**Title: From West Point to High Street: The Early History and Migrations of Saiyingpun School (1850s–1891)**
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### 1. The Origins: West Point School (1850s–1872)
The earliest mention of a government-supported school in this area comes from the Chinese publication *The Chinese Serial* (*遐邇貫珍*).
* **June 1855:** The journal notes that the British government, since the founding of the colony, had been establishing free schools (義學) in local villages to educate young children.
* **March 1856:** It records an expenditure of $658.17 for "various free schools" (支各義學).
* **November 1858:** Following a recommendation by the Inspector of Government Schools, William Lobscheid, the Government spent £125 to construct "Chinese Schools" (*Hong Kong Government Gazette*, 6 Nov 1858).
In **January 1859**, Lobscheid published his report, *“A few notices on the extent of Chinese education and the Government Schools of Hongkong, etc.”* He gave a colorful account of the early struggles of the **West Point School**:
> *"The school at West Point was established under very unfavorable circumstances. There were few families living about where the School was opened; most of the pupils had therefore to come from Tai-ping-shan and its neighbourhood. Besides, the teacher was a very illiterate man, full of cunning and deception. Finding that his ignorance could be no longer concealed, he engaged another man to explain the Four Books for him. To this I strongly objected... I therefore desired his removal... The teacher who was appointed in the place of Cha was a member of the London Missionary Society's congregation... and I am happy to state, that the number of pupils now amounts to 61..."*
### 2. The 1872 Name Change
In **1872**, West Point School was officially renamed **Saiyingpun School**. According to records, this was purely a name change; the teaching staff, student body, and school operations remained exactly the same as the 1871 West Point establishment. The exact reason for the name change isn't specified, but it likely reflected the growing development and naming of the Sai Ying Pun district.
### 3. The 1877 Medical Emergency & Temporary Displacement
In early 1877, the government planned to build a proper district school building.
* **17 February 1877:** A Government Notification (No. 38) called for tenders to erect the "District Government School at Sai-ying-pún."
* **24 February 1877:** Just a week later, Notification No. 42 called for tenders to build a new Hospital.
However, a pressing medical emergency forced the government to pivot. The school's existing premises had to be hastily handed over to the Medical Department to be used as a hospital.
The **Return of 1877** (published in Feb 1878) explains the chaotic situation:
> *"The two schools at Sai Ying-p'in [which we know were the Punti/Cantonese and Hakka schools] suffered severely by their removal. The building had to be handed over, in a pressing emergency, to the Medical Department. Temporary accommodation was provided as near as possible to the old site, and a new school-house was to be built in the course of a few months; but the delay in building the new hospital has prevented the erection of the new school..."*
### 4. 1879: The Third Street Campus (35–41 Third Street)
By **1879**, the Saiyingpun School had secured a more stable home at **35–41 Third Street (第三街)**.
Looking at the layout of the street, this was a split campus:
* **No. 35–39 Third Street** housed the actual classrooms.
* **No. 41 Third Street** was separated from the classrooms by **Un Fuk Lane (寬福里)**.
According to the *Civil Establishment of 1880* (p. 136), the Headmaster, **Mr. Fung Fu** (appointed on 1 February 1879), lived in the school quarters. Therefore, No. 41 served as the headmaster’s quarters, while 35–39 served as the classrooms. (Fung Fu was later officially brought under the Colonial Government establishment on 1 April 1882).
### 5. 1891: The High Street & Pokfulam Road Purpose-Built School
The Third Street location was always meant to be temporary. In the autumn of **1890**, construction began on a brand-new, purpose-built school at the **junction of High Street and Pokfulam Road**.
According to the **1890 Educational Report**:
> *"The construction of a new District School building, the first of five sanctioned in 1882, commenced in Saiyingpun in the autumn of 1890 and promises to be a model facility."*
The **Surveyor General's Report for 1891** (Item 115) confirms its completion:
> *"District School Sai-ying-poon.—This school is situated at the junction of High Street with Pokfulam Road and was commenced in September, 1890. It occupies an area of 6,530 square feet. Three class rooms are provided and fitted up to accommodate 186 children. Quarters have been provided for a coolie and the necessary kitchen accommodation and offices. The work has been carried out by YEUNG A TING under contract and was completed in June last [1891]."*
For sake of teaching space, this new building did **not** include quarters for the headmaster. The *Civil Establishment of 1891* (pp. 158–159) shows that Headmaster Fung Fu was instead given a housing allowance of $72 per year.
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