HKIS-Reunion-68-69-Memories

Robert E. Christian
HKIS Founding Headmaster

Our 2019 HKIS Reunion Memory Book
is dedicated with sincere gratitude to
the HKIS Founding Headmaster,
Robert E. Christian.

Life has many wonderful milestones --- birth,
first steps, learning to read, graduation,
marriage, jobs, retirement --- and class
reunions, just to name a few. However, there
is no doubt that a 50th high school reunion is a
very significant milestone of life.

Thanks to Mr. Christian’s hard work, faith and
determination, the Hong Kong International
School was opened in 1967 and the Classes
of 1968 and 1969 were the first to graduate.

We thank you, Mr. Christian, for creating so
many wonderful memories and opportunities
for us all.

With grateful appreciation from your original HKIS students.

July 19, 2019
Seattle, Washington, USA



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HKIS Reunion Attendees

July 19-21, 2019

Seattle, Washington




Class of 1969
Class of 1968


Steve Adcock
Edmond Chen Connie Maneaty
Barbara Chen Lindy Andersen Brigham
Peter Fishel Stephen Brigham
Mindy Gooch Deaver Margo Bordwell Roby
Pam Munn Anderson Skip Roby
Bob Anderson Marty Borgman Allen
Cheryl Mushett Baldridge Tay Bosley
John Strouss Emili Rambus
Pati Philbrook Kristine Brannigan Farber
Peter Swaine David Christian
Janet Terwilliger Elizabeth Christian
Karen von Behren Keup Trish Gilhooly O’Neill
Jon von Behren, HKIS 1973 Beth Gore
Liz von Behren, HKIS 1971 Barbara Ho Mok
Harry Waddell Richard Hum
Barbara Waddell Gretchen Hum
Barbara Israel Warren
Neil Pollicino
Al Jimmerson

Debbie Jones Bodine

Neva Jones Timberman, HKIS 1971
David Landau

Mary Jane Patterson Landau, HKIS 1971

Jeff Loh
Mimi Loh
Christy McCaskill Wendell
Don McCaskill
David Miller
DmitryMiller
Guests Brenda Oliver Giberson
Dean Giberson
Sheryl Scarbrough Bomsta
Frank Vilt
Bob Christian, HKIS Founding Headmaster Michael Swaine

Joan Kaufmann Hilse, HKIS Math 1968-1971

Ron Roukema, HKIS Interim Head of School
Ashley Roukema
Class of 1970
Anne Magill Frauens

Hillary Sandeen, HKIS Alumni Relations




July 1, 2019

50th+ HKIS REUNION

Classes of 1968 & 1969

Seattle, Washington, USA
July 19-21, 2019

Friday, July 19, 2019 AGENDA

Check in at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel (HGI) 1821 Boren Avenue
Pick up your reunion WELCOME BAG at front desk
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 467-7770

5:45 pm Bus Tour of Downtown Seattle en route to Marina for Cruise Board from HGI Hotel
7:00 pm
Meet and Greet Reception – Argosy Celebrations Cruise Lake Union Home Dock
7:30 pm
10:30 pm Sunset Dinner Cruise on Lakes Union & Washington AGC Marina-Dock E

Pick up your reunion WELCOME BAG on the boat 1200 Westlake North

Seattle, WA 98109

(206) 623-1445

Boat departs dock for sunset cruise

Return to Hotel via charter bus

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Sleep in late and recover from Sleepless in Seattle jet lag and sunset cruising or relax
by the hotel pool or tour Seattle on your own … tourist info is in your WELCOME BAG

7-10:00 am Deluxe Continental Breakfast HGI-Cascades Room

5:00 pm Appetizers HGI-Cascades Room
Music from the 1960s John Strouss
Vintage Photo Show Steve Adcock

5:30 pm WELCOME Christy McCaskill Wendell
6:00 pm Group Photo Richard Hum
Reunion Dinner – Italian Buffet HGI-Cascades Room

A Blast from Leadership of the Past! Mindy Gooch Deaver, Harry Waddell
A Blast from Leadership of the Present! Barbara Israel Warren & Michael Swaine

Ron Roukema, Interim
HKIS Head of School

Headmaster Robert E. Christian Gift Presentation Michael Swaine

Remembrance of Deceased Classmates Pam Munn Anderson
Just for Fun – Classmate Recognition and Awards Sheryl Scarbrough Bomsta

Sharing of Memories Reunion Classmates

HKIS Then and Now – Five Decades of Dynamic Change Hillary Sandeen, HKIS

Alumni Office

Recognition of those who helped make this reunion possible Christy McCaskill Wendell

Farewell and Benediction Robert E. Christian

Sunday, July 21, 2019 HGI-Cascades Room
9:00 am Farewell Deluxe Continental Breakfast
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You may view this complete 1967 HKIS brochure
on our HKIS 1968 & 1969 Alumni Facebook page.



