FAQ

We have to keep up with the times. The last major enhancement project was in 1962, when the Classroom Block (or the Academic Building) on Pokfulam Road was erected. Many educational developments had been launched since then, but our facilities lag behind in view of the needs of modern learning. In particular, we have not been making efficient use of the limited space available. The SEP is an ambitious project that aims to give SPC a whole-scale upgrade.

The construction part of the SEP will be divided into four stages, each being identified with the four Campaigns in Fundraising.

Campaign-1 Academic Building: Apr 2018 – Aug 2019

Campaign-2 New Entrance/Foyer/Swimming Pool: Sept 2019 – Dec 2021 (170th anniversary)

Campaign-3 Innovation Complex and Music Complex: Jul 2021 – Aug 2022

Campaign-4 Sports Complex: Jul 2022 – Dec 2024

The current school curriculum is less about memorizing but more about discovery and discussion. Our classrooms, library and laboratories were built over 50 years ago when teaching was largely didactic. The new restructuring of the classrooms and various facilities aims to provide space that promotes interaction and communication among teachers and students, and set up an environment to cultivate the whole-person development for our students at the critical age between 12 and 18.

The installation of up-to-date technology within the campus and environmentally conscious related provisions will encourage our younger generation to attend to future problems and equip them with the basic technical knowhow to master the future challenges.

Connectivity is the key to effective learning and teaching. The restructuring of the classrooms, offices, library, laboratories, and recreational complexes emphasizes on their functional connectivity at the physical level. Virtual linkages will be set up to give connectivity in another dimension with the aid of technology. We emphasize on better connectivity among students, teachers and the community; better workflow and interaction among different parties to achieve a more open and efficient environment.

Software also looms large in its importance to the College. We therefore welcome donations for the development of software such as teacher’s regular training programs, as well as setting up scholarships for the underprivileged and the handicapped. Special training will be made available to students with exceptional individual talents, be it academic, sports, music, arts, or leadership. We have a very good “Global Classrooms” program running for years, with the above donations and scholarships, these can provide even more opportunities to students and teachers to broaden their learning and teaching spectrum.

This option had also been considered. Finding a new location is both difficult and expensive. The added complication is what to do with the current campus after the move. Furthermore, SPC has a long history of being identified with the current compact campus bound by Bonham Road, Pokfulam Road and Hing Hon Road. As Mr. Dennis Yuen, Principal of SPC, pointed out, “We decided that it is important to value the collective memory of the alumni. If we move to a new site, they would see a new SPC, but not the SPC that they remember.”

The senior management of the College had also considered this option.

First of all, it is difficult to find a suitable site even with the help of EDB. To secure a temporary site would both be expensive and unsatisfactory. It would be extremely difficult to strike an acceptable balance between the budget and the quality of the temporary set-up, considering the investment is only for a few years with nothing much that can be recovered in the end.

Secondly, since the students enrolled in SPC with the current campus in mind, they would not take staying out as a natural option.

Thirdly, this is even more disruptive than development of a new site, since it would involve moving twice.

Lastly, but most importantly, this option assumes that we can have the funding for the constructing of a new whole campus. The construction cost will still be high noting most of the buildings will be demolished and built again with the same use. The existing method of building phase by phase is more practical in terms of fund raising.

The reconstruction of our buildings and facilities will be “environmentally friendly”, making use of natural lighting with glasses when possible. We aim to be more energy efficient, to create a “clean and green” theme for our campus. Adoption of solar panels, efficient natural ventilation, green living concept will be applied in the campus design.

Safety and health is of utmost importance in the School Enhancement Project. During the design and construction stages, conditions of ensuring safety on site have been imposed onto the contractors. Construction work will only be carried out during restricted hours and hoarding boards will be erected to fence off all working areas wherever possible. Students will not be allowed to enter construction sites and clear warning signs will be posted.

In addition, for the safety for all, adequate lighting and ventilation will be maintained. The site will be inspected by the consultants and Buildings Department prior to construction and up-to-date technology will be used to minimize dust and noise.

Safety and cleanliness are also closely monitored by our Campus technical team and janitors.

As the scale of the project is immense and we need time to raise sufficient fund for the construction, it is logical to divide the construction into different phases.

The first stage focuses on the enlargement of the classrooms, which is ongoing and targeted for completion for the start of the new academic year in September 2019.

The second stage is aligned with Fund-raising Campaign-2 and the major features are the new Front Entrance at Bonham Road, the Foyer, the Swimming Pool, and the Humanity Complex in the current “South Wing”.

The third stage is the development of the Innovation Complex facing Hing Hon Road, and renovation of the current covered playground into a Music Complex.

The final stage is the construction of Sports Complex, essentially by adding an open Sports Deck on top of the current open air lower playground, necessarily converting the latter into an indoor facility.

The sequence of works have been carefully identified among the consultants, the school , the teachers, in terms of construction difficulties, the priority of learning and teaching needs and the possible funding arrangement. We do not foresee the need of any major re-scheduling, but minor ones may be implemented as needed. However, we should never rule out such possibility over time.

Ultimately, it is the College Council that has this responsibility in the decision making process. It is assisted by the SPC Special Projects Team headed by Antonio Ching Wai Chuen (Class of 1975) Registered Architect CRP, Project Director of China Department, Sun Hung Kai Development (China) Limited.

