資料：1928年3月5日《The Hong Kong Telegraph》第1頁
資料：1928年3月5日《The Hong Kong Telegraph》第8頁
KING’S COLLEGE OPENED.
THIS AFTERNOON’S BIG CEREMONY.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR UNLOCKS SUPER-BUILDING.
FOR 900 STUDENTS.
An event of considerable importance in the development of education in the Colony took place this afternoon, when His Excellency the Governor (Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G.) performed the ceremonial opening of King’s College. The function was attended by a large gathering of those interested in education.
The School assembled at 2.30 p.m. in the Great Hall, and music was discoursed by the band of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers until the arrival of His Excellency, when the National Anthem was played and the Governor’s flag hoisted on the flagstaff.
After His Excellency had unlocked the main door and declared the College open, Sir Cecil entered the building, being followed by the visitors, Scouts and Ambulance men in uniform standing at attention along the south verandah.
The official party having taken their seats, His Excellency was presented with a ceremonial key and invited to unveil the School shield and the portrait of the late Mr. Chan Shek-shan, donor of the Chan Shek-shan Scholarship.
Headmaster’s Report.
Then followed the presentation of a report by the Headmaster (Mr. A.Morris), who said:- To-day is an auspicious occasion in the annuals of educational progress in Hongkong, marking as it does the long delayed official opening of yet another school; a school to be known by the proud title of King’s College, which is to provide for higher education up to Matriculation Standard. Some ten years ago, Dr. Lim likened our University to a lighthouse. If this simile is true, then King’s College is one of the many beacon buoys marking the navigable channel and approach to that lighthouse. If at first our light is feeble and flickering, with due care and attention to the fuel and trimming, with the flight of time, that light will burn no less brilliantly nor steadily than that of its sister beacons.
To you, Sir, the College is indebted for its name, for you will recollect that in March, 1926, when you visited the building in its incomplete state, you selected the style King’s College – a title of which we all can be justly proud. It is my sincere hope that each student will strive to “live up” to, and justify its regal signification, and all that is implied thereby.
Past History.
At this juncture it will be of interest to trace the past history and development of the Saiyingpun School, of which King’s College is the outgrowth, exemplifying the proverb, “Great oaks from little acorns grow.” Although many years must elapse before maturity is reached, yet the sapling has taken root, and under the guidance of succeeding Headmasters who must water the tree and prune it and ruthlessly cut away dead and decaying branches, the young giant will attain its full measure of growth, and rear its head amongst the older and more sturdy monarchs of the forest.
Saiyingpun School dates back to 1879, in which year the Government decided to establish a Free School at West Point, and appointed as the first Headmaster Mr. Fung Fu a returned student from America, and who was selected after a competitive examination as an assistant teacher for the Central School where he remained for one year. The School was accommodated in Nos. 35, 37, 39 and 41 Third Street, the upper floors being occupied by Punti Scholars, and the lower by Hakka pupils. Later English was taught to both sections without distinction.
Like the child Samuel, the school grow and prospered and after a period of 12 years, the number in attendance had reached 110. The late Dr. Eitel was instrumental in inducing the Government to erect a more permanent building which contained four class rooms, on the site of the existing Vernacular Middle School, a spot which had been used hitherto as a rubbish heap, or in local parlance,- Lap Sap Tan. Mr. Fung retained the Headmastership for a further period of 12 years, until 1903, when he retired on pension. Mr. Fung is with us to-day, hale and hearty, and a witness to the fruit of his pioneering. Mr. W.H.Williams succeeded to the Headship in the same year, and remained at Saiyingpun until 1905, when he was transferred to the Victoria British School which came into being at this time. My tenure of office dates from June of that year.
The following figures are instructive and illuminating:- For 1905 the average attendance was 51.6 and fees amounted to $754; for 1906, average attendance 92.1 and fees $1,907; for 1907, average attendance 216.0 and fees $4,496; for 1908, average attendance 296.9 and fees $6,704.
Building Enlarged.
The success of the school being now assured – at one time it was proposed to close it down – the building was enlarged by the addition of six new class rooms; fees were increased to $3 a month, and classes were limited to 40. Even these additions, amendments, and restrictions proved inadequate, and it is no exaggeration to say that each succeeding year scores of would-be students were refused admission.
