Ricci Hall

Building in Hong Kong

Ricci Hall
Ricci Hall

General information
Location	Hong Kong
Address	93 Pok Fu Lam Road
Inaugurated	16 December 1929; 94 years ago (1929-12-16)
Renovated	1990; 34 years ago (1990)

Church in , Hong Kong

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel

Location	93 Pok Fu Lam Road (利瑪竇宿舍)
Country	Hong Kong
Denomination	Catholic
Website	Official webpage of St. Anthony Church
History
Founded	1929; 95 years ago (1929)
Administration
Diocese	Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
Parish	Freguesia de Santo António (薄扶林)

Ricci Hall

Traditional Chinese

利瑪竇宿舍

Simplified Chinese

利玛窦宿舍

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Lì Mǎdòu Sùshè
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	lei6 maa5 dau3 suk1 se3

Ricci Hall (Chinese: 利瑪竇宿舍) is a hall of residence founded in 1929 by the Society of Jesus in memory of Jesuit Matteo Ricci (1552–1610).^[1] Located at Pok Fu Lam Road, Ricci Hall is the only Catholic hostel in The University of Hong Kong. In early 1960, it was decided that space of Ricci Hall was inadequate; it should be renovated and rebuilt. On 8 December 1967, the extension of Ricci Hall was inaugurated.^[2]

Ricci Hall is a sports-oriented dorm intended primarily for undergraduate students.

History

Ricci Hall Residence, located on Pok Fu Lam Road, is one of the oldest residential halls at the University of Hong Kong. It is a boys-only hall, with great history and deep heritage.

Ricci Hall Residence was officially opened on 16 December 1929 and was established as a residence for students of the University of Hong Kong by the Jesuit Fathers. Located on Pokfulam Road, the Hall was a beautiful old style building with wonderful unobstructed view of the harbour.

It was mainly meant to accommodate Catholic students who came from the Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, Wah Yan College, Kowloon, La Salle College and St Joseph's College, Hong Kong.

Matteo Ricci was chosen as the Patron of the Hall. He is a Jesuit Father famous for his efforts to bring the West to China and China to the West. He is revered for his learning, for initiating a dialogue of cultures and for his knowledge of Chinese literature and philosophy.

In early 1960, it was decided that the space of Ricci Hall Residence was inadequate and it should be renovated and rebuilt. The renovation of the old block of Ricci Hall was completed in 1966, whereas construction of the new block on 8 December 1967.

Building features

Having five separate blocks connected together in order to foster communication among residents, Ricci Hall is unique in the architectural structure. There are total 120 single rooms with a balcony and 16 corridors. The facilities of Ricci Hall include a tennis court, a car park, a dining hall, two libraries, a billiard room, a chapel, a laundry, and 16 pantries at the end of each corridor.

Motto

Latin: Quantum potes tantum aude
English: As much as you are able, that you should dare to do
Chinese: 汝為君子儒無為小人儒 (論語: 雍也編)

Emblem

Ricci Emblem originated from the emblem in the armour of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. The shield in the emblem was divided obliquely: the wolf and hatchet on the right represents Loyola's family and symbolises generosity and hospitality. The helmet on top of the shield symbolises courage, courtesy, honour and spirit of sacrifice. The Latin sentence on the girdle beneath the shield is Ricci Motto.

Hall Colours

Maroon and White

Students' association

All residents are members of Ricci Hall Students' Association Hong Kong University Students' Union (RHSA, HKUSU). The association was established in 1930. Tape Eric Wong is the first Chairperson of RHSA, HKUSU.

Wardens

Some of the Ricci Hall wardens:

Fr. Alfred Deignan (1970–1978)^[3]
Fr. Russell (1978—1990)
Fr. Alvaro Ribeiro (1990–1992)^[4]^[5]
Fr. Robert Ng (1992–1997; 2011–2014)
Rev. Fr. John Yong Tang (since 2014)^[6]

Prominent Old Boys

張永霖 Mr. Linus Cheung Wing Lam – Ex-Chairman, Asia Television Limited
方心讓 Sir. Harry Fang Sin Yang – Prominent orthopaedic surgeon
何鴻燊 Dr. Stanley Ho Hung Sun – Chairman, Shun Tak Group
許冠傑 Mr. Sam Hui Koon-kit – Prominent Singer, Actor and composer
李柱銘 Mr. Martin Lee – Founding chairman (1994– 2002), the Democratic Party, Hong Kong
蘇澤光 Mr. Jack, So Chak Kwong – Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
孫明揚 Mr. Michael Suen Ming Yeung – Former Secretary for Education, HKSAR
黃霑 Dr. James Wong Jum Sum – Prominent Lyricist and composer
黃宏發 Mr. Andrew Wong Wang Fat – Former Chairperson, Legislative Council
鄔維庸 Dr. Raymond, Woo Wai Yung – Past National People's Congress local deputy
余叔韶 Mr. Patrick Yu Shuk-siu – The first local Chinese Crown Counsel
梁天琦 Mr. Edward Leung Tin-kei – Spokesman of Hong Kong Indigenous

References

^ University of Hong Kong. Ricci Hall (1954). Ricci: Souvenir Record of the Silver Jubilee of Ricci Hall, Hong Kong University, 1929–1954. Hong Kong University. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
^ Bernard Mellor (1 January 1980). The University of Hong Kong: An Informal History. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 117–. ISBN 978-962-209-020-0. Retrieved 31 July 2013. The reconstructed Ricci Hall, opened on 8th December 1967
^ "Father Alfred Deignan, former Hong Kong Jesuit head and ex-principal of elite Wah Yan schools, dies at age 91". South China Morning Post. 11 December 2018.
^ Growing with Hong Kong: The University and Its Graduates: the First 90 Years. Hong Kong University Press. 1 January 2002. ISBN 9789622096134.
^ "In loving memory of Fr. Alvaro Ribeiro, S.J." Hong Kong University.
^ "Ricci Hall Old Boys: Build a Legacy. Leave a Legacy" (PDF). Alumni Networks. The University of Hong Kong. p. 48.