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In the Beginning . . .


In the early 1960s, a group of American businessmen who worshipped together foresaw the day

when an American-style school would be needed in Hong Kong.


With 21st century hindsight, we now see that Hong Kong in the latter half of the 20th century was
about to take off in an unprecedented three-decade spurt of economic and social growth that only

ended in the late 1990s. Not many living in the then-British colony would have predicted the

emergence of the Hong Kong we take for granted today.


This group of American businessmen and educators not only correctly anticipated the economic

growth, but also reasoned that in free-market Hong Kong, an entrepreneurial society if ever there
was one, there would be an influx of foreign business and investment to tap into the colony’s well-

known manufacturing ability.


More foreign businessmen meant more Americans. More Americans meant more American

families accompanying the executives, which in turn would increase the need for an American-
style educational system, from kindergarten through grade 12. Eventually, the weight of this

project fell on the shoulders of three men who took on the task of founding an American school in

Hong Kong:


• Joseph H. Mache, Jr., a Christian Lutheran businessman who was the Far East manager of
Rayonier, Inc. He saw the need for American-type education and grasped the vision of such

a school sponsored by the Lutheran Church.

• Reverend Lenard Glaster, a Lutheran missionary in Hong Kong who saw the need to
minister to the spiritual and educational needs of the growing number of American
business people and their families working in Hong Kong. He began English-language

Lutheran Church services in the Repulse Bay area, on the south side of Hong Kong Island.

The first service, which had 18 worshippers, was held on March 4, 1962 in the now long
gone, but then very elegant, Repulse Bay Hotel.

• Dr. Melvin Kieschnick, a Lutheran missionary serving as the Supervisor of the Lutheran
Schools in Hong Kong. He was also the Coordinator of Education for the Lutheran Church-

Missouri Synod (Hong Kong). The Lutheran schools in Hong Kong dated back to 1949 and
were well respected by the Hong Kong Government, which gave the new Hong Kong

International School project a definite advantage.


A businessman, a church leader and an educator – the perfect trifecta to battle through the

complex rules and regulations of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Hong Kong Government

and the financial world to raise funds, secure a site, draw physical plans, hire people and most
importantly, create a vision. It took them more than four years to see their goal become a reality.


The Hong Kong International School was a resounding success from day one, and continues to be

so because it has adapted its curricula and visions with the changing needs of society and the Hong

Kong setting, while keeping its timeless core mission and moral values.


According to Dr. Kieschnick, who was the point man for the project on all fronts until his
departure in 1965, “it was not just a new school, but a new model for a school in Hong Kong.”

HKIS was the first school in the colony permitted to teach a curriculum different from the

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prevailing local Hong Kong or British curricula, then being taught in Hong Kong’s English and
Chinese government-funded schools and subsidized private (mostly religious) schools. In the
1960s, there was no such thing as “an American education” in Hong Kong. It was a foreign idea.

In July 1964, a survey of 1,100 (mostly) Americans gleaned from lists of the Repulse Bay Lutheran
Church, American Club, American Woman’s Club, American Consulate General, American
missionaries listed in the Hong Kong Church Directory and selected names from the Hong Kong
Album was conducted. Twelve nationalities took part in the Repulse Bay Lutheran Church and
School Project, September 1964 survey, which showed a 22 percent return. Results indicated:

o the vast majority of respondents (225 vs. 8) were in favor of establishing an American
school;

o the majority of students would be in elementary school (178 out of 273);
o the majority of students would be from the American business community and 50 from the

Repulse Bay Lutheran Sunday School;
o approximately 100 new families would arrive in Hong Kong annually; and
o there was “verbal evidence” (anecdotal) that “a number of Chinese and other nationalities

not surveyed would be interested in enrolling.”