The year 1909 which marks the apex of attendance in the old building, saw the addition of two matsheds to the class-room accommodation, and although intended for temporary use they served for teaching purposes for a period of 16 years. In that year, the average attendance reached 403.0, and Fees for the same period totaled $9,152. Thus, in the brief space of four years, numbers had increased eight-fold.
Yet another phase dates from this year. The transfer of Mrs. Morris from the post of Headmistress at Victoria British School to Saiyingpun in September, 1909, marked a new era, not only in the history of Saiyingpun School, but in the education of Chinese boys in Government Schools in Hongkong, for Mrs. Morris is the pioneer lady teacher. Lord Lugard, then Sir Frederick-Lugard, speaking of this innovation, i.e. the introduction of lady teachers into boys’ schools, said: “I am sincerely glad to hear from the Director of Education that the experiment has proved a success.”
Lady Teachers.
The experiment was extended to Queen’s College and the other Government Schools, and to-day each counts one or more lady teacher on its staff. Speaking with inside knowledge of the good foundations laid by Mrs. Morris in the lower classes, I would be failing in my conception of the debt we owe her, if I did not acknowledge that the measure of success attained at Saiyingpun was due very largely to her loyal co-operation, indefatigable support, influence for good, and above all her sacrifice, in all that appertained to the well being of the school.
Sixteen years teaching in a matshed savours more of India than Hongkong, and might be the title of a book dealing with the progress and development of Educational practice in Hongkong.
The year 1910 marks yet another advance in the stalling arrangements, for at this time the first English Assistant Master was appointed.
In 1914 plans were prepared for the further extension and rebuilding of the school, and the temporary transfer of pupils and staff to Ellis Kadoorie School during the reconstruction, but the conditional promise of the late Sir Ellis Kadoorie to present that building to the Government and the subsequent fulfilment of that promise deferred the development of Saiyingpun School, a delay which has been more than compensated for on this present structure.
Need For New Building.
One of the earliest references to an entirely new building is contained in the answer to a question put by Sir Henry Pollock at the introduction of the budget on October 24th, 1917. In reply, H.E. the late Sir Henry May recognized the necessity of providing a new building on a new site.
The following year on October 13th, 1918, the late Mr. P.H.Holyoak in his Budget speech referred to the disadvantages and inadequacy of the old building and pressed for a new one, and his remarks were endorsed by the late Mr. Ho Fook and the Mr. Chan Kai-ming, the two Chinese representatives on the Legislative Council at that time. Sir Claud Severn, in reply, held out hopes of removal to a larger and better site, but it was not until 1921 that the Director of Public Works stated in the Legislative Council in reply to Mr. A.O.Lang that an exchange of land was being negotiated. This exchange was carried through, and in 1923 work on the foundations and retaining walls was started. In April 1924 the contract for the superstructure was let.
At an earlier period, I had been requested to state the requirements of this new school, and the existing building embodies most of these requirements. In the statement I endeavoured to provide for a model school, and how far the Government has complied you can best judge by an inspection of the premises. There were conferences in which the late Director of Education took part, but the design and drawings were the work of Mr. Dawbarn, whose plans have since been selected from amongst many competitors, for the now Raffles College at Singapore.
Main Features.
To enumerate briefly the main features of this building, King’s College contains 29 class rooms, a physics laboratory, a chemistry laboratory, library and museum, art room, gymnasium, great hall, cinema projecting room, workshop, covered playground, photograph room, swimming pool with sand filter and the storage tank; lavatories and cloak rooms on each floor; staff rooms, Headmaster’s and Clerk’s offices and sanitary arrangements of the latest and most approved type. The equipment is not yet complete. The gymnasium and workshop need apparatus, which it is hoped to provide this year.
I wish to remind our many Chinese friends and patrons, that while a benevolent and paternal Government provides for the running expenses of this institution, there is much that they can do to show their appreciation and recognition of the facilities provided for in this building for the education of the rising generation. The boards upon these walls indicate that a few scholarships have been endowed: more and yet more are required, and while I am diffident of enumerating all our needs in detail, I will be most happy and willing to state them to any who are interested.
Mr. Fung Ping Shan has promised to equip the Chinese section of the Library, while from other benefactors, donations have been received, certain of which have been expended on the English side of the Library. A gift which is highly appreciated is the latest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the gift of Mr. H.W.Ray, manager of the Hongkong Amusement Co., and a former Assistant Master at Saiyingpun School.
