Diocesan Boys' School - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Diocesan Boys' School is a boys' school located at 131 Argyle Street

Argyle Street, Hong Kong

Argyle Street is a four-lane dual-way thoroughfare in Hong Kong, connecting Mong Kok, Ma Tau Wai and Kowloon City. It runs on an east-west alignment starting at its intersection with Cherry Street, Ferry Street and Tong Mi Road in the west, and ending near the former Kai Tak Airport in the east.The...

, Mong Kok

Mong Kok

Mong Kok , less often known as Argyle , is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District on Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong...

, Kowloon

Kowloon

Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...

, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1869, making it one of the oldest secondary schools in Hong Kong.

The school aims to provide a "liberal education

Liberal education

A Liberal education is a system or course of education suitable for the cultivation of a free human being. It is based on the medieval concept of the liberal arts or, more commonly now, the liberalism of the Age of Enlightenment...

based on Christian principles"; its students are encouraged to be well rounded. School teams participate in various inter-school sports and music competitions, and has of late won Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation (HKSSF) and Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Association (HKSMSA) awards.

In 2004, a primary school division was opened on the school campus.

The first foundation

In 1860, Lady L. Smith, the wife of the first Bishop of Victoria and the Society for the Promotion of Female Education in the Far East(FES) established a girls' school affiliated with the Diocese of the Anglican denomination in Hong Kong. It was given the name "Diocesan Native Female Training School" (DNFTS), and Lady Robinson, the wife of the Governor, became the patroness. According to the constitution, it aimed "to introduce among a somewhat superior class of native females the blessings of Christianity and of religious training". The Committee started the school on Bonham Road

Bonham Road

Bonham Road is a road in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The road is a main road connecting Pokfulam Road in the west, near the University of Hong Kong, and Caine Road in the east, at the junction with Hospital Road and Seymour Road...

, with a small concrete house on a paddy field

Paddy field

A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...

. It accommodated teaching, boarding and all the activities.

The school became mired in controversy and got into financial trouble. According to Dr. E. J. Eitel

Ernst Johann Eitel

Ernst Johann Eitel or alternatively Ernest John Eitel was a German Protestant missionary to China born in Württemberg, Germany.-Missionary career:...

’s letter to the Colonial Secretary Frederick Stewart, it was forced to close temporarily in 1865 upon learning that almost every one of the girls learned English in that school, and became the kept mistress of foreigners on leaving school.

The school was soon reopened and renamed "Diocesan Female School" (DFS), but its financial situation was by no means improved. In addition, most Chinese people did not wish their daughters to have a Western-style education at the time. In 1868, the second Bishop of Victoria, Bishop R. Alford, took the school under his immediate superintendence. This marks the end of the First Foundation.

19th century

On 30 January 1869, Bishop Alford issued an Appeal to extend the benefits of education given in DFS to children of both sexes, which was soon met with a liberal response. Under a new constitution, the "Diocesan Home and Orphanage" (DHO), for English, Eurasian, Chinese and other pupils, was begun on the same site in September. The objects of the Institution were to receive Children of both sexes, sound both in body and mind and as may be deemed eligible by the Committee, as soon as they become capable of education; and to board, clothe and instruct them with a view to industrial life and the Christian Faith according to the teaching of the Church of England.

In July 1870, William Arthur of the Garrison School was appointed as the Headmaster, and Mrs. Arthur as the Matron. In 1878, the School was then placed in the Grant-in Aid

Grant-in-aid

A grant-in-aid is money coming from central government for a specific project. This kind of funding is usually used when the government and parliament have decided that the recipient should be publicly funded but operate with reasonable independence from the state.In the United Kingdom, most bodies...

Scheme by the Education Department.

In March 1878, the School Committee decided to receive no more boys, but those already admitted should remain; this decision was reversed in July, and no more girls were received as boarders, though they still remained as day-scholars. The School was to transform into a boys’ school. On 1 November, George Piercy, the third master of the Government Central School

Queen's College, Hong Kong

Queen's College , initially named The Government Central School in 1862, later renamed as Victoria College in 1889, is a sixth form college for boys with a secondary school attached. It was the first public secondary school founded in Hong Kong by the British colonial government...

, was appointed as the Headmaster. Piercy focused on the academic education of the students, and the School gained satisfactory results in the Cambridge and Oxford Local Examination scholarships.

In 1891, the School changed its name to "Diocesan School and Orphanage" (DSO), commemorating the erection of a new wing. All the girls left as Fairlea Girls’ School (later known as Heep Yunn College), under the superintendence of Miss Johnstone, was opened to them in 1892. For the first time DSO became a boys’ school. In 1899, the Diocesan Girls’ School was founded in Rose Villas on Bonham Road, Ms. Hawker being the Head Teacher.

