THE EUROPLAN Y. M. C. A.
SOME NOTES ON OVER 30 YEARS' WORK IN HONG KONG
(BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)
Although the European Y.M.C.A. is one of the best known institutions in the Colony, not many people have much idea of its history, and I was asked the other day, by a gentleman who is very closely identified with the "Y" to publish a short article about this great organisation.
The present building was opened in November, 1925, by Sir Cecil Clementi (then Mr. Cecil Clementi) and on that occasion a distinguished gathering was present, amongst them being Mr. A.G.M. Fletcher (Colonial Secretary), Sir Henry and Lady Pollock, the General Officer Commanding (Colonel Russel Brown), Commodore Stirling, the Hon. Mr. P.H. and Mrs. Holyoak, the Hon. H.T. and Mrs. Creasy, the Hon. Mr. C.G. Alabaster and the Bishop of Victoria (the Right Rev. C.R. Duppuy).
ESTABLISHED HERE 33 YEARS AGO..
Nearly 33 years ago the Rev. W.J. Southam came to the Colony as the enthusiastic representative of the International Committee of the Y.M.C.A. to establish Y.M.C.A. work here. Mr. Southam studied local conditions and worked quietly for some time until the moment seemed ripe for a definite proposal. At the first meeting called, it was decided to go ahead with the scheme, and, after some months of hard work, the official opening of the Y.M.C.A. took place on May 1, 1904, the premises being on the top floor of Alexandra Building. Early in 1905, Mr. Southam had to return to Canada and his place was taken by Mr. J.L. McPherson who has been with us ever since and who, to-day, is still one of the hardest workers for the good cause of the "Y". It was mainly due to his labours that the Y.M.C.A. has grown from strength to strength, and the present building is good testimony to the hard work Mr. McPherson had done to develop the little baby that was born on that memorable May Day in 1904.
For some ten years, the Y.M.C.A. headquarters remained in Alexandra Building but in due course these premises were found to be inadequate. In June, 1914, an outbreak of plague at these premises necessitated a change of quarters and temporary accommodation was found in the Bank Extension in Des Voeux Road. This again proved too small for the "Y" and as a suitable place could not be found, it was decided to suspend work until such time as more adequate premises were obtained. In June, 1916, a drive was made for funds for a building for the Association and this resulted in $140,000 being collected. The late Sir Henry May, the then Governor, took the greatest interest in this drive and lent assistance on every occasion. These money collected was sent Home and invested in War Bonds until the War came to an end.
THE PRESENT BUILDING.
Subsequently various sites were offered by the Government and the Directors finally decided on the plot on which the "Y" now stands. It was first recommended by the late Sir Claud Severn and later secured by Sir Edward Stubbs with the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
At the outset the Directors only hoped to put up a comparatively small building but in 1922, the "Y" received a generous grant of $75,000 from the International Committee of the Y.M.C.A. and this generous gift enabled those in charge to put up the fine building that was later opened by Sir Cecil Clementi.
Since then, the "Y" has gone from strength to strength and an additional wing has already been put up, complete with swimming bath and other amenities. The extension, it will be remembered, was opened by H.E. Sir William Peel. At the present rate of progress, it would not be at all surprising if further extension would be necessary in the near future.
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