A Super-Building.
In conclusion, the Government and the Colony generally are to be congratulated on possessing, such a super-building, a building with scarcely an equal anywhere.
The Duke of York School at Dover, the latest and most up-to-date of the Army Schools, is deficient in many of the features embodied here and surpasses this College only in respect of its playing grounds of which there is a real and urgent need in Hongkong.
A school which has accommodation for 900 students should be considered by the Recreation Ground Committee when allotments are made. While there appears to be no hope of amelioration in the immediate future, an eye must be kept on the possibilities of laying out a Football Recreation ground at Pokfulam or even as far afield as Aberdeen, which locality is served by buses and launches, and is accessible.
The Siamese Prince who went over the school in December, 1926, was much impressed with what he saw, and like the Queen of Sheba who after viewing the Temple at Jerusalem was constrained to say “The half has not been told.”
The students too are to be congratulated on being permitted to attend such a fine school, replete with all necessaries and comforts. Here I would add a word of warning and exhortation to guardians and pupils:- the unswerving loyalty of all is demanded – loyalty to the Government and the school – and it is sincerely hoped that no one will, through any ill-considered act or advice, bring discredit upon the escutcheon of King’s College.
Patrons and Donors.
His Excellency then followed with an address, which was being delivered as we went to press.
Amongst a large number of patrons and donors are the following:- Sir Robert Ho Tung, one scholarship; Mr. Chan Pek-chun, one scholarship; Mr. Chan Shek-shan (deceased), one scholarship; Mr. Woo Hay-tong, a guaranteed income of $1,000 per annum for scholarships and other purposes, also Donation $25; Mr. Ho Kom-tong, $1,000 Endowment of Scholarship, Alfred Morris also doubled the value of the Ralphs and Ho Kom-tong Scholarships; Mr. Hu Cheong, $1,500 Endowment of Scholarship; Mrs. Chan Shek-shan, $900, donation and cost of one portrait in oils of the late Mr. Chan Shek-shan; Mr. Tsang Po-ki, $450, cost of school badge in enamel (executed by Messrs. Mappin and Webb); Mr. Fung Ping-shan, Chinese books for the Library; Mr. H.W.Ray, $300, cost of new edition “Encyclopedia Britannica.”