Early 20th century

In 1902, the School changed its name to "Diocesan Boys’ School and Orphanage" (DBSO). It is unclear when the school changed its name from DBSO to DBS, the name DBS having been used as early as 1918. Rev. William Featherstone, Headmaster from 1917 to 1930, introduced the prefects' system, a house system and Speech Day. He also proposed moving the School from Bonham Road to a green field site in Mong Kok

Mong Kok

Mong Kok , less often known as Argyle , is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District on Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong...

. Construction of the school was completed in 1926. But soon in February 1927, the British military authorities took the School as a hospital for one year.

War

Second Sino-Japanese War

The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...

broke out in China following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident

Marco Polo Bridge Incident

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident was a battle between the Republic of China's National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army, often used as the marker for the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War .The eleven-arch granite bridge, Lugouqiao, is an architecturally significant structure,...

in 1937, and at once, DBS showed its support towards the Chinese Nationalist Party. In January 1938, a Shoe-shining Club was organized under the permission of Rev. Christopher Sargent to raise funds for the Nationalist Government. Boys went to schools around Hong Kong, polishing shoes for both teachers and students. In 1939, it even led to a School strike when a student of Japanese citizenship was appointed as Head Prefect

Prefect

Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....

.

During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong

Japanese occupation of Hong Kong

The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...

beginning in 1941, most of the personnel at the school, including then-Headmaster Gerald Goodban were imprisoned, and the school building itself transformed into a military hospital for soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army

Imperial Japanese Army

-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...

Post-War Years

Imperial Japan surrendered in August 1945, putting an end to World War II. The School was still under the control of Kempi Tai until November, when all the Japanese soldiers were captured. On 21 March 1946, J. L. Youngsaye, a senior teacher, took over the School which had been vacated, after it was inspected by the army commander. Oswald Cheung and Mr. B. J. Monks took up the post of acting Headmaster successively. Goodban arrived from England on 19 November 1947. Repairs started during the Christmas holidays. The new House system

House system

The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...

, named after the former Headmasters, was introduced in 1949 together with the Piercy Challenge Shield. In the 1950s

1950s in Hong Kong

1950s in Hong Kong began after the Japanese rule ended in 1945 with sovereignty returning to the British. However, the Nationalist-Communist Civil War was renewed in mainland China. It prompted a large influx of refugees from the mainland, causing a huge population surge. The government struggled...

, great construction plans including a gymnasium, a Carnegie Hall (the old Art Room beside the demolished gymnasium) and a science wing were proposed.

In 1955, Goodban announced his resignation while Canon George Zimmern (aka George She) was appointed the next Headmaster, the first Hong Kong-born old boy to become so. As Headmaster, Canon She brought about many innovations: firstly, he opened the School gates wide to pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; secondly, he de-colonialised DBS by affirming Chinese in the School's culture. Canon She also introduced the Garden Fête in 1955.

Academically, there was a proposal to drop the primary classes due to shortage of space. Although it was decided that a completely new Diocesan Preparatory School was to be built, it was not until 1969 that the resolution was affirmed.

The School became a major force in athletics when James Lowcock was appointed Headmaster in 1961. With his previous experience in DBS, he structured the administration to improve efficiency and more teachers were appointed to posts with designated responsibilities.

In 1983, Lowcock resigned due to ill health, and was succeeded by Jacland Lai, a senior teacher at the School. Under the new Headmaster's efforts, the standard of non-academic endeavours of students were greatly improved, and a number of competition prizes were brought back to the school as a result. In addition, a language laboratory and a demonstration room were built. The electrics and alarm installations were renovated, the School walls repainted, and computerization was performed throughout the School.

In 1991, the Education and Manpower Bureau

Education and Manpower Bureau

The Education Bureau is responsible for education policies in Hong Kong.The bureau is headed by the Secretary for Education and oversees the Secretariat, University Grants Committee and Student Financial Assistance Agencies...

tabled an offer to DBS to join the Direct Subsidy Scheme

Direct Subsidy Scheme

The Direct Subsidy Scheme is instituted by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong as a means to enhance the quality of private schools in Hong Kong at the primary and secondary levels...

. However, the offer was rejected in fear of budget deficit.

The Millennium

Lai retired in August 2000, and Terence Chang, an old boy and then-headmaster at the Jockey Club Ti-I College

Jockey Club Ti-I College

Jockey Club Ti-I College is a secondary school in Sha Tin, Hong KongJockey Club Ti-I College was established by a total funding of HK$ 84 million from Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club...

, took over the reins in September 2000.

On 4 October 2002, the School Committee decided to join the Direct Subsidy Scheme

Direct Subsidy Scheme

The Direct Subsidy Scheme is instituted by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong as a means to enhance the quality of private schools in Hong Kong at the primary and secondary levels...

