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Introduction Audio
Historical Background
The building at No. 12 School Street was constructed in 1949 to replace an earlier pre-war building named Hung Shing Yi Hok (literally, Confucius free school for the poor) founded in the late Qing Dynasty. This school was funded by donations of local inhabitants. The most generous patron of the school was Mr. Lau Chu-pak (1867-1922), an eminent leader of the community.
The historical association between Tai Hang and the Confucius free school for the poor is still remembered today in the street name School Street. Unfortunately, the school building was severely destroyed during the times when Hong Kong came under Japanese rule (1941-1945). After the war, the school was rebuilt on the same site through local donations.
A stone tablet (dated 1949) commemorating the re-opening of the school in 1949 is now affixed on the external wall of the building. The Chinese characters on the tablet were the calligraphy of Mr. Li Wai-tong (1905-1979) the head of the Tai Hang Kaifong Welfare Association, who was also crowned as "King of Football in China" by that time. Throughout the years, the building at No. 12 School Street has been used for educational purpose. It was once the campus of Tai Hang School until 1978. Then, it was the campus of Confucian Society Victoria English Primary School from 1984 to 1999. After that, it became the office of Eastern District Children's Choir, Eastern District Arts Council from 2007 to 2010.
Architectural Merits
The architectural style of the building is International Modern, the main features of which are cubic shapes, flat roofs, white walls, metal windows, horizontal projections (typhoon canopies) and ornamental ironwork balustrade. Windows are fitted with ornamental ironwork grilles. Internally, the rooms are plain and devoid of architectural detail. In short, the building is utilitarian and functional according to the dictates of modernism.
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