英皇書院開幕
是日下午盛大典禮
總督閣下為龐大建築啟鑰
可容納900學生
是日下午舉行了一個被譽為對本地教育發展意義重大的活動，總督閣下(金文泰爵士 KCMG聖米迦勒及聖佐治爵級司令勳章 (Sir Cecil Clementi))主持了英皇書院的開幕儀式。整個活動吸引了大批教育界持份者出席。
學校集會先於下午2時30分在禮堂舉行，同場有御前蘇格蘭邊界兵團(King’s Own Scottish Borderers)奏樂。當總督閣下進場，兵團演奏國歌，學校升上總督旗。
總督閣下於學校大門主持啟鑰儀式，宣佈了學校正式啟用。金文泰爵士與一眾來賓步入校園，一眾穿著制服的童軍及救護隊員於南面陽台立正。
眾嘉賓就座後，總督閣下獲贈學校金匙，並獲邀為校徽揭幕，以及為陳碩山獎學金(Chan Shek-shan Scholarship)贊助人，已故的陳碩山先生(Mr. Chan Shek-shan)的畫像揭幕。
校長報告
然後是校長(莫理士先生(Mr. A.Morris))的報告：今天是一個大喜日子，是香港教育史上標誌性的一天，因為這是一所一再押後開幕，一所擁有尊貴名字，英皇書院的開幕日，這是一所能提供預科教育的學校。約10年前左右，林博士(Dr. Lim)將大學堂比喻為一座燈塔，借用其比喻，那本校將會是引領眾人前往燈塔的海上引導浮標，初時這個浮標的燈光是微弱及閃爍的，但只要我們加入適當的燃料並給予適切的維護，這個浮標將會與其他浮標一樣發光發亮。
本校之名稱為爵士閣下所賜，猶記得1926年3月時，當你來訪本校工地時，你為學校賜名英皇書院，一個令人感到無比驕傲的名字。希望本校學生都能達致校名背後「至高無上」的意義。
歷史往事
這個時候是追溯歷史的好時機，因為英皇書院就是西營盤書院進化而生，如同諺語「小小種子長出參天巨木」(Great oaks from little acorns grow)。雖然還有一段時間才會長大成熟，全賴歷任校長的照料，為樹木澆灌修剪，決斷地把枯枝壞葉剪除，小小巨木將會茁壯成長，終有一天衝出林層，成為歷久彌堅的巨木之巔。
西營盤書院可追溯至1879年，當年政府打算於西環打造一所免費學校，並於中央書院(Central School)進行了一場選拔，最後選出了於書院任職助教剛1年的美國留學生馮扶先生(Mr. Fung Fu)出任新校首位校長。學校選址位於第三街35、37、39、41號，高層為本地學生課室，低層則是客家學生課室。後來兩課室都開始教授英文。
如同幼年的撒母耳(Samuel)，學校不斷成長及壯大，創校12年後，出席學童已達致110人。歐德理博士(Dr. Eitel)曾遊說政府為學校建造一座附有4個教室的校舍，選址為本地一所荒廢書院，一處被人用作垃圾棄置場所的地方，或引當地居民所言「垃圾站」(Lap Sap Tan)。馮先生在之後12年繼續出任校長，直至1903年退休為止。今天馮先生亦有到場，精神矍鑠，與我們一起共證開拓成果。威廉士先生(Mr. W.H.Williams)接替了校長一職，至1905年轉職剛成立的域多利英童學校(Victoria British School)。而我的校長生涯則於同年6月開始。
之後的數據充滿指導及啟發性：1905年平均出席51.6人，收取學費754港元；1906年平均出席92.1人，收取學費1,907港元；1907年平均出席216人，收取學費4,496港元；1908年平均出席296.9人，收取學費6,704港元。
擴建校舍
本校辦學有方 (曾有意見應當廢校)，校舍得以額外擴建6個課室，學費相應提升至每月3港元，班級數量的限制則為40班。即使作出了相應的增建、修改及管制仍未嘗有效，沒有誇張，我們每年都拒絕了數十名小童入學。
1909年標誌著舊校舍進入了頂峰時期，學校搭建了2個臨時竹棚充當課室，並臨時地使用了達16年之久。當時平均出席403人，收取學費9,162港元。4年之間，學童人數增加了8倍。
這年亦發生了另一個標誌性事件，就是1909年9月，域多利英童學校校長莫理士夫人(Mrs. Morris)轉職為西營盤書院老師。這不但是西營盤書院的重要時刻，亦為全香港華人官學堂開創先河，成為了首名女教師。盧吉勳爵(Lord Lugard)，即當年的盧吉爵士(Sir Frederick-Lugard)就男校引入女教師的創舉，曾表示「從提學司得知相關試驗的成功感到十分高興」。
女教師