(DSS) with effect from September 2003. The application was accepted by the then Education and Manpower Bureau

Education and Manpower Bureau

in March 2003, making it the third Anglican school to join the DSS.

Throughout 2002, the DSS was fiercely debated within the school. While Chang was highly in favour of joining the scheme, some students and most teachers opposed the scheme fiercely, fearing it would deprive children from less well-off families of the opportunity to attend DBS and change its education for all tradition. Old boys were slightly inclined towards the DSS, while the school claimed that parents were in favour, though the school's findings have since been criticized as biased.

After a 35 year hiatus, it was decided to found and built a primary school on the School campus. The project was wholly financed and undertaken by the government as part of the deal that saw DBS join the DSS. The primary school, known as the Diocesan Boys' School Primary Division (DBSPD) had its first (partial) intake of students in 2004. It further expanded its intake with students aged between 6 and 12 in 2005.

Roster of Headmasters

	Name	Name in Chinese	Tenure
1.	William Monarch Burnside ARTHUR	雅瑟	(1870–1878)
2.	George H. PIERCY	俾士	(1878–1917)
3.	Rev. William T. FEATHERSTONE	費瑟士東	(1917–1931)
	H. du T. PYNER	派納	(1931–1932, acting)
4.	Rev. Christopher Birdwood Roussel SARGENT C. B. R. Sargent The Rt. Rev. Christopher Birdwood Roussel Sargent was a missionary of the Anglican Church.-Biography:He was born into an ecclesiastical family on 4 June 1906, educated at St Paul's and St Catharine's College, Cambridge and worked as a teacher of physics at Wellington College until 1932...	舒展	(1932–1938)
5.	Gerald Archer GOODBAN	葛賓	(1938–1941)
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong Japanese occupation of Hong Kong The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted... (1941–1945) \|-				Oswald Victor CHEUNG	張奧偉	(1946, acting)
	B. J. MONKS	孟克士	(1946, acting)
5.	Gerald Archer GOODBAN	葛賓	(1946–1955)
	B. J. MONKS	孟克士	(1955, acting)
6.	Rev. George Samuel ZIMMERN George She George Samuel Zimmern JP, also named in Chinese community as Canon George She , was a well-known social activist in Hong Kong. Born of Eurasian parentage on 17 February 1904, he attended the Diocesan Boys' School, HK, followed by Oxford University in England... (aka Canon George She)	施玉麒	(1955–1961)
7.	Sidney James LOWCOCK	郭慎墀	(1961–1983)
8.	Jacland LAI	黎澤倫	(1983–2000)
9.	Terence CHANG	張灼祥	(2000–present)

Houses

HOUSES
Arthur (A)
Piercy (P)
Sykes (Sy)
Featherstone (F)
Sargent (Sa)
Goodban (G)
George She (GS)
Lowcock (L)

In 1922, Rev. Featherstone introduced the Club system to the School for sports and drama competitions. All the students were divided among four Clubs, i.e. the Green, the Blue, the Yellow and the Brown. As the number of students kept increasing, the Red Club was added in 1947. Three past Headmasters, Piercy, Sargent and Featherstone died successively during the years of the Pacific War. In order to commemorate them, Goodban decided to establish a new House system

House system

in 1949. The existing five Clubs were re-designated "Houses" and named after four past Headmasters and the Henry Sykes, who was the Second Master from 1898 to 1920.

In 1960, Canon She founded the new Goodban House to commemorate his predecessor. Lowcock House was added in 2002.

In 2004, the alumni of class of '58 managed a fund-raising for the establishment of a new House and the Chapel renovation in memory of the late Canon George She. However, the Zimmern House project remained under discussion for years. In November 2010, the headmaster Terence Chang announced in the 45th Anniversary Reunion of Class 1965 that there would be a Zimmern house for Canon She in September 2011. Its name is later altered to George She House in response to the petition of Class 1960, and orange is chosen as the house colour.

The Houses, abbreviations and representative colours are as per the inset.

School Badge

The School badge are composed of seven elements: the Mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...

, the Crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...

, the Crozier, the Key
Key (lock)
A key is an instrument that is used to operate a lock. A typical key consists of two parts: the blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. The blade is usually intended to...

, the Bible, the Shell and the Shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....

, all of which have deep meaning in the Christian faith.

The mitre is the traditional headgear worn by bishops. As a symbol, its meaning is twofold. It shows that the Anglican Church is an episcopal church, a church guided by bishops. It also underlines the fact that the Anglican Church has inherited the faith of the Apostles.

Placed above the Bible, the crown is the symbol of the kingship of Christ. It indicates that the Church works in the world in obedience to Christ and to the glory of God.

The crozier is a symbol of the pastoral responsibility which the Church bears for the world. It is also known as the pastoral staff. It reminds the Church of its humble identity as servant.

