Journey back to the origins of faith and education as we approach the Small Chapel of La Salle College. La Salle College’s story began in 1917. The Brothers of St. Joseph’s College opened a junior school near Rosary Church. Kowloon was growing fast. Demand for school places was rising.
Brother Aimar the Director of St. Joseph’s realized a new school was needed. He secured land on Boundary Street in the late 1920s. This was for the new La Salle College.
Sir William Peel laid the foundation stone on November 5 1930. He was the Governor of Hong Kong. By December 3 1931 construction was advanced enough for the opening of eight classes. Five Brothers from St. Joseph’s College managed the classes. Four Assistant Masters helped too. They came from the Chatham Road School. 303 students attended that day.
The formal inauguration occurred on January 6 1932. Seven Brothers took over led by Brother Aimar as Director. A few days later 40 boarders moved into the west of the building. There were 540 students in 14 classes then.
For seven years the College thrived under Brother Aimar’s guidance. Students excelled in Matriculation Examinations. Laboratories developed. Four Tennis courts and a full-sized football pitch were added. The statue of St. John Baptist de La Salle was erected. It stands in front of the College today. Student numbers grew to 805 in 1935. They reached 1060 in 1939.
World War Two disrupted school life in 1939. The HK Government used the buildings as an internment camp. Later it became a hospital. The Brothers arranged temporary classrooms across the road. Classes continued there. Brothers helped in the hospital in the afternoons.
On Christmas Day 1941 the Colony surrendered to the Japanese. Soon after the Brothers were ousted from the College. The buildings became a storage depot. The Japanese encouraged civilians to leave because food was scarce. Some Brothers including Brother Aimar went to Vietnam. They stayed there for the war’s duration.
Brother Cassian restored the College after the war in 1946. The College recovered remarkably. It had about 600 pupils. But in 1949 the British Military requisitioned the College again. It became the 33rd General Hospital. Under Brother Patrick Toner the school moved to temporary buildings on Perth Street. Despite difficulties school activities continued.
Brother Felix became Director in 1956. He re-acquired the College buildings on August 1 1959. Twelve years of exile ended. Student numbers grew leading to separate primary and secondary divisions. La Salle Primary School was erected in 1956. Brother Henry was appointed Headmaster.
By the mid 1970s the Brothers decided the aging building was inadequate. It was too costly to refurbish. The old building with its dome was knocked down. A new building was erected. Sir Murray MacLehose opened the new school on February 19 1982. This was the school’s Golden Jubilee year.
Today the College has modern facilities. It supports academic and extra-curricular activities. The La Salle College Parent Teacher Association enhances communication. It was established in January 1995.
In 2003 the School Improvement Programme began. In 2005 two Annexes were completed. They were named after the school’s first and second Principals.
La Salle College continues to evolve. It embraces modern education while honoring its rich history. The Small Chapel of La Salle College stands as a symbol of faith. It represents the enduring values of this esteemed institution.