Dr. Kieschnick originally predicted the school would cater to only “500 students”. He figured two
classes of 20 students each for grades 1-12. In March 1965, the Board of Missions of the Synod
“gave its blessing to the project.” Just prior to this on February 25, 1965, the Hong Kong Education
Department approved a land grant of 43,000 square feet of land in Repulse Bay. HKIS officially
opened its permanent new facilities in Repulse Bay in 1967, with more than 600 students in
kindergarten through to grade 12 with funding as follows:
Contribution-Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod HK$1,456,875
Interest Free Loan- Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod HK$1,748,246
Contribution-American business firms HK$1,112,728
Interest Free Loan-Hong Kong Government HK$1,800,000
The initial cost for 26 classrooms, 5 special rooms, library, gym, offices, etc. was HK$5,382,908
with an additional HK$830,737 planned for completion of the school’s 7th floor during 1968-1969.

In March 1966, the Board of Missions extended a “call” to Robert E. (Bob) Christian, a Lutheran
teacher, principal and headmaster in the Our Savior Lutheran School in the Bronx, New York City
to serve as the first headmaster. He arrived in Hong Kong on August 8, 1966.

On September 19, 1966, HKIS (the provisional school) opened its doors. Principal Bob Christian
and seven teachers (one for each grade 1-6, plus a P.E. teacher) opened with 195 students.
Principal P.S. Remington, five teachers and 40 students in grades 7-11, along with a school
secretary, an office assistant, and a janitor completed the “provisional” school.

HKIS faced many challenges in the mid-1960s. Mao Zedong’s Great Proletarian Cultural
Revolution enveloped the People’s Republic of China and spilled over violently onto the streets of
Hong Kong and Macau. The devaluation of the U.S. dollar and a shortage of water (four hours of
water every fourth day because China cut off its water supply to Hong Kong), U.S. trade with China
was banned at this time, the U.S. was fighting China’s ally in Vietnam, etc. resulted in a strained
Hong Kong colony. Sensitivity to things American was pervasive…the final name choice for the
school was the “Kong Kong International School. A tagline used in brochures to publicize the

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school added “education in the American tradition,” but references to American were dropped in
1972.

Despite local political tensions, many challenges and construction delays, the Hong Kong
International School opened its doors on September 14, 1967 to 630 students, kindergarten
through grade 12, representing 20 nationalities. 80% of the students were American, 140
students had parents who were members of the American Consulate General or employees of
other U.S. Government agencies, Dow Chemical had 50 children, Pan Am 35, IBM 21 and
Caterpillar 20 with 90 students being ethnic Chinese. Eleven percent of the students were
Lutheran, 22% Roman Catholic, 14% Episcopalian, 38% ‘other Protestants’, 3% Jewish, and the
remaining 12% were other non-Christians or indicated no preference. HKIS sought to offer a
challenging academic experience through which each student could develop intellect and
imagination, independence and responsibility, and an identity, which combined faith and coherent
values.

In 1997 six guiding principles evolved from the HKIS Strategic Planning Process and are today
known as the HKIS Student Learning Results:


• Academic Excellence: Students will achieve their intellectual potential by striving for and
attaining the highest standards of academic excellence.

• Self-Motivated Learning: Students willingly apply a variety of learning and motivation
strategies throughout their learning process.

• Character Development: Students will demonstrate respectful and caring attitudes at
school and in the community, as well as the courage to stand up for what is right.

• Chinese Culture: Students will gain an understanding of China and an appreciation for the
Chinese culture.

• Spirituality: Students will understand and respect Christianity and other religions and
will identify and develop their own spirituality identity.

• Contributing to Society: Students will develop the skills they need to form genuine
relationships in our diverse society and to make contributions to our community.





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Five Decades Later . . .


Today Hong Kong International School is a leading private co-educational college preparatory
school for students from Reception One (pre-kindergarten) to grade 12, providing an American-
style education grounded in the Christian faith. They are committed to delivering exceptional
teaching, and continually evolve programs and facilities to enhance the student experience. HKIS
is an East Asia Regional Council of Schools member and is fully accredited by the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges. Over 25 Advanced Placement subjects are available to High
School students. HKIS courses challenge and inspire students to be lifelong learners and global
citizens. Graduates attend the top universities around the world, with close to 85% attending
American institutions. In 2019 HKIS offers a warm and inclusive learning environment for over
2,600 students of 40 nationalities and diverse religious backgrounds with 169 faculty members
(2/3 with advanced degrees) representing 21 nationalities. Over 183 after-school activities are
also offered at HKIS.