The key is the symbol of authority which the Church receives from Christ.

The book placed in the middle of the shield is the Bible, which is a record of the self-disclosure of God in history – the history of the people of Israel in the Old Testament period and the life of Jesus Christ. The doctrine, discipline and worship of the Anglican Church is based on the Bible and must be in accordance with its teaching.

Placed beneath the Bible, the shell is used to symbolise Baptism. It underlines the evangelistic mission of the Church which is to preach the Gospel, to draw people to Christ and to baptise them.

The shape of a shield signifies the defending of Christian faith in the temporal world.

Campus

Buildings:

Main Building (Built in 1924)
Gymnasium (Built in 1951; has been demolished to make way for the Auditorium Block)
New Wing
New New Wing
Mrs. Tsai Ming Sang Building (Commonly known as the "SIP Building", which stands for "School Improvement Programme")
Samuel Tak Lee Building (A multi-purpose dormitory complex with sporting facilities; awarded the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Medal of the Year 2007)
IB Block (Under construction)
Carpark Block (Under planning)
Auditorium Block (Awaiting construction)
Primary Division (Across from school field, taking the place of the former Headmaster's residence; awarded the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Medal of the Year 2004)

Curriculum

The school uses English as the medium of instruction.

Currently, both the Primary and Secondary Division follow the Hong Kong Examination Authority's curriculum. Students in Form 4 (2008–09) or above take both the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination

The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination was a standardized examination between 1974 and 2011 after most local students’ five-year secondary education, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority . The examination will be discontinued in 2012...

(HKCEE) and the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination

The Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination , or more commonly known as the A-level, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority , is normally taken by senior students at the end of their matriculation in Hong Kong. In 2010, 39,772 candidates entered for the examination...

(HKALE). Students in Grade 9 (Form 3; 2008–09) or below will fall into the New Secondary System (NSS) which is also known as "3-3-4" and will take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education will be the only public exam in the new 3-3-4 education system to be introduced in Hong Kong secondary schools; it will be a replacement of the existing Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination and be the...

examinations.

In March 2009, the school received media attention when a Form 4 student complained that he had had a nude female model as a subject in his art class, and alleged embarrassment. The visual arts teacher, employed for 27 years, told reporters that he had been inviting nude models without any complaint for nearly ten years. Headmaster Terence Chang said it was a big fuss about nothing ("大驚小怪").

The school launched the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in the school year 2009–10, having roughly 50 IB students. A new building is being built for the IB programme, while the school's intention to admit girls to the IB program has been cancelled.

Sports

Various sports are played within school, and school teams of DBS are strong competitors among Hong Kong schools. They have been crowned Overall Champions in Athletics, Badminton (Grand Slam in 09/10 & 10/11 in the Kowloon area), Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Hockey, Life Saving, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Volleyball (Grand Slam in 77/78 in the Kowloon area).

The School's Athletics, Swimming, Tennis and Life Saving Teams are the most distinguished among all. They have each won more than half of the available Overall Championships in the history of their disciplines:

Athletics – 33 Championships in 49 years, 9 Grand Slams (79/80, 80/81, 90/91, 91/92, 92/93, 96/97, 97/98, 03/04, 05/06)
Swimming – 27 Championships in 46 years, 7 Grand Slams (66/67, 94/95, 96/97, 05/06, 07/08, 09/10, 10/11)
Tennis – 34 Championships in 59 years, Overall Champion ever since 00/01
Life Saving – Overall Champion ever since 92/93, Grand Slam ever since 95/96

Recently, the School has won the Inter-School Swimming Championships for a record 19 consecutive years, the All Hong Kong Secondary School Life Saving Championships for a record 20 consecutive years, and the Inter-School Tennis Competition for a record 11 consecutive years (straight wins every year). Athletics Team was crowned the Overall champion for a record 7 consecutive years between 03/04 and 09/10.

In December 2010, the school swimming team successfully defended Grand Slam at the Inter-School Swimming Championships in the boys' section, unprecedented in history.

In March 2003, the school football team captured the Jing Ying Football Championship as a Division Three team, also unprecedented in history.

The School is currently second in terms of the number of Omega Rose Bowl/BOCHK Bauhinia Bowl won in the Boys Schools Section. The BOCHK Bauhinia Bowl, previously known as Omega Rose Bowl, is an annual award to the best performing school in Inter-school sports competitions.

Music

Notable Prizes:

Instrumental

Captured the Championship of the Senior String Orchestra in the 62nd Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. (2010)
Captured the Championship of the Senior String Orchestra and Senior School Orchestra in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. (2007,2008,2009)
Captured the Championship of the Chinese Orchestra in the 60th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. (2008)
Captured the Championships of the Senior String Orchestra, Senior School Orchestra and Senior School Band in the 59th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival (2007), thus winning the Instrumental Treble.
Captured the Championships of the Woodwind Ensemble ever since the 58th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. (2006, 07, 08)
Captured the Championship of Interflows(2008,2009)
Captured the orchestral Championship .

