In the early 20th century, the island of Cheung Chau was settled on as a suitable spot for building holiday villas for Europeans, and European missionaries in particular. Cheung Chau offered all the advantages of The Peak of Hong Kong for a fraction of the cost - isolation, cool breezes, and extensive views. In fact Cheung Chau actually had its own Peak.
In 1909, building plots and labour were cheap on Cheung Chau, and there was a flurry of building. House #23 may have been built at this time.Built of locally sourced granite, it looks to have been quite large.
In 1911 the owner is recorded as the Rev/Dr J K Robb, a medical missionary, who served with his wife in Tak Hing Chau, South China.
In the 1938 record of European house owners on Cheung Chau, Mr C G Alabaster was recorded as the owner of this house. He was the Attorney General of Hong Kong.
There is a colour photograph of Houses #22 and #23 taken in 1950.It looks like they suffered the fate of other western-owned houses in the war and were destroyed by the Japanese.
In 1949-50The Christian and Missionary Alliance moved its Bible School from Wuzhou, Gwangxi to House #22 next door and changed its name to the Hong KongAlliance Seminary. It later purchased House #23 and gained a good-sized campus for its operations. It has gone on from there and is now known as the Alliance Bible Seminary.
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European House #23 Overview
In the early 20th century, the island of Cheung Chau was settled on as a suitable spot for building holiday villas for Europeans, and European missionaries in particular. Cheung Chau offered all the advantages of The Peak of Hong Kong for a fraction of the cost - isolation, cool breezes, and extensive views. In fact Cheung Chau actually had its own Peak.
In 1909, building plots and labour were cheap on Cheung Chau, and there was a flurry of building. House #23 may have been built at this time. Built of locally sourced granite, it looks to have been quite large.
In 1911 the owner is recorded as the Rev/Dr J K Robb, a medical missionary, who served with his wife in Tak Hing Chau, South China.
In the 1938 record of European house owners on Cheung Chau, Mr C G Alabaster was recorded as the owner of this house. He was the Attorney General of Hong Kong.
There is a colour photograph of Houses #22 and #23 taken in 1950. It looks like they suffered the fate of other western-owned houses in the war and were destroyed by the Japanese.
In 1949-50 The Christian and Missionary Alliance moved its Bible School from Wuzhou, Gwangxi to House #22 next door and changed its name to the Hong Kong Alliance Seminary. It later purchased House #23 and gained a good-sized campus for its operations. It has gone on from there and is now known as the Alliance Bible Seminary.
Source: RPCNA - 40 Years in our China Mission