‘Really unique’ former Hong Kong village school should be spared demolition, pair say

Hong Kong Island markets in Streamline Moderne architectural style were saved so why not school in Kowloon too, architectural historian asks

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The former Sze Shan Public School in Cha Kwo Ling that campaigners want to save from demolition. Dating from 1952, it is a rare surviving example in Hong Kong of a building in the Streamline Moderne style, an offshoot of art deco. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 11:15am, 4 Mar 2025

A former village school that is a testament to pre-metropolitan Hong Kong is about to be demolished, but architecture scholars and heritage conservation enthusiasts are unwilling to let it go without a fight.

Built in 1952 in Cha Kwo Ling, between Lam Tin and Yau Tong in East Kowloon, the Sze Shan Public School building – with its curved structures and long horizontal lines – is one of Hong Kong’s few examples of buildings in the Streamline Moderne architectural style, inspired by automation and aerodynamics. However, it has not been graded a historic building.

The former school features light green terrazzo similar to that in the Central Market and the Old Wanchai Market Building on Hong Kong Island, both of which are classified as grade three historic buildings and have been revitalised for public and commercial use.

The former Sze Shan Public School is facing demolition despite being built in the same year as the State Theatre in North Point, a grade one historic building.

The former Sze Shan Public School in Cha Kwo Ling, East Kowloon. The two-storey village school is slated for demolition to make way for public housing. Photo: Nora Tam

“It’s a pity that this has somehow been overlooked,” says Dr Prudence Lau Leung-kwok, a professor specialising in cultural heritage and Hong Kong architectural history.