Choral

The school choir was invited to perform in Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...

together with Warren Mok
Warren Mok
Warren Mok , is a Hong Kong operatic tenor who has performed many leading roles since his European debut in 1987 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He has a repertoire of 50 operatic roles, including Calaf in Turandot, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Don José in Carmen and Radames in Aida...

, a world-renowned Hong Kong tenor, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra , is the largest symphony orchestra in Hong Kong. First established in 1895 as an amateur orchestra, under the name Sino-British Orchestra, it was renamed the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 1957, and became a professional orchestra in 1974 under the funding...

, Opera Hong Kong Chorus and students from HKAPA. (2007)
The Senior Mixed Choir of Diocesan Boys' School together with Diocesan Girls' School
Diocesan Girls' School
Diocesan Girls' School, founded in 1860, is one of the oldest Anglican girls' schools in Hong Kong. DGS is located at 1 Jordan Road in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is administered under the Grant Code and uses English as the medium of instruction. It has always been ranked as the top secondary school in...

captured the "Best Mixed Choir of the Year" and the "Best Secondary School Choir of the Year" awards in the 60th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. (2008)
The school Senior Choir was invited to perform in the Inaugural Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 Torch Relay in Hong Kong. (2008)

The Diocesan Boys' School Senior Choir is one of Hong Kong's leading youth male choirs. Its conductor is Mr. Ronnie Cheng. It is a regular participant at the annual Hong Kong Schools Music Festival in categories "Secondary School Choir – Foreign Language – Boys Senior" and "中學合唱隊 – 中文 – 男子 – 高級組". Since the turn of the century, the choir also took part in a number of international choral competitions on a regular basis.

Awarded 1st Runner-up in the Youth Male Choir category at the 2nd Choir Olympics, 2002 in Busan, Korea.
Awarded 1st Runner-up in the Male and Youth Choir category at the 59th International Music Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...

, 2005, in Llangollen, Wales.
Awarded the Championship and the Gold Medal for the category "Young Male Voice" at the World Choir Games (4th Choir Olympics), 2006 in Xiamen, China.
Awarded the Championship, the Gold Diploma, the Special Prize for Interpretation and the Conductor Prize for the category "Youth Choirs of Equal Voices" in the 5th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival & Competition, 2007 in Wernigerode, Germany.
Awarded the Championship and the Gold Medal for the category "Young Male Voice" at the World Choir Games (5th Choir Olympics), 2008 in Graz, Austria.
Awarded the Championship and the Gold Medal for the category "Young Male Voice" at the World Choir Games (6th Choir Olympics), 2010 in Shaoxing, China.
Awarded the Championship and the Gold Diploma for the category "Male Choirs with Compulsory Piece" in the 7th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival & Competition, 2011 in Wernigerode, Germany.
Awarded the "Best Secondary School Choir of the Year" in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival from 2003–2005 and 2009.
Awarded the "Best Boys Choir of the Year" in the 63rd Hong Kong Schools Music Festival for 10 consecutive years.
According to the Musica Mundi World Ranking List, the DBS Senior Choir is ranked 6th in the Children's and Youth Choirs category, and 39th overall in the world.

School hymn (arranged version)

The Diocesan Boys' School Hymn

by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...

(1865–1936)

Verse 1:

Father in heaven who loves us all.

O help thy children when they call;

That they may build from age to age

An undefiled heritage.

Verse 2:

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,

With steadfastness and careful truth;

That in our time thy grace may give

The truth whereby the nations live.

Verse 3:

Teach us to look in all our ends

On thee for judge, and not our friends;

That we, with thee, may walk uncowed

By fear or favour of the crowd.

Verse 4:

Teach us the strength that cannot seek,

By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;

That, under thee, we may possess

Man's strength to comfort man's distress.

Verse 5:

Teach us delight in simple things.

And mirth that has no bitter springs;

Forgiveness free of evil done

And love to all men 'neath the sun.

The Diocesan Boys' School Hymn was composed by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...

(1865–1936).

Later in June 2010, the DBS School Hymn was arranged by a residing Hong Kong musician Mr.T.Lo.

Named as DBS School Hymn 2010, it was premiered by the DBS School Orchestra 2009-10 as one of the two background music of the DBS Year in Pictures 2009-2010 during the programme rundown of the DBS Homecoming Concerts 2010 .

Civic and moral education

On 24 May 2010, as part of a series of school visits in government's 'Act Now' campaign, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs

Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau

The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is an agency of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for the implementation of the Basic Law. The bureau is the intermediary between the HKSAR Government and the Central People's Government and other Mainland authorities under the principles of...

