It has been a month since I gave you an update on the progress of the Fundraising Campaign and I am sad to see the pandemic is still with us. I would like to wish everyone health and stay healthy one more time.

Despite such difficult circumstances, all the subcommittees, which were set up according to the new structure of the Foundation, have started functioning. I have to thank everyone involved who have worked so diligently for the benefit of St. Paul’s, fully realising the spirit of “All for each and each for all”.

Speaking about our College Song, one senior alumnus told me recently that the first two words “Once again” have a special meaning. As we know, the St. Paul’s Boy’s school amalgamated with the Girl’s School to become a Co-educational School (as it stands today). In the 50s, a group of alumni from the Boy’s School days felt very strongly that the Boys School should be re-established. After a great deal of effort and struggle, their wish was granted and the current site on Bonham Road was chosen as the campus. “Once again” means once again the boys stood together shoulder to shoulder as students of the Boy’s School. It embodies the lofty aspiration fulfilled by the fighting spirit of our forefathers. The story has not been fact-checked, but it is a plausible and moving story which gives a logical explanation to why those words were used. However, I would like to hear from other alumni who may know the ‘true’ story behind it.

In closing, I would like to report another piece of uplifting news. We have a pledge of another 10 million dollars that would go towards the Endowment Fund. Let me appeal to you again for your continuous support of the School Enhancement Project. We still have a long way to go before we can reach our goal.

With regards,

Ian Chan Yau Nam (’67)
Chief Convenor
St. Paul’s College Foundation