No_6_1954 — Page 39

THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Architect: Mr. A. V. Alvares

المنار

กกลาง

In a speech of welcome to His Ex- cellency, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. H.A. de B. Botelho, MBE.. ED., said: "The desire to serve

View of the school from the north-west. (Photograph by South China Morning Post, Ltd.)

His Excellency the Governor, Sir "It will not be amiss for me to give

"To build a school is not an easy Alexander Grantham, GCMG., in his a resume of the events leading to the matter: a site had to be found and last public act before his departure building of this school. In the year funds had to be obtained. Govern- on leave at the end of June, opened 1947 it became apparent that, owing ment was approached with regard to the new Portuguese Community to the acute shortage of educational the former and application was made School at Cox's Road, Kowloon.

facilities, it was imperative for the for this site. That the application Portuguese community to provide received most sympathetic considera- adequate schooling for its children. tion is patent. Little time was lost and permission

"To Your Excellency, the Director was obtained from the Club de Recreio to start a kindergarten in its pre- of Public Works, the Director of Education and to other members of The in- Government and to the Government and to-day there are 105. crease emphasised the need for a of Macao, the Portuguese community

With the increase in the school. number of pupils, it became fairly borrowed premises were required, evident that permanent rather than

the community of Hong Kong and, mises. There were then 15 pupils

in particular, the community to which one belongs is neither new nor novel. From the time of their first arrival in the Colony, our fore- fathers strove and gave of their best to convert a barren island into a flourishing Crown Colony. In their "The need became more apparent cfforts exerted for the good of the to me when I was approached, and local people they did not ignore told, that I had to build a school. At their own need. Ambitious were first, I was at a loss to know how I their schemes and great were their could achieve this remarkable feat. I plans.

am not a mason nor am I an ar- chitect. Fortunately, however, the "One of the many visions was a desire to serve is also deeply rooted school for the children of the Portu- amongst certain of my friends and guese community. Funds were even acquaintances; and on November 15. made available by one philanthropic 1951, Mr. Menezes Ribeiro, then Act- gentleman but, unfortunately, the ing Consul for Portugal called conditions were too onerous to render gether some of the present Board of the scheme practicable. To-day, Governors to discuss the possibility however, we see the crystallisation of of building a school to meet the re- this dream of many years ago.

quirements of the community.

to-

ROAD

NILSAY

COTS

ROAD

NATHAK

ROAD

200

5 C A L

Block plan.

JORDAN

ROAD

400 FT

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