天主教喇沙會張振興伉儷書院
天主教喇沙會張振興伉儷書院

創校人 (Our Founders)

Mr. &  Mrs Chong Gene Hang 張振興伉儷

Mr. Chong Gene Hang was born in Kwangtung Province. He joined his brother in America in the laundry business. Later he set up his own laundry business in Boston where he worked extremely hard, lived simply and saved every dollar he could. He returned to Hong Kong in 1968, and a year later his wife died. Her last wish, approved and supported by her husband, was that their life's savings should be devoted to education - to the establishment of a school, if possible, where children would be given an education which he himself had not been privileged to receive.

He contacted Mr. Albert C. C. Lam, J.P., City District Officer, Mongkok, who referred the matter to the Education Department. Mr. W. McGregor, J.P., Assistant Director of Education, proposed St. Joseph's College, as the Christian Brothers were then planning the building of a school in a poor area that was very much what Mr. and Mrs. Chong had in mind and because work on the site was due to begin. After hearing Mr. Chong's story and after assuring ourselves through our lawyers that Mr. Chong was amply provided for and that his daughter and son-in-law agreed with his wishes, it was decided to draw up an agreement which stated that Mr. Chong Gene Hang would contribute the sum of $500,000 towards the establishment of a secondary school in Chaiwan, to be named Chong Gene Hang College.

Extract from the address of Mr. Chong Gene Hang:

"Forty- four years ago, with only two years of schooling behind me, I set out from my native village of Hoi Ping (Kwangtung) to take a job in the laundry business in the United States. Starting life in a foreign country is generally not easy. But for me it was particularly difficult, as I had very little education in China and I did not know a single word of English.

I worked and studied day and night, rain, or shine, with only two goals in my mind: first, to educate myself; and second, to save some money to help in the cause of education for the benefit of future generations of children.

For forty years my beloved wife shared my determination and was for me a never-failing source of inspiration and encouragement. Indeed, it is in fulfillment of a wish that we have mutually shared that I have saved during a life-time of hard work for the building of this school, which I dedicate in her honour.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will say no more except to tell you that this is the happiest moment of my life. May God bless you all."

張振興先生出生於廣東省,早年移民到美國於其兄的洗衣店工作,其後在波士頓自立門戶,開設自己的洗衣店,辛勤工作,過著勤儉質樸的生活。

1968年,張振興先生回到香港。翌年,其妻逝世。由於張振興先生自小家貧,缺乏受教育的機會,夫妻二人一直想設立一所學校,讓生於貧困的孩子得享接受教育的機會。於是在夫人離世後,張振興先生便履行二人心願,將畢生的積蓄用以興建學校。

張振興先生經當時的旺角民政主任(Mr. Albert C. C. Lam) 轉介至教育署。其時香港喇沙修士會正計劃在貧困地區之一(柴灣)興建聖若瑟書院,時任教育部助理署長(Mr. W. McGregor) 遂撮合雙方。由於計劃正貼合張振興夫妻二人的心願,得到張振興先生的同意後,建校計劃隨即展開。

經律師團再三確認了張振興先生的想法,並徵得其女兒和女婿的同意後,香港喇沙修士會便起草協議,確定張振興先生捐助共50萬元以供團體在柴灣設立一所中學。為誌念張振興先生的善行,該校以建校人命名——張振興伉儷書院。

張振興先生話語摘錄:
(中文翻譯版本僅供參考,概以英語原話為準)
「四十四年裡我只讀過兩年書,便從家鄉廣東開平出發,到美國從事洗衣生意。在外地開展新生活殊不容易,特別是對我這種在中國僅接受過極少教育、連一個英文單字都不通曉的人而言,可謂非常艱難。

我日以繼夜、風雨不改地工作和學習,只為達成兩個人生目標:一,讓自己受教育;二,願以自己的儲蓄幫助後代的教育事業。

四十年來,愛妻不斷啟發我,給予我無盡的鼓勵。我們為實現共同願望而獻上了畢生努力所攢得的積蓄,建成學校,並有幸在此分享她給予的光榮。

最後,我希望告訴諸位,這是我一生中最幸福的時刻。願上帝祝福你們。」