, Adeline Wong Ching-Man JP

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...

, visited the school to talk about the government constitutional development efforts

Democratic development in Hong Kong

Democratic development in Hong Kong has been a major topic since the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. The One country, two systems principle allows the Hong Kong government to administer all areas of government except foreign relations and defense separately from the national Chinese...

. She briefed students on the details of the Package of Proposals for the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2012, and answered questions both from students and teaching staff.

Other

DBS also participates in other competitions, such as art, drama, business, mathematics, computer programming and the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival.

DBS counts a total of 7 winners of the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards

Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards

The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards is a student contest in Hong Kong. The Awards recognizes students for great academic performance, extra-curricular achievements and commitment to serving society....

, ranking 10th (tied with St. Paul's Co-educational College

St. Paul's Co-educational College

St. Paul's Co-educational College , is located at 33 MacDonnell Road, Mid-levels, Hong Kong....

, Sacred Heart Canossian College

Sacred Heart Canossian College

Sacred Heart Canossian College is a Roman Catholic girls' school in Pokfulam, Chi Fu Fa Yeun, west Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Founded in 1860, the school currently serves some 1,400 students and 70 teaching staff....

and NTHYK Yuen Long District Secondary School) among all secondary schools in Hong Kong.

Politics and civil service

Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...

Chinese revolutionary and statesman, founder of modern China, but left the school after 3 months.
Sir Kotewall, Robert H., JP local community leader
Barma, Haider Hatim Tyebjee, GBS, JP (鮑文); former Secretary for Transport
Dr Patrick Ho Chi Ping
Patrick Ho
Dr Patrick Ho Chi-ping JP is an ophthalmologist, and Hong Kong's former Secretary for Home Affairs. From 1988-2000, he was Professor of Surgery at the Chinese University of Hong Kong....

, MD, GBS, JP (何志平); former Secretary for Home Affairs
Secretary for Home Affairs
The Secretary for Home Affairs is the head of the Home Affairs Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong, which is responsible for local issues, and the provision of community, leisure, and cultural services.-List of office holders:*Donald Luddington 1971-1973...

(2002–2007), former professor of ophthalmology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong(1984–1994), former ophthalmic surgeon
Yeung Kai Yin
Yeung Kai Yin
Yeung Kai Yin CBE JP was Secretary for Education and Manpower, Secretary for Transport and Secretary for the Treasury of Hong Kong. He joined the Hong Kong Government as an Administrative Officer at 1962 and retired at 1993. At 1996, he served as chairman and chief executive of Kowloon-Canton...

, CBE, JP Ex-chairman and Ex-chief executive of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...

(KCRC); Secretary for Education and Manpower
Secretary for Education and Manpower
The Secretary for Education is a principal official in the Hong Kong Government, who heads the Education Bureau . The current office holder is Michael Suen.-History:...

(1989–1991), Secretary for Transport (1993) and Secretary for the Treasury (1991–1993)
Leung Po Wing, Bowen (梁寶榮); former Secretary for Planning, Environmental & Lands, Director of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing
Tien Pei Chun, James
James Tien
James Tien Pei-chun GBS OBE JP is the former Chairman of the Liberal Party , a pro-business and pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong . He was also a member of the District Council of Hong Kong in the Central and Western district...

ex-Chairman of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Hong Kong)
Liberal Party is a business-friendly liberal conservative political party in Hong Kong.-Party beliefs:The party is known for its conservative and business-friendly policies. Despite being a political party friendly with Beijing, it fits in the centre-right political spectrum...

(LP) and a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...

(LegCo)
Tien Puk Sun, Michael
Michael Tien
Michael Puk Sun Tien is deputy chairman of New People's Party, and the member of Tsuen Wan District Council. He is founder of The G2000 Group and the former chairman of the board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation . He joined the Liberal Party in 2008, a party led by his elder brother,...

former Chairman of the board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC)
Tong Hin Ming, Timothy, JP (湯顯明); Commissioner for Independent Commission Against Corruption
Cheung Yue Yan, Tommy
Tommy Cheung
Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, SBS, JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , representing the catering industry in functional constituencies seats. He was a member of the Liberal Party.-Career:...

Legislative Councillor and member of the Liberal Party
Kwok, Kenneth W. K, OBE, JP; former Secretary for Works
Law Chi Kong, Joshua, JP (羅智光); Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Kenneth Chen, Undersecretary for the Education Bureau nominated under the Political Appointments System
Political Appointments System
The Political Appointments System is a scheme introduced in 2008 by the Hong Kong Government to reinforce its ministerial team by superseding the Principal Officials Accountability System and inserting two layers of politically-appointed officials below the secretaries, who are political appointees...