I think we’d all agree that the adage “from humble beginnings come great things” is certainly true
for HKIS. In the beginning … there were 28 senior graduates with 56 juniors waiting in the
graduation wings. Last month 178 students graduated from HKIS and began the journey we trail
blazed over fifty years ago. We did more than graduate FIRST … the first HKIS National Honor
Society, the first school play, “Our Town,” the first school musicals, the first Model United Nations,
the first Mandarin and Cantonese classes, the first Crusaders holiday basketball tournament, the
first swim and track & field teams, the first cheerleaders, the first overseas sports meet, the first
Mother’s Club, the first Orientale yearbook, the first school newspaper-JUNTO, the first handbook,
the first HKIS community service programs … are just some of our FIRSTS which continue at HKIS
today. What a genuine legacy with more than 6,700 HKIS graduates following in our footsteps …
truly epic achievements start with humble steps. Thank you Hong Kong International School!


Hong Kong International School 1967

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1967

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13 SOUTH CHINA SUNDAY POST-HERALD, January 7, 1968
L-R: Tay Bosley, David Christian, Sue Gelbard,
Barbara Israel, Brenda Dingler, Sharon Carte,
Anne Boehmke, Dennis Minich & Gregg Grimsley

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The decade of the 1960s reminds me in many ways of Charles Dickens’ quote in A Tale of
Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it
was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was
the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the
winter of despair.” Hong Kong in the sixties was a fascinating mixture of old China with the
new West. It certainly was the coming of age for HKIS Classes of 1968 and 1969!

The sixties began in the U.S. with the first televised presidential debate (broadcast on all

three, albeit the only three, networks) which ushered in a new era of political campaigning

and the election of the first president born in the 20th century resulted --

John F. Kennedy. For many Americans, the young president represented a spirit of

hope for the nation. When Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, some felt that their

hopes died, too. This was especially true

of young people, and members and

supporters of minority groups. Certainly a

time of innocence and hope soon began to

look like a time of frustration and

violence. Many Americans protested

to demand an end to the unfair treatment

of black citizens. Many more protested to

demand an end to the war in Vietnam. And many protested to

demand full equality for women. By mid-1960s, it had become

almost impossible for President Lyndon Johnson to leave the White

House without facing protesters against the Vietnam War. In March

of 1968, Johnson announced that he would not seek another term in office.

In addition to President Kennedy, two other influential Americans were killed

during the 1960s. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot in

Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. Several weeks later, Robert Kennedy --

John Kennedy's brother -- was shot in Los Angeles, California while

campaigning to win his party's nomination for president. The two murders

resulted in riots across the U.S. The unrest and violence impacted many

young Americans with lasting effects. By the mid 1950s, most of their

parents had jobs that paid well. They expressed satisfaction with their lives

and taught their children what were referred to as middle class values,

including a belief in God, hard work and service to their country. Later,

many young Americans began to question these beliefs. They felt that their

parents' values were not enough to help them deal with the social and racial

challenges of the sixties. They rebelled by letting their hair grow long and by

wearing “hippie and flower-power” clothing. Their dissatisfaction was strongly

expressed in music. Rock and roll music had become very popular in America in

the 1950s even though some people did not approve of it. Those people disliked

the rock and roll of the 1960s even more.

Singer and songwriter, Bob Dylan produced many songs of social protest. He
wrote anti-war songs (e.g. Blowin’ in the Wind) before the war in Vietnam became
a prominent issue in the United States. The most popular music group, however,
was not American. It was British -- the Beatles -- four rock and roll musicians from
Liverpool.

Make love, not war. Don't trust anyone over 30. Turn on, tune in, and drop out. I
am a human being — please do not fold, bend spindle, or mutilate. These and many more became slogans for
emerging youth culture — a counterculture — in the 1960s. The baby boom was entering its teen years, and in
sheer numbers they represented a larger force than any prior generation in the history of the United States. As
more and more children of middle-class Americans entered college, many rejected the suburban conformity
designed by their parents.