相關試驗後來擴展至皇仁書院(Queen’s College)及其他官學堂，直至現在每校都可看到1至多名女教師任職。說到為低年級學童建立良好基礎的關鍵，不得不承認，以莫理士夫人功勞至大，她為西營盤書院的忠心合作、鼎力支持、以身作則，背後犧牲之大，實為本校之福。
16年的竹棚教育生涯，與其說是香港，更多的是印度風情。以上大家可考慮用作講述香港教育事業發展一書的標題。
1910年學校作出了另一嘗試，在這年我們聘請了首位英文助教。
1914年，學校開始準備擴建及重建工作，就此本校學生及教師需轉移至育才書社(Ellis Kadoorie School)。但已故的嘉道理爵士(Sir Ellis Kadoorie)所開出的將校舍歸還政府及相關附帶條件，導致重建計劃一再延遲。當然以現在所得校舍而言，這已算是某程度上作出了補償了。
需要新的校舍
關於建造新校舍的提案，最早為普樂爵士(Sir Henry Pollock)於1917年10月24日的財政預算中提出。已故梅含理爵士(Sir Henry May)總督閣下亦認為有在新址建造新校舍的需要。
後於1918年10月18日，已故何理玉先生(Mr. P.H.Holyoak)於財政預算中提到舊校舍的缺點及不足之處，其發言當時獲得了定例局2位中國議員，已故何福先生(Mr. Ho Fook)及已故陳啟明先生(Mr. Chan Kai-ming)的同意，施勳爵士(Sir Claud Severn)亦當即回覆進行相關準備。但直至1921年工務司於定例局回答柯蘭先生(Mr. A.O.Lang)的詢問時，進度還在土地交換的階段。進行土地交換後，1923年開始了地基及護土牆工程。1924年4月時簽訂了建築合同。
在建築初期，我被問及對新校舍的要求，現在的校舍已達到了大部份當時的要求了。我當時的要求是使之成為校舍之典範，至於政府所建成果大家最好稍後去親身檢驗。前任提學司曾出席多場工作會議，至於設計及繪製圖則是由德班先生(Mr. Dawbarn)負責，他的設計在一眾對手中獲多方採用，其中包括新落成的新加坡萊佛士學院(Raffles College)。
主要設施
以下簡單介紹一下設施，英皇書院共有29個課室，並設有物理實驗室、化學實驗室、圖書館及博物館、美術室、健身室、禮堂、投影室、工作坊、有蓋操場、攝影室、游泳池(設有砂缸過濾器及儲水箱)，每層設有洗手間及衣帽間，教職員室、校長室、文員室及衞生設施均採用最先進設計。現時設備還未完善，健身室及工作坊需要添置器材，相關用具可望於今年送達。
在此亦要告知各位中國朋友及贊助人，雖然政府仁慈慷慨地支付本校的一切運作，但你們亦可藉此對建造這所孕育下一代成材的建築表達讚許及謝意。你們可留意牆上的幾面獎學金公佈板，我們現正需要更多的贊助。現在我不會詳細列出各項所需，但如有興趣，我可為之作一一說明。
馮平山先生(Mr. Fung Ping Shan)已承諾為圖書館添置中文書籍，其他的捐贈者及贊助者亦已協助添置英文書籍。其中我們收到的一份大禮，是最新版的《大英百科全書》，捐贈者是雷先生(Mr. H.W.Ray)，他是香港娛樂公司(Hongkong Amusement Co.)經理，亦是西營盤書院的前任助教。
龐大建築
最後，亦為政府及本地能擁有這座龐大建築，一座在任何地方都難以匹敵的建築表示祝賀。
位於多佛(Dover)的約克公爵學院(Duke of York School)，一所最新落成的軍事學院，其建築在多方面亦未能超越本校，他們唯一優勝的就是操場，而這亦是全香港現正實際需要的建設。
這所可容納900名學童的學校，遊樂場值理會應就此作出行動，雖然我認為短期內不會成事，但我們亦期待著在薄扶林甚至香港仔設立一個足球場，如果選址地點是可乘巴士或船艇抵達就更好了。
暹羅(Siam)王子曾於1926年12月到訪本校，並為所見為之讚嘆，如同示巴女王(Queen of Sheba)到訪耶路撒冷聖殿後曾說「我知道的還不到一半」(the half has not been told)。
在此亦祝賀各位學生可享用這所學校的優良及舒適的設施。但我亦需告誡你們，你們必須擁有堅定不移的心，忠於政府及學校。我真誠的希望，沒有人會意圖或企圖作出有損英皇書院校譽的事。
贊助人及捐贈者
總督閣下隨後在我們發稿時發表了講話。
眾多的贊助人及捐贈者包括：
何東爵士(Sir Robert Ho Tung)，一筆獎學金；
陳璧全先生(Mr. Chan Pek-chun)，一筆獎學金；
陳碩山先生(已故)(Mr. Chan Shek-shan)，一筆獎學金；
胡禧堂先生(Mr. Woo Hay-tong)，每年度1,000港元用作獎學金，25港元作其他用途；
何甘棠先生(Mr. Ho Kom-tong)，1,000港元獎學金；
莫理士將勞福斯(Ralphs)及何甘棠獎學金加倍發放；
許祥先生(Mr. Hu Cheong)，1,500港元獎學金；
陳碩山夫人(Mrs. Chan Shek-shan)，捐贈已故陳碩山先生油畫900港元；
曾寶琦先生(Mr. Tsang Po-ki)，一批印有校徽的搪瓷450港元(由皇室珠寶公司(Messrs. Mappin and Webb)製作)；
馮平山先生，圖書館中文書籍；
雷先生，最新版《大英百科全書》300港元。