.
LAI, Michael Kam Cheung(賴錦璋), CEO of St. James Settlement

Law

Rev. G. S. Zimmern
George She
George Samuel Zimmern JP, also named in Chinese community as Canon George She , was a well-known social activist in Hong Kong. Born of Eurasian parentage on 17 February 1904, he attended the Diocesan Boys' School, HK, followed by Oxford University in England...

, JP (施玉麒); one of the earliest barristers-at-law of Hong Kong, magistrate
Sir Yuet-Keung Kan, GBE, JP (簡悅強); solicitor, members of Executive and Legislative Councils, former chairman of HKTDC
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based manufacturers, traders and service providers. Established in 1966, it has more than 40 offices around the world, including 11 in the Chinese mainland, promoting Hong Kong as a platform for doing business...

, former chairman of Bank of East Asia
Bank of East Asia
The Bank of East Asia Limited often abbreviated to BEA, is the largest independent local bank and the third largest bank in Hong Kong. Its chairman and chief executive is Sir David Li...
Sir Oswald Cheung, JP (張奧偉); distinguished lawyer, legislator, and public servant of Hong Kong, known as "doyen of the bar"
Sir Kwan Cho Yiu (關祖堯); lawyer and judge
Jat Sew Tong (翟紹唐); Senior Counsel, Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Council of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
Justice Litton, Henry Deni
Henry Litton
Henry Litton CBE, GBM is a retired judge in Hong Kong.Born into a Eurasian family in Hong Kong, Henry Litton excelled in school during his early years in England and was educated in King's College, Taunton and Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated with honors in jurisprudence.After passing...

s (列顯倫); judge and barrister-at-law
Justice Pang Kin-kee
Pang Kin-kee
Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee is Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission , Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in Hong Kong.-Biography:...

(彭鍵基); ex-Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission
Electoral Affairs Commission
The Electoral Affairs Commission of Hong Kong is an independent, apolitical and impartial body established under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance...

(EAC), Judge of the Court of First Instance
Court of First Instance (Hong Kong)
The Court of First Instance is one of two courts in the High Court of Hong Kong. The court has unlimited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters...

of the High Court
High Court (Hong Kong)
The High Court in Hong Kong consists of the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance. It deals with criminal and civil cases which have risen beyond the lower courts. It was named the Supreme Court before 1997.- High Court Building :...
Kotewall, Robert G. (羅正威); SBS, Senior Counsel, recipient of the Silver Bauhinia Star
Silver Bauhinia Star
The Silver Bauhinia Star is the second rank in the Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, awarded to persons who have taken a leading part in public affairs or voluntary work over a long period...

(2001)

Commerce

Tyson, George B. (陳啟明); Director of Dai Yew Bank, Member of the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce(prewar)
Howard, William, J. (侯維廉); former Director of L. Dunbar & Co. and John D. Hutchison & Co.
Wong Ching Yau; former Director of Hong Kong Metropolitan Bank Ltd.
The Hon. Fan Hung Ling, Henry
Henry Fan
Henry Fan Hung Ling, SBS, JP was the managing director of CITIC Pacific and the vice-chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways. He was the non-official member of Executive Council of Hong Kong from 2007 to 2009. He is the elder brother of Fanny Law, a former Hong Kong Government official. He was...

, SBS, JP (范鴻齡); former member, HK ExCo
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...

; former Managing Director, CITIC Pacific
CITIC Pacific
CITIC Pacific is a Hong Kong-based conglomerate holding company headquartered in the CITIC Tower, Admiralty, Hong Kong. It is 58% owned by the state-owned Citic Group in Beijing and has shareholders around the world.-Business areas:...

; Deputy Chairman, Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...

; Director, Dragonair
Dragonair
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited , operating as Dragonair, is an international airline and flag carrier headquartered in Hong Kong; with its corporate headquarters, Dragonair House Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (T: 港龍航空有限公司, S: 港龙航空有限公司, Cantonese: gong2 lung4 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1,...
Lam Kin Ming
Peter Lam
Peter Lam Kin-ngok , son of industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife, U Po-chu, is the Chairman & CEO of Media Asia Entertainment Group.-2008 Speeding offense:...

(林建名); Chairman of Lai Sun Group
Yu Kam Kee, Lawrence, BBS, MBE, JP (余錦基); Chairman of Softbank Investment International (Strategic) Ltd
Fong, Alex (方志偉); CEO, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Fok, Canning
Canning Fok
Canning Fok Kin-ning is a Hong Kong entrepreneur. He works in several top management board of the companies of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa. He is hailed as the "King of Employees" since he has been one of the Hong Kong's top-five taxpayers in the past few years.Fok holds a Bachelor...

(霍建寧); Group Managing Director, Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
V-Nee Yeh
V-nee Yeh
V Nee Yeh is a non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. He graduated from Milton Academy, Cum Laude '77;Williams College, BA' 81 Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude and Columbia Law School, JD '84, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar He is a co-founder and honorary chairman of Value Partners...