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The Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco gave rise to many of the popular

rock groups of the era, including Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. This

poster advertises a concert held at the Fillmore Auditorium, a popular San Francisco

venue for psychedelic bands. The so-called “hippie” lifestyle became synonymous

with American youth of the 1960s. Displaying frank new attitudes about drugs and

sex, communal lifestyles, and innovations in food, fashion, and music, the

counterculture youth of America broke profoundly with almost all values their

parents held dear. The sexual revolution was in full swing on American college

campuses. The first drug developed for social rather than a medical

purpose, the contraceptive pill, was introduced in 1960 and by 1965 over five

million American women were on the Pill. Birth control and a rejection of traditional

views of sexuality led to a more casual attitude toward sex. Displays of public

nudity became commonplace. Living together outside marriage shattered old

norms. In addition to changes in sexual attitudes, many youths experimented with

drugs. Marijuana and LSD were used most commonly, but experimentation with

mushrooms and pills was also popular. A Harvard professor named Timothy Leary made headlines by openly

promoting the use of LSD and encouraging people of the 1960s to "Turn On, Tune In, and Drop Out" through the

use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD. There was a price to be paid for these new attitudes. With the new freedom

came an upsurge of venereal diseases, bad trips, and drug addictions. Like the Utopian Societies of the 1840s,

over 2000 rural communes formed during these turbulent times. Completely rejecting the capitalist system, many

communes rotated duties, made their own laws, and elected their own leaders. Some were philosophically based,

but others were influenced by new religions. Earth-centered religions, astrological beliefs, and Eastern faiths

proliferated across American campuses. Some scholars labeled this trend as the Third Great Awakening. Most

communes, however, faced fates similar to their 19th century forebears. A charismatic leader would leave or the

funds would become exhausted, and the commune would gradually dissolve.

One lasting change from the countercultural movement was in the American diet. Health
food stores sold wheat germ, yogurt, and granola, products completely foreign to 1950s
America. Vegetarianism became popular among many youths. Changes in fashion proved more
fleeting. Long hair on young men was standard, as were Afros. Women often wore flowers in
their hair. Ethnic or peasant clothing was celebrated…beads, bellbottom jeans, and tie-dyed
shirts became the rage, as each person tried to celebrate his or her own sense of individuality.
The common bond among many youths of the time was music. Centered in the Haight-
Ashbury section of San Francisco, a new wave of psychedelic rock and roll became the music of
choice. Bands like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and the Doors created new sounds with
electrically enhanced guitars, subversive lyrics, and association with drugs. By contrast, Medicare
for seniors was also established by Congress in 1965.

Dr. Timothy Leary — seen here with John Lennon and Yoko recording
Give Peace a Chance in 1969.

Folk music was fused with rock, embodied by the best-known solo artist
of the decade, Bob Dylan. When the popular Beatles went psychedelic
with their landmark album Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
counterculture music became mainstream.

It is important to note that the counterculture was probably no more
than ten percent of the American youth population. Contrary to
common belief, most young Americans sought careers and lifestyles
similar to their parents. Many young educated people actually supported the war in Vietnam in greater numbers
than older, less-educated Americans. The counterculture was simply so outrageous that the media made their
numbers seem larger than in reality. Nevertheless, this lifestyle made an indelible cultural impact on America for
decades to come.

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The Beatles' song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" went on sale in the United
States at the end of 1963 and within five weeks, it was the biggest-selling

record in the country. In the sixties, "do your own
thing" became a common expression. It meant to
do whatever you wanted, without feeling guilty.
Folk singer, Joan Baez, sang her songs during
“The Summer of Love” in San Francisco during
1967. Five hundred thousand young Americans
did their own thing at the Woodstock music
festival in 1969. They gathered at a farm in New
York state and listened to musicians such as Jimi
Hendrix and Joan Baez, and to groups like The
Who and Jefferson Airplane. Woodstock became
a symbol of the young peoples' rebellion against
traditional values. Many young people called
themselves hippies. And believed there should be more love and personal freedom
in America. The first issue of Rolling Stone magazine debuted in 1967.

