Japanese army and possibly used for military purposes. After Second World War came to an end in 1945 the castle was returned to the French Mission and the printing press resumed operations in 1948.

However, with the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 it became difficult for overseas missionaries to penetrate the mainland. By the early 1950s, most of the foreign missionaries were forced to leave their stations in Mainland China. Hong Kong as a base for missionary work into the greater China area became increasingly unfeasible. In the coming years, Nazareth closed down. The government, which considered the castle for numerous purposes, finally decided to grant the building to University of Hong Kong. On 4 December 1954 the building got transferred from the French Mission to the university at a price of HK$1,600,000.[7]

University Hall

The University's proposal of turning Nazareth into a male dormitory was in line with the French Mission, and the transferral went smoothly. Already in 1956 the first group of about 52 students, settled in the castle writing a new page of the Castle' history called University Hall.

Today, the castle on top of Pok Fu Lam hill reminds on the colonial days of Hong Kong. It increased its capacity to hold students to about 110 residents at a time. Over the Halls history the castle had provided shelter for so far over 2000 men from largely Hong Kong, an increasing number of about 300 Mainland students, and also increasing number of international students. The castle is funded and kept under good conditions by the University, which proudly presents the historical building in marketing efforts.

The internal management is currently headed by Dr. Henry Lau as Hall Warden, a representative function. The Castle Pokfulam hill has a yearly General Assemble to elect the different hall functions and put forwards its traditional mission to build unity within its residence, create a sense of belonging and the will of dedication for intellectual pursuits, while carrying on a tradition passed on by the alumni.

Architecture

University Hall
University Hall

Douglas Castle was planned in 1861 in the colonial style of Hong Kong the plans where influenced by English Tudor architecture and gothic styles. The registered site area counted about 310,227 square feet. When completed around 1864, the single-storey compound provided an octagonal penthouse bedroom that faced directly the sea and being surrounded by hill and the nearby water reservoir, the villa also included a side house and a rectangular outhouse. With the change in ownership to the The French Missionaries in 1894, the purpose for the only 30-year-old castle changed and a new wing, a chapel and printing house on the north-eastern was erected in accordance with the existing style under the architects Danby, Leigh and Orange. The other part of the building were substantially rebuild to a 3 floor compound. Only the side towers and parts of the fundamentals remained original.[8]

When the castle turned into "University Hall" in 1954, The University architecture lecturer Donald Liao, was given the task to rearrange the internal designs, partitions and furniture. the high chapel got converted into a dining hall and the crypt became a common room. The Hall has now a large residence area for the Hall Warden on the position of the penthouse bedroom, staff quarters and about 33 rooms for students. On 7 September 1995 the Building was taken under protection of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance and declared a monument.[9]

Hall culture

The University Hall counts as one of the traditional hall residence at the University of Hong Kong. The hall emphasizes on the development of self-determination and cooperation, brotherhood with hall mates and give and take. University Hall is run under the authority of a student association elected yearly in the general assembly and the hall warden, the highest authority in the Hall. For full membership the student has to participate in a 10-day orientation camp (Ying Sun). The hall has a number of hall cheers that have been awarded in numerous hall cheers completions. The University Hall is the place of a yearly Halloween ball in which the castle turns into a haunted house. The hall spirit puts also much emphasis on social services,current affairs,sports and cultural activities [10]

Sports

University Hall offers a number of sports, such as lacrosse, softball, hockey, squash, tennis, badminton, soccer, volleyball and handball.

University Hall strongly encourage hall mates to join one new ball game (lacrosse, softball, hockey) at the first year as to help them to jump out from their comfort zone.

The Hall traditionally participates in the University of Hong Kong Aquatics meet, Athletics meet.

Cultural services

There are also a number of Social and Cultural teams, such as Drama, Music, Quarrals, Bridge, Debate, Band team.

UHall also participates in social services such as a Joint program with the Salvation Army in Hong Kong.

Hall's three Treasures

Uhall is particularly proud of its so called three Hall treasures. That are namely two sculptures of the Davids Deers, positioned at the main entrance stairs. the Davids Deers originating form the buildings history of Douglas Castle. No students are allowed to touch them before their graduation otherwise they would run risk of being spelled to never graduate.

An other hall treasure is the golden spiral staircase that is build within the southern tower of the Hall. The myth goes that the staircase had been moved to Japan during the Japanese occupations of Hong Kong, yet got returned after the Hong Kong Government demanded them back when the war had finished,and it is the one of the 2 golden spiral staircase in Hong King.

The last Hall treasure is the only female Ms Yuen So Moy "Sam So" who has been working in Uhall from its very beginning and provided a mother figure to some of the students throughout the halls existence. Sam So has recently been granted an honorary degree by the university.[11]

Criticism

University Hall has been criticized externally for its harsh hall culture and internally for its declining hall spirit. The contradictions of this problem a ready points out Uhall's most pressing challenge. According to Critics, University hall's has also lost popularity for a first choice residence because of the changing needs of contemporary students and the halls inability to adapt to these changes. The hall is also the furthest away from the main campus and has only a few single rooms.

See also

References

  1. ↑ UHall tradition
  2. ↑ The History of University Hall
  3. ↑ Cedars Website on Hall Admission procedures
  4. ↑ Report on 50 years Anniversary of Uhall
  5. ↑ Douglas Steamship Company, Ltd
  6. ↑ SEMP on Hong Kong Bubonic Plague Epidemic
  7. ↑ The Castle
  8. ↑ GWULO on Old Hong Kong
  9. ↑ Declared Monuments in Hong Kong - Hong Kong Island
  10. ↑ UHall Traditrion, Hall Life
  11. ↑ HKU to present Honorary University Fellowships

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