; Founder, Value Partners Group and member of HK ExCo

Education and academia

Chan Wing Chit (陳榮捷); Sinologist, professor of philosophy in Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...

and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Chen Pei Hsun (陳培勳); composer, professor of Peking Central Institute of Music
Fung Yee Wang (馮以浤); professor of School of Education, HKU and CUHK
Wong Siu Kit (黃兆傑); professor of Chinese literature, HKU
Tam Sheung Wai
Sheung-Wai Tam
Sheung-Wai Tam, OBE, GBS, JP is the President Emeritus of The Open University of Hong Kong. He is widely recognized for his many contributions towards the development of distance education in Hong Kong. He is also the Chairman of the College Council of St. Paul's Co-educational College.-See also:*...

(譚尚渭); President Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...

of The Open University of Hong Kong
Open University of Hong Kong
The Open University of Hong Kong is a Hong Kong university providing sub-degree, degree and postgraduate courses leading to awards and qualifications principally through a system of open access and distance education....

.
Cheng Yiu Chung (鄭耀宗); former Vice Chancellor of HKU
Liu Pak Wai(廖柏偉); vice-president of CUHK
Chung Ting Yiu, Robert
Robert Chung Ting-yiu
Dr. Robert Chung is the Director of Public Opinion Programme at the University of Hong Kong.-Study and career:Dr Chung graduated from Diocesan Boys' School. He obtained his Bachelor degree, Master of Philosophy in Sociology and PhD Degree from The University of Hong Kong...

(鍾庭耀); Public Opinion Project Director, HKU
Chan Hing-yan
Chan Hing-yan
Hing-yan Chan is a composer and music educator. He is currently the chair of University of Hong Kong's Department of Music.-Biography:Hing-yan Chan received his D.M.A. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, majoring in composition and minoring in ethnomusicology. He was Visiting...

(陳慶恩); head of music faculty, HKU

Arts and entertainment

Dunn Tse Fung, Patrick (鄧梓峰); TV host
Lam, George
George Lam
George Lam Chi Cheung, also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong...

(林子祥); Canto-pop star
Law Kai-yui Alex
Alex Law
Alex Law is a Hong Kong film director writer and producer. He is variously credited as "Law Kai Yui", "Law Kai-Yui" and "Alex Kai Yui".Law was educated at the Diocesan Boys' School, Hong Kong, matriculating in 1971...

(1971)
Li Chuan Yun
Li Chuan Yun
Li Chuan Yun , also known as Chanyun Li or Babeli is a Chinese violin virtuoso. He began studying violin at the age of 3 and won his first prize in Beijing when he was five. Li performed all the violin solos for the film Together...

(李傳韻); Violinist
Rumjahn, Mahmood (林慕德); Cantopop composer and producer
Ng Lok Shing, Ronald (伍樂城); Cantopop composer and producer
To, Chapman
Chapman To
Chapman To Man-chak is a Hong Kong actor, best known for specializing in comedic roles in films such as Infernal Affairs and Initial D.-Career:To began his acting career in TV soap operas and moved to the big screen in 2000...

(杜汶澤); actor and entertainer
Vivek Mahbubani
Vivek Mahbubani
Vivek Mahbubani is a stand-up comedian in Hong Kong, a musician and an award-winning new media designer.-Biography:Vivek is a Sindhi of Indian descent and was born and raised in Hong Kong...

; Stand-up comedian

Mass culture and journalism

Ho Tsu Kwok, Charles(何柱國); Chairman of Sing Tao News Corporation Limited
Sing Tao
Sing Tao may refer to:* Sing Tao Daily, a newspaper published in Hong Kong* Sing Tao News Corporation, a company in Hong Kong, has published Sing Tao Daily.* Sing Tao , a defunct Hong Kong football club sponsored by Sing Tao News Corporation....
Wong K.K.(尊子); political comics writer
Law Kai Yui (羅啟銳); Film director
Liu Chung Ping, John(廖忠平); TVB news reporter
Lau Ka Kit, Josiah
Josiah Lau
Josiah Lau Ka Kit is an English language teacher in Hong Kong who hosted "One Minute's English" on RTHK, an English-teaching TV programme of the 1990s...

(劉家傑); former TVB news reporter, actor and English educator
Li Chun, Oscar(李臻); current NOW TV news reporter and former TVB news reporter
Lui Ping Kuen, Bruce (呂秉權); Cable TV news reporter
Fong Tung Shing, Anthony(方東昇); TVB news reporter
So King Hang (蘇敬恆); TVB news reporter
Patrick Fok; TVB news reporter

External links

Official Homepage of Diocesan Boys' School
Diocesan Boys School Seventy Years Ago, by W. J. Howard

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