Although as many Americans were listening to songs about drugs and sex, many others were watching
television programs with traditional family values. These included The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly
Hillbillies, Leave It to Beaver, etc. Star Trek debuted in 1966 and 40 million TV viewers watched the first Super
Bowl in 1967 where the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. Sesame Street was also first
broadcast in 1969.



At the movies, some films captured the rebellious spirit of the times, e.g. The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde,
Planet of the Apes, Easy Rider, Cool Hand Luke, Doctor Strangelove, etc.



Others offered escape through spy adventures, like the James Bond films.

Many Americans refused to tune in and drop out in the nineteen-sixties. They
took no part in the social revolution. Instead, they continued leading normal
lives of work, family, and home. Others, the activists of American society, were
busy fighting for peace, and racial and social justice.

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Women's groups, for example, were seeking equality with men.
They wanted the same chances as men to get a good education

and a good job. They also demanded equal pay for equal work. A

widely popular book on women in modern America was called “The
Feminine Mystique.” It was written by Betty Friedan and published
in 1963. The idea known as the feminine mystique was the
traditional idea that women have only one part to play in society.
They are to have children and stay at home to raise them. In her
book, Ms. Friedan urged women to establish professional lives and
identities of their own.

In the early 1960s, a committee was appointed to investigate the condition of women. It was led by the former first

lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. The committee's findings helped lead to new rules and laws. The 1964 Civil Rights Act

guaranteed equal treatment for all groups. This included women. After the law went into

effect, however, many activists said it was not being enforced. The National Organization

for Women -- NOW -- was started in an effort to correct the issue. The cause for women's

equality was known as the women's liberation movement. Activists were called "women

libbers." They called each other "sisters." Early activists were usually wealthy, liberal white

women. Later activists included women of all ages, women of color, rich and poor,

educated and uneducated. They acted together to win recognition for the work done by all

women in America. Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968.

Although the USSR appeared to be ahead in the space race in the 50's and 60's the ultimate prize went to the
United States in 1969 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were landed on the moon and returned safely back to
earth. Many remember the immortal words "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Lots of technology advances were made in the 60s. To name just a few: the first computer mouse was designed in
1964, on October 29, 1969 at 10:30pm the first E-mail message was sent from a host computer at UCLA to
Stanford,Texas Instruments introduced the first portable calculator in 1967, the first CD was made in 1965, and
microprocessors were invented opening the way for the computer revolution.

US$100 in 1969 was equivalent to US$863.34 in 2019…an average U.S. three bedroom new home cost
$15,500…average income was $8,540…a gallon of gas cost 35¢ and an average new car in the U.S. cost $3,270.

The 1960s in Hong Kong continued the development and
expansion of manufacturing that began in the previous decade. The
economic progress made in this period would categorize Hong
Kong as one of Four Asian Tigers along with Singapore, South
Korea, and Taiwan.
Economically, this era was considered a major stepping stone for
Hong Kong and was a turning point for Hong Kong's economy. The
per capita GDP was still relatively low in 1960. It was approximately
the same as Peru, South Africa and Greece in the same decade.
By comparison, Argentina had two times and Venezuela had three
times the GDP of Hong Kong. The living standard was rising
steadily, but low wages continued. The number of registered
factories increased from 3,000 in 1950s to 10,000 in 1960s. Registered foreign companies increased from 300 to
500. There were demands for labor in every sector of the economy. Politically, however, 60s era is marked by the
political chaos in mainland China.

Hong Kong's population in the 1960s was estimated at 3 million. Half of the population was
under the age of 25 and the group became Hong Kong's baby boom generation. The surge of
refugees continued to come in from China. The past generations of Chinese families were
deeply rooted in family affairs. The long hours in the factories would break apart that traditional
structure when most people spent far more time working in factories than at home. But people
lived under a strong willingness to bear sufferings. This was slightly compensated by their
close relationship within the community, and cheerful comradery in their spare times. Work
places mainly served as educational hubs or the "second home". Women also joined the work
force in larger numbers, becoming working daughters or working mothers.

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The government pursued an ambitious public education program, creating over 300,000 new primary
school facilities between 1954 and 1961. By 1966, 99.8% of school-age children were attending primary school,
though the primary schools were not free. The need for HKIS was obvious and plans were underway.

