The Haunted Heritage:
St Luke's Co-Educational College
History
St Luke's Co-Educational College is located in Hill Side Terrace of Wan Chai. The college started its operation from 1950s, and ended since 1980s. It is a private English school provided education for secondary school level students.
In early 2000s, the place was acquired by a real estate developer for reconstruction, but the project was suspended for unknown reason, and the place leave uncultivated again, which made the place more mystery. Moreover, in late 2013, the Hopewell Holdings Limited has acquired the place and continues the reconstruction project. The developer desired to reconstruct the entire region (including Hill Side Terrace, Schooner Street, and a part of Ship Street) into a business district like TaiKoo Place. The place was fenced since mid of 2014, and no entry is allowed since then.
In early 2000s, the place was acquired by a real estate developer for reconstruction, but the project was suspended for unknown reason, and the place leave uncultivated again, which made the place more mystery. Moreover, in late 2013, the Hopewell Holdings Limited has acquired the place and continues the reconstruction project. The developer desired to reconstruct the entire region (including Hill Side Terrace, Schooner Street, and a part of Ship Street) into a business district like TaiKoo Place. The place was fenced since mid of 2014, and no entry is allowed since then.
what makes this place interesting?
Product of British Colonial Education
St.Luke's Co-education College is a product of Hong Kong British colonial education, which is one of the strong witness of Hong Kong people's uphold in English education. Because of the baby boom generation and limited secondary education study place funded by government, in 1950s-60s, Hong Kong people who can afford for private school will send their children to secondary schools, especially those that claimed to teach in English, such as St.Luke's Co-education College for secondary education. However, along with the gradually improved education systems and urban planning in new territories, students had either followed their families and moved to new territories or transferred to government-funded schools. Private school in urban district can no longer afford to continue its operation.
One interesting thing is, "St. Luke" was not a name of any Saints, the name of the school is also picked to cater for Hong Kong people at that time. As many Hong Kong people at that time thought that religious school can provide better quality education.
Famous Haunted House
In the same location, it was a mansion owned by an old couple in the Japanese colonial period. There is a rumor that, the Japanese armies had killed the old couple, and occupied the mansion. Ghost stories about this place had widely spread, and attracted lots of young people come to this "haunted heritage" for curiosity reason. In early 2000s, two groups of young "adventurers" even experienced some supernatural issues, and suffered from temporary mental disorder. The accidents were all widely reported by the media.
Witness Hong Kong's Changes in Historical & Financial Contexts
Economic development in Hong Kong mainly depends on real estate development in recent years. St. Luke's Co-education College inevitably became one of the targets of the developer for reconstructions. Moreover, the college / heritage except as a haunted house, this is also reflecting and recording the historical context and changes of Hong Kong. The heritage experienced the British colonial period, Japanese colonial period, as well as the baby boom period (1950s-1970s) of Hong Kong, and of course the recent real estate booming age.
Conservation Value
Unlike Lee Tung Street and Nam Ku Terrace, St. Luke's Co-education College has not received as much attention as other historical places in Wan Chai, and the information and history of the college is also not well arranged. Yet, the conservation value should not be neglected, as the heritage can give us a deeper understanding in the influence brought by British Colonial to Hong Kong educational system at that time, which contains pleasure historical value.
St.Luke's Co-education College is a product of Hong Kong British colonial education, which is one of the strong witness of Hong Kong people's uphold in English education. Because of the baby boom generation and limited secondary education study place funded by government, in 1950s-60s, Hong Kong people who can afford for private school will send their children to secondary schools, especially those that claimed to teach in English, such as St.Luke's Co-education College for secondary education. However, along with the gradually improved education systems and urban planning in new territories, students had either followed their families and moved to new territories or transferred to government-funded schools. Private school in urban district can no longer afford to continue its operation.
One interesting thing is, "St. Luke" was not a name of any Saints, the name of the school is also picked to cater for Hong Kong people at that time. As many Hong Kong people at that time thought that religious school can provide better quality education.
Famous Haunted House
In the same location, it was a mansion owned by an old couple in the Japanese colonial period. There is a rumor that, the Japanese armies had killed the old couple, and occupied the mansion. Ghost stories about this place had widely spread, and attracted lots of young people come to this "haunted heritage" for curiosity reason. In early 2000s, two groups of young "adventurers" even experienced some supernatural issues, and suffered from temporary mental disorder. The accidents were all widely reported by the media.
Witness Hong Kong's Changes in Historical & Financial Contexts
Economic development in Hong Kong mainly depends on real estate development in recent years. St. Luke's Co-education College inevitably became one of the targets of the developer for reconstructions. Moreover, the college / heritage except as a haunted house, this is also reflecting and recording the historical context and changes of Hong Kong. The heritage experienced the British colonial period, Japanese colonial period, as well as the baby boom period (1950s-1970s) of Hong Kong, and of course the recent real estate booming age.
Conservation Value
Unlike Lee Tung Street and Nam Ku Terrace, St. Luke's Co-education College has not received as much attention as other historical places in Wan Chai, and the information and history of the college is also not well arranged. Yet, the conservation value should not be neglected, as the heritage can give us a deeper understanding in the influence brought by British Colonial to Hong Kong educational system at that time, which contains pleasure historical value.
Gallery
How to get there?
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1. On your own
Get off from Wan Chai Exit B MTR station (Please see the gallery provided on the left for direction) 2. Join Wan Chai Haunted Tour Please refer to : http://www.liuda.com.hk/wanchai-haunted-tour/ (Recommended! As you can learn history about other heritages which also located in Wan Chai:D) |
Location
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Address:
1A Hillside Terrace, Wanchai, Hong Kong |
Further readings
Lau (2013). Hong Kong Uncultivated Places. Hong Kong: Wan Li Book Co., Ltd.
Liu Da : Wan Chai Haunted Tour
http://www.liuda.com.hk/wanchai-haunted-tour/
"Supernatural" accident happening in St. Luke's Co-education College reported by Apple Daily in 2003-11-30
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20031130/3695968
Hopewell Holdings Limited Imperial in Wan Chai, desired to establish a Wan Chai version of "TaiKoo Place" reported by Hong Kong Economic Times in 2014-6-14
http://www.hket.com/eti/article/66fb9c11-9fe9-4b36-9def-f6edd58164d3-827917
Liu Da : Wan Chai Haunted Tour
http://www.liuda.com.hk/wanchai-haunted-tour/
"Supernatural" accident happening in St. Luke's Co-education College reported by Apple Daily in 2003-11-30
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20031130/3695968
Hopewell Holdings Limited Imperial in Wan Chai, desired to establish a Wan Chai version of "TaiKoo Place" reported by Hong Kong Economic Times in 2014-6-14
http://www.hket.com/eti/article/66fb9c11-9fe9-4b36-9def-f6edd58164d3-827917