The SEP Project Management Subcommittee was formed, Chaired by Mr. Ching; assisted by the school Project Manageress, Ms Karen Kwan, and her School technical team, who will oversee the overall design and construction, in terms of quality, cost and progress of the project.

There is a group of professional consultant team, headed by the Architect: P&T, Architects and Engineers Ltd, responsible for the design, construction and statutory submission to Government Departments.

The main contract tender for Phase 1 works was sent out to 18 potential contractors. 13 of them returned their tenders. Four of the lowest bidders were interviewed by the consultant team (P&T, and Arcadis) and the SPC Special Project Team. Milestone Builder Engineering Ltd was recommended to the College Council for the award.

Tenders for subsequent Phases will be tendered out separately according to the appropriate time table.

3 consultancy tenders were issued in Architectural and E&M Engineering Services, Structural Engineering Services, and Quantity Surveyor Services. At least 5 competent companies with relevant companies with relevant experiences were invited for each of the services. SPC’s Special Project Team conducted interviews for the tenderers. Recommendations were made to the College Council who approved the awards.

The Architectural and E&M Engineering Services and the Structural Engineering Services were awarded to P & T Architects and Engineers Ltd, who is responsible for the design of the restructured campus. The Quantity Surveyors Services was awarded to Arcadis Design & Consultancy. They, under the SPC Special Projects Team, are responsible to provide various checks and balances for progress of the work delivered by the contractor.

P & T Architects and Engineers Ltd is the principal designer of the newly restructured campus. It has lots of experience in similar projects in Hong Kong such as Redevelopment of Ying Wa Girl’s School, Diocesan Girls' School, St. Paul’s Co-educational College (Phase 2) and SKH St. James’ Primary School, St. James’ Settlement and St. James’ Church. It is also the principal designer of Malvern College Hong Kong (Newly opened in Sept 2018), Shrewsbury International School, Kellett School, Harrow International School, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Institute of Education, etc.

The total estimated cost of the SEP is estimated to be $406 million HKD. It may be broken down to the four fundraising campaigns as below:

Campaign-1: $ 90 million HKD

Campaign-2: $ 86 million HKD

Campaign-3: $ 120 million HKD

Campaign-4: $113 million HKD

It is a whole-scale upgrade of the entire College to make it a suitable environment for the whole-person development of our students. As space is at a premium, we need clever architectural and design technology to make use of the space available to us efficiently. Then it will be the follow-through implementation of the design.

None of this can come from school fees and the recurrent funding from the Government. They are for the day-to-day running of the School.

Fortunately, we have a well-connected network of past and current students, their families and friends, and people who are dedicated to SPC and are generous for a good cause.

Apart from the Consultant & Quantity Surveyor to monitor the construction cost spending, the Project Management Subcommittee will be overseeing the reasonableness. Any variation involving more than HKD200,000 shall be approved by the College Council.

he project is a most opportune moment to unite all members of St. Paul’s community with a common goal of building the College’s future. The active participation of these members will create an atmosphere favorable for contribution, be it financial or otherwise. No question that the final amount in our fundraising effort will foot the bill for the project. But another equally important measure is the level of participation in this project, the spirit of which is needed to drive the continual success of the College beyond the completion of the SEP.

There are many schools under the Hong Kong Anglican Church (Sheng Kung Hui). It could not possibly commit its resources for the development of all of them, or indeed, for a selected few.

For an educational project like this, it is difficult just to consider the financial effect of the investment; the hard cost can be reasonably monitored according to the norm of market; however, there are intangible benefit in the teaching and learning aspects, physical and psychological impact to all the stakeholders of the school.

The main focus group is the St. Paul’s College Foundation, and the School Enhancement Project Fund-Raising Committee under the Foundation is spearheading this action. Dr. Ian Chan Yau Nam (Class of 1967) is taking up the task as the Chairman of the Fund-Raising Committee.

The immediate task is the standardization of publicity and publications. Alan Chiu (Class of 19xx, Chairperson of SPCAA) is currently aligning alumni representatives of each class with SPC Principal Mr. Dennis Yuen for an afternoon cocktail, where Mr. Yuen and Dr. Ian Chan shall appeal for their endorsement with a presentation of the project. We fervently hope that a donation target will be set for each class (e.g. $ 1 million was a target set and met by the Class of 1967), and that the more resourceful alumni will contribute a larger share. Attempts will be made to collaborate with education foundations and corporations. We shall also enlist the staunch support of alumni groups, e.g. the group of professions.

With such a huge amount contributed by many donors, the fund needs to be managed properly and all incomes and expenses will be audited. We have engaged a chartered accountant, Ivan Lau (Class of 1976) FCA HKICPA to oversee the fund. We are in the process of establishing a communication channel through the School Enhancement Project web page. Information of donations and progress of the Project will be up-dated periodically. Regular reports will be made to the College Council.

You can help in many ways. In addition to direct contribution to funding of the Project, you may participate in the many fund-raising activities. We will certainly let you know ahead of time about such activities, many of which are being planned.

For more details, please visit our website or email us at info@spc-foundation.org.hk , or call at +852 2546 2248 Ms. Sidney Chau, Executive Assistant to Fundraising Committee.