The 1960s cinema films were still rooted in Chinese tradition, though Hong
Kong would have one of their own first pop culture teen idols, Connie Chan Po-
chu. The arrival of broadcast television would become the first format created in
Hong Kong to be marketed toward the people of Hong
Kong directly. TVB station was founded in 1967 and produced the first free-
over-the-air broadcast.

The first disturbance in the 1960s was
the Hong Kong 1966 riots over the rising
fares of the Star Ferry. A petition was created with 20,000 signatures in protest
against any increases in transportation costs. The result led to the arrest of
1,800 people, but the end came swiftly, and fares increased.

Other riots include the Hong Kong 1967 riots which began when
internal conflict within the Communist party in China resulted in
the Cultural Revolution. Pro-communist leftists in Hong Kong
challenged British rule. Demonstrations were held, the red
guards marched in Hong Kong carrying Quotations from
Chairman Mao Zedong in their left hands while shouting
communist slogans. The People's Daily in Beijing ran editorials
supporting the leftist struggle. Rumors spread that China was
preparing to take over the colony. Political tension soared. The
riots only came to an end in December 1967 when Chinese
Premier Zhou Enlai ordered the leftist groups in Hong Kong to
stop. After the riot, the government made an effort to clean up
any existing communist networks. These riots may well be the most defining episodes for Hong Kong in the 60s.
The sheer number of people who flooded into the city had strained the social
systems – housing and education in particular – while, at the same time, light
industry thrived and bred economic prosperity, lining the pockets of the rich, fuelling
corruption in the government and the police force. The poor lost out and they reacted
with violence. The 1967 riots lasted half a year from May-December 1967, killed 51,
injured more than 800 people, and resulted in thousands of arrests. It was a defining
episode of the decade – and was forever etched in the memory of those who
witnessed the bloody events. But the blood wasn’t shed for a lost cause. As a result
of the riots, improvements were made, especially in education, and the way was paved for the establishment of the
Independent Commission Against Corruption (1974). The civil unrest instilled a sense of community and belonging
in the multicultural society of Hongkongers, Mainland refugees, their first-generation children and foreigners.

From December 6-15, 1969, the first Hong Kong Festival was launched after seven months of preparation
with HK$4 million of funding. It originated following the 1967 riots in hopes that people would redirect their energy
toward better causes instead of communist riots. The number of participants reached more than 500,000, including
foreign tourists. A week-long celebration of parades and carnivals, demonstrating a ‘community which is at one’,
putting local culture in the spotlight.

The construction business in Hong Kong also continued to increase along with the
demand of highways, buildings, tunnels, and reservoirs. In 1962, the director of public
works questioned where next to proceed after the development of Kwai
Chung and Tsuen Wan. The construction expansion went west to Tuen Mun and north
to Sha Tin. The first post-World War II documentation to provide detailed information
about the territory came about during 1969 in a guide titled the "Colony Outline Plan". It
was the first paperwork to outline strategies to house a million people with low-cost public
housing, along with defining tight regulations and guidelines on how to construct among
the high density population.

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While many companies were beginning to diversify the products manufactured, the success
of the Hong Kong colony essentially rested on the textile industry. An estimated 625,000
residents were supported directly or indirectly by this one industry which ran in three shifts
around the clock. It was from this point that the cheap low-grade products became high-
quality products with the "Made in Hong Kong" label. By 1968, factories employing less than
100 workers accounted for 42 percent of Hong Kong's domestic exports to the UK,
amounting to HK$1.2 billion. Manufacturing and industry in Hong Kong was diversifying into
clothing, electronics and plastics … clearly Hong Kong was no longer a fishing village.

From 1960 to 1965, the executive council tried to revamp the medical system to provide some form of low cost
health care directly or indirectly to large sections of the population. Staff at the medical and health departments
outlined proposals to estimate demands for the next 15 years. The Hong Kong Flu of 1968 would infect 15% of the
population and strained local health resources.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. made Hong Kong a frequent
stop for R&R (rest & relaxation) of troops in the Asian region. It
was considered one of the neutral zones not affected by the
communists despite all the political riots taking place.

