Historical Timeline
1962 - Founding of the UWC Movement
UWC was founded with Atlantic College admitting its first students, being hailed by The Times as "the most exciting experiment in education since the Second World War".
1972 - Involvement of Hong Kong in the UWC Movement with Sir Kenneth Ping Fan Fung being the Chair of the UWC HK National Committee
Hong Kong started its involvement in the United World Colleges Movement in 1972, when the first batch of 8 Hong Kong students were sent to the founding college, United World College of the Atlantic in United Kingdom on full scholarships.
UWC HK Committee responsible for scholarship fundraising was chaired by Sir Kenneth Ping Fan Fung.
Sir Kenneth Ping Fan Fung
1974 - Hong Kong sends more students to UWC Schools & Colleges
1st batch of 3 Hong Kong students attending Pearson College in Canada when it was opened in 1974, together with the 2nd batch of 6 Hong Kong students attending Atlantic College in the same year.
1978 - Sir QW Lee became the Chairman of the Selection Committee
Sir Q.W. Lee became the Chairman of the Selection Committee in 1978, who introduced a more structured and formalized student selection process under the Education Department.
Sir Q.W. Lee
1980 - The idea of UWCHK is birthed
The idea of establishing a UWC in Hong Kong was first mentioned by Sir Kenneth Fung during a courtesy visit by alumna Pauline Lo.
1981-Founding of UWCHK Ex- Students' Association
UWC Hong Kong Ex-Students’ Association was established in summer 1981, with founding committee members comprised of Benjamin Chang (AC72-74), Esther Chau (AC77-79) and Pauline Lo (AC78-80). Benjamin Chang was the founding Chairman of the Association.
Advisory Board Members were:
Patron: The Hon. Sir Kenneth Fung
Hon. President: Sir Q.W. Lee
Hon. Auditor: Mr. Ho Tak Sang
Hon. Advisors: Mr. Kenneth Fung
Mr. C.H. Haye (Director of Education)
Mr. J.B. Suart (Principal, St. George School)
The Association organised Introductory Talk to the UWC Scholarships, published Newsletter, organised Orientation Camp and social gatherings. Chair of the Association was member of the United World Colleges Scholarships Hong Kong Selection Committee.
1982 - Establishment of Sir Jack Cater Scholarship Fund
Sir Jack Cater Scholarship Fund was established in April 1982. An official press conference was held at the Furama Hotel with Sir Jack Cater being the Guest of Honour. Other prominent guests were Sir Q.W. Lee, Mr. Denis Bray, Mr. Wong Po Yan.
Sir Jack Cater Scholarship Fund Press Conference
(from left to right: Dr. Philip Li, Benjamin Chang, Sir Jack Cater, Denis Bray, Sir QW Lee, Pauline Lo)
Hong Kong students attend more UWC Schools & Colleges
First batch of 2 Hong Kong students attending Armand Hammer United World College of the American West in USA and 1 attending Adriatic College in Italy when they were opened in 1982.
1987 - UWC International Council visits Hong Kong
Sir Ian Gourlay, Director General of UWC International Council visited Hong Kong and Mainland China in May 1987. He was supportive to establish a UWC in Hong Kong.
The concept of opening a United World College in Hong Kong was initiated in the same year by Sir Q. W. Lee and Mr Li Shiu Tsang, MBE, JP, whose family had set up the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust.
Mr Li Shiu Tsang, MBE, JP
1991-1992 - Construction of LPCUWC
The foundation laying ceremony was held on 12th February 1992, attended by His Excellency Sir David Wilson GCMG Governor of Hong Kong.
Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong was established through a generous grant from the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund and support from the Hong Kong Government.
1992 - Official Opening of LPCUWC
The College opened to its first students in September 1992, and was formally opened by HRH the Prince of Wales on 6 November 1992.
Establishment of the Lord Wilson United World Colleges Scholarship Fund
Lord Wilson United World Colleges Scholarship Fund was established in June 1992 for students attending LPCUWC and Hong Kong students attending other UWCs.
2002 - LPCUWC 10th Anniversary Celebrations
2003 - Establishment of UWC Graduates Organization Hong Kong
UWC Graduates Organization Hong Kong, was established in 2003, which replaced the UWC Hong Kong Ex-Students’ Association.
2008 - Founding of United World Colleges Hong Kong Committee Limited (UWCHK)
United World Colleges Hong Kong Committee Limited, a local charity was formally established in July 2008 as the UWC Committee for Hong Kong, which is responsible for fundraising, student selection and promotion of the UWC movement.
2011 - Establishment of Lee Quo Wei Hall
The Lee Quo Wei Hall houses the assembly hall which provides the stage for all major college performances and meetings. It hosts LPCUWC meetings, cultural evenings, theatre performances, Global Issues Forum, and more.
The hall comfortably sits the entire college population and facilitates intimate college discussions. The hall also has a lighting and audio system run by the student lighting crew.
2012 - UWCHK 40th & LPCUWC 20th Anniversary
2017 - LPCUWC 25th Anniversary
On Saturday 25th November, LPCUWC celebrated its silver jubilee anniversary, marking 25 years of fostering transformational education, cultural exchange, and peace-related initiatives. More than 600 guests, including alumni, parents, former staff, UWC colleagues, donors, supporters and friends, joined the celebration which took place on campus.
Many travelled to Hong Kong from overseas, especially for the occasion! Even more, joined the celebration activities via other methods such as web live-stream and social media, whilst many local organisations and sister UWC colleges also sent congratulatory messages and gifts.
Activities on the day included several spectacular and original performances by students, outdoor mural painting, cultural booths allowing visitors to explore the global diversity of nations represented at LPCUWC, and interactive presentations showcasing the rich history and variety of student projects and community collaborations at the college, and more.
2019 - Solar Power System Project at LPCUWC
The Solar Project is the Hong Kong's Largest School-Based Solar Power System at LPCUWC. A total of 1,168 solar panels were installed across the rooftops of ten buildings on our campus, making this solar power system project Hong Kong's largest in a school setting.
The solar power system project, would be saving LPCUWC approximately 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 25 years, which is equivalent to 3,000 tons of coal burnt or planting 10,700 trees each year, generating an annual revenue of HK$ 1.7 million.
The revenues generated will be used for scholarships for students in LPCUWC coming from grassroots families.
2020 - Establishment of the Lee Shau Kee Peace Education Centre
The Lee Shau Kee Peace Education Centre at LPCUWC truly reflects the mission of the College with a focus on Peace.
It provides tremendous support to the College to realise its plan to establish an education centre to build up the interests and capacity of young Hong Kong people who can benefit from intercultural and international experiences and projects focusing on peacebuilding and sustainability, benefiting thousands of students from secondary schools across Hong Kong.
The Centre was completed in 2019. It promotes green learning and provides a low-carbon, healthy, educational campus environment for all. The Centre is LEED Silver certified for energy and resource stewardship, and Fitwel 1 Star certified for its focus on human health.
2021 - UWCHK Student Milestone
UWCHK has sent more than 500 students abroad to the other 17 United World Colleges around the world.
2022 - Joint Anniversary Celebrations
The United World Colleges Hong Kong Committee Ltd (UWCHK) and LPCUWC celebrate their 50th and 30th Anniversaries, respectively.
The Opening Ceremony of the newly built Amphitheatre and Enlightenment Centre at LPCUWC, to be held on 25th November 2022, will be one of the three celebratory events for this joint anniversary.
