[Updated 28/Mar/2026]
House #17A was built in 1925 at a time when Cheung Chau was found to be an attractive alternative to The Peak for holiday villas. It was built 10-15 years later than the houses either side of it, 17 and 18, on the west side of Fa Peng in the European Reserve area.
Looking at the photographic evidence, House 17A was a small south-west facing bungalow, with fine views west over the island and Lantau, and south over the sea and islands to the south. It was built below house 17 and above 18.
Like other villas, it was built of rendered locally cut granite blocks, with a domestics' cabin at the rear. It was topped off with a flat reinforced concrete roof.
When it was built, it was intended to be a holiday retreat for the Rev. Hugo Gustaf Rodine and his family, but its first use was as a refuge from trouble. Rodine was a missionary with the American-Swedish Mission in Canton, and during a time of civil unrest in Canton in June 1925, when he was away, fellow missionaries the Lindquists brought Ruby Rodine and her four children to Cheung Chau for their safety. When they came to the house, it was described as 'new, and as yet, empty . . . but it at least provided a roof.' A helpful Scotsman donated some furniture and some cracked and chipped plates and dishes for them. Hugo Rodine joined them later on.
There was great fear on the island at this time that the violence would reach them even there. Precautions were taken against any threat, with warning signals established across the island. In the event of danger, everyone would gather at the Assembly Hall, and missionary men patrolled overnight while their wives remained at home. Thankfully, this phase ended.
In 1927 Hugo Rodine returned to the USA with his family to recover from typhoid fever. He came back to China for a year in 1935-36 to cover for the Lindquists, and then returned to the USA.
However, in the 1938 list of European owners of houses on Cheung Chau, the owner of House #17A is given as Mr N G Rodine. This spelling appears to be a typo for H G Rodine.
By all accounts, when he was on Cheung Chau, Rev Rodine played an active part in life there, in activities in the Assembly Hall and as a member of its Religious Committee.
Today the site is occupied by Bethany Cottage, a holiday venue for Christian workers, making a trio with Bethany House(17) and Bethany Lodge(12). With a flat reinforced concrete roof, this looks to be the original villa.
Source:
The Tale of Two Steamer Rugs by A Hall-Lindquist. (Trinity International University).
Photos that show this Place
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Re: H. G. Rodine
(Updated on 27 November 2025)
It is likely that House 17A was occupied by Reverend Hugo Gustaf Rodine of the American-Swedish Mission (aka Swedish Evangelical Free Church of the United States of North America or Scandinavian Evangelical Free Mission) based in Canton.
Born 16 February 1892, Polk, Nebraska, USA. Died 31 December 1971 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
He married Ruby May Nordin in 1915 and came out to China in 1917.
The China Mail of 24 March 1925 mentioned "the walls of Mr. Rodine's cottage have been carried up the full height and the forms put in place for the concrete roof. Plans will soon be ready for the additions and reconstruction of two of the old houses." At the end of April, the roof had been put in place and the walls plastered. It appears that the house would have been ready for occupation in the same year.
In 1925/26 Rev. Rodine took part in activities of the Assembly Hall and was a member of its Religious Committee.
Rev. Rodine, his wife and four children left Hong Kong on the Shinyo Maru on 3 May 1927. Hong Kong Daily Press of the following day refers.
Rev. Rodine returned to China in 1935 as director of the Bible school in Canton. He left China the following year after completing one school year.
Source