This record traces the development, construction challenges, and expenditure of King’s College on Bonham Road from its initial funding proposal in 1921 through to its completion in 1926.
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### **1. Initial Planning & Site Preparation (1921–1922)**
* **October 1921:** The project first appears in official records to allocate funds for acquiring a site on Bonham Road adjoining Western Street to build a new premises for Saiyingpun School.
* **November 1922:** Public Works Department (PWD) Notice No. S. 343 invites tenders for site formation, levelling, building retaining walls, and laying foundations.
### **2. Superstructure & Construction (1923–1926)**
* **Contractor:** Messrs. Kin Lee & Co. (Contract No. 49 / 42 of 1923).
* **Work Commenced:** February 1923.
* **February 1924:** PWD Notice No. S. 39 invites tenders for the school superstructure to be built on the existing foundations.
* **Supply Delays (1924):** Construction faced significant delays due to unreliable orders of facing bricks from Canton and Amoy. The PWD resolved this by securing a new contract with **Mitsui Bussan Kaisha** for 600,000 Formosa bricks, with deliveries beginning in September 1924.
* **Near Completion (June 1926):** By mid-1926, the building was nearly finished. Key progress included:
* Paving the open playground and constructing the granite entrance portico.
* Widening Bonham Road adjacent to the site.
* Installing fixtures, lights, fans, latrine fittings, and a water supply for the swimming pool.
* Landscaping the masters' garden.
* A section on the Bonham Road side was already occupied and operational.
### **3. Furniture Tenders (1926)**
As the building neared completion, official notices transitioned from referring to the site as the "New Bonham Road School" to **"King's College"**:
* **May 10, 1926:** Furniture tenders due for New Bonham Road School.
* **July 19, 1926:** Furniture tenders (List 'C') due for King's College.
* **October 18, 1926:** Tenders due for 150 small tables (List 'D') for King's College.
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### **4. Financial Breakdown & Total Expenditure**
According to the *Return of Public Works* (1922–1927) and PWD Quarterly Reports, the recorded annual budget allocations and expenditures were as follows:
| Year | Estimated Budget (HKD) | Actual Expenditure (HKD) | Status / Notes |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **1922** | $25,000 | $0 | Site acquisition / early planning |
| **1923** | $100,000 | $75,986.00 | Commenced Feb 1923 (Site formation/foundations) |
| **1924** | $200,000 | $127,227.26 | Superstructure underway; brick supply delays |
| **1925** | $200,000 | $127,227.26 | Ongoing superstructure and interior fitting |
| **1926** | $166,000 / $155,000 | *Completed* | Final fitting, furniture, and road works |
* **Total Cumulative Expenditure:** **$725,996.37**
* **1927 Onward:** The project was officially removed from the active Public Works lists as all construction was complete.
Details with hperlinks
Official Record of Proceedings, 1921.10.27
Item 10 provides a sum for beginning the new buildings for Saiyingpun School on a site on Bonham Road, which will probably be acquired during next year.
Tenders
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
No. S. 343.
It is hereby notified that sealed tenders in triplicate which should be clearly marked "Tender for Formation of Site, Laying Foundations and Building Retaining Walls for Bonham Road School", will be received at the Colonial Secretary's Office until Noon of Monday, the 13th day of November, 1922.
The work consists of levelling the site to required levels, building retaining walls, and laying all foundations for a school to be built on the site adjoining Bonham Road and Western Street. No work will be permitted on Sundays. For Form of tender, specification and further particulars apply at this Office. The Government does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
No. S. 39.
-It is hereby notified that sealed tenders in triplicate, which should be clearly marked "Tender for Bonham Road School Superstructure", will be received at the Colonial Secretary's Office until Noon of Monday, the 3rd day of March, 1924.
The work consisting of Erection on Existing Foundations of Bonham Road School. No work will be permitted on Sundays. For Form of tender, specification and further particulars apply at this Office. The Government does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.
15th February, 1924.
HAROLD T. CREASY, Director of Public Works.
HONGKONG.
NEW SAIYINGPUN SCHOOL.
CONTRACT No. 49 OF 1923.
CONTRACTORS MESSRS. KIN LEE & Co.
Return of Public Works 1922
Estimated Expenses in Dollars = $25,000 ; Amount of Expenditure = 0
Return of Public Works 1923
Estimated Expenses in Dollars = $100,000 ; When Commenced = Feb, 1923 ;Amount of Expenditure =75,986
Return of Public Works 1924
Estimated Expenses in Dollars = $200,000 ; When Commenced = Feb, 1923 ; Amount of Expenditure =127,227.26
Return of Public Works 1925
Estimated Expenses in Dollars = $200,000 ; When Commenced = Feb, 1923 ; Amount of Expenditure =127,227.26
Return of Public Works 1926
Estimated Expenses in Dollars = $166,000 and $ 155,000 ; Finished ; Amount of Expenditure =725.996
Return of public Works 1927
No mention anymore
Public Works Quarterly Reports
The Bonham Road School project, under Messrs. Kin Lee & Co. (Contract No. 42 of 1923), faced significant delays in 1924 due to difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities of facing bricks. Initial orders from Canton and Amoy proved unreliable. However, a new contract was secured with Mitsui Bussan Kaisha for 600,000 Formosa bricks, with the first half delivered by September 22, 1924, enabling considerable progress. By June 30, 1926, the building was almost completed. The open playground had been paved, the granite portico to the front entrance was nearly finished, and work on widening Bonham Road was well advanced. Installation of the water supply to the swimming pool was in hand, and the layout of the masters' garden had begun. Fittings for the latrine block were installed, and lights, fans, locks, and fastenings were being fixed throughout the school. A portion of the building on the Bonham Road side was already occupied and in use. The total expenditure for the Bonham Road School reached $725,996.37.
First Quarter Report , 7 Oct., 1924
Second Quarter Report , 31 Dec., 1924
Third Quarter Report , 14,April., 1925
Fouth Quarter Report , 25 July, 1925
Fifth Quarter Report , 31 Dec., 1925
Sixth Quarter Report , 12 April, 1926
Seventh Quarter Report , 30 June., 1926
Tenders
Tenders for furniture for the New Bonham Road School were due by noon on Monday, May 10, 1926.
For King's College, tenders for furniture (List 'C') were due by noon on Monday, July 19, 1926, and for 150 small tables (List 'D') by noon on Monday, October 18, 1926.
All tenders were to be submitted in triplicate to the Colonial Secretary's Office, with the government reserving the right not to accept the lowest or any tender. Harold T. Creasy, Director of Public Works, issued these notices.