In 1963 and 1967, serious droughts affected Hong Kong. Water

supplies were unable to support the needs of the rapid population growth. The government introduced a water

restriction policy. There were periods when water supply was restricted to 4 hours every 4 days

and people had to save enough water for 4 days of usage. Water shortages, however, were mainly

created by the politics. The main source of water in Hong Kong was China. A contract was signed in

1964 when Hong Kong purchased 15,000 gallons of water a day drawn from China's East

river. When political turmoil came to Hong Kong, China turned off the supply periodically and caused

water shortages. Rationing was then imposed by the local government.

The 1960s was a decade where the world changed, including Hong Kong … man landed on the moon,
Beatlemania transformed music, there were race riots, assassinations, wars and Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.
Fashions changed radically, a new era of art and culture dawned and people across the globe became more
sexually and, in some places, politically liberated. Many believe 1960s was one of the most important decades in
world history – which paved the way for Hong Kong to emerge as the high-rise, economic powerhouse, and
financial hub of today.

Wind the clock back 50 years and you’d be met with a Hong Kong in the midst of change. Low-level colonial
buildings surrounding Central’s Statue Square were being razed to the ground only to be replaced – at lightning

speed – by super-structures, which towered far over their predecessors. The new
Prince’s Building, the Mandarin Oriental and City Hall had just opened up.
Rickshaws were still in use and cost a mere 50 cents for a coolie to wheel you from
the Peninsula Hotel to the Star Ferry Pier – which was the only means of getting
across the water in the pre-harbor tunnel days. Unlike today, there were few
educated investment bankers, saleswomen and teachers. Instead, there were
workers with limited skills – young men sewing jeans in a factory in Kwun Tong
seven days a week and stay-at-home mums assembling plastic flowers at home
while caring for children. But, as the decade moved on, they were joined by refugees from Mainland China who
scrambled to make ends meet in ramshackle squatter homes which had been haplessly built on government land.

That was Hong Kong in the 60s. A pretty incredible place to be, any way you look at it … a unique blend of East
and West. Whether you were a businessman from the U.S., England or elsewhere, a student with an expat family,
a refugee from the Mainland or a hard-working local, you were in the center of a city in the flux of fast-paced
change. As HKIS students of the late 60s, we lived in a decade when the economy prospered, fueled by “light and
cottage” industries and we saw the city quickly transformed from a colonial harbor into a financial giant over a time
period of a few years. There was also an incredible population boom (growth of just under a million people …
infrastructure, housing, schools, etc. were in short supply. The times were definitely a-changing!

In 1969 HK$100=US$17.50 (5.714 exchange rate) … in 2019 HK$100=US$12.74 (7.848 exchange rate).

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But life in the 60s in Hong Kong didn’t stop there…it seemed there was always
something happening. When our HKIS classmates were asked for some of
their favorite Hong Kong memories, this wonderful list ensued … it was truly
an iconic time to reside in Hong Kong.

Rickshaws…trams…double decker buses…walla-walla water taxis…junks…
cheongsam dresses…tailor made clothes with custom shoes and purses… jade
jewelry…ivory…snuff bottles...foo dogs…rosewood furniture… bamboo
scaffolding…calligraphy…silk & linen embroidery…beaded fashion…tailored
suits & custom shirts…crowded alleyways…fish markets…Kai Tak landings…
passports & visas…typhoid & cholera shots…dragon boat races…grass tennis
courts…Shek-O & Repulse Bay beaches…Aberdeen…fortune tellers…amahs
…fragrant harbor…clubs & nightlife…street vendors…firecrackers & festivals…
minis & bellbottoms…Rock bands & Pop concerts…Tai Pak floating restaurant
…Jimmy's Kitchen…moon cakes & egg tarts…shark fin & snake soups…bok
choy… Peking duck…wontons…dim sum…rickshaw noodles… fish eyes &
chicken feet…rice…chopsticks...the clattering tiles of mahjong parlors...drought
followed by drenching typhoons…humidity…the Hilton, Peninsula, Mandarin, and Repulse Bay Hotels…Lane
Crawford, Wing On, Daimaru…salt air…movie sub-titles…pomp and circumstance wrapped in the underlying
colonial anxiety over the possibility of communist China reclaiming an island territory previously owned…Long
Live Our Noble Queen…alley shopping…Ladder Street…Happy Valley…Cat Street...Thieves Alley…tram to The
Peak…high tea at the Peninsula…gold shops for miles…pearls… jade…smoking in the theaters…after watching
the movie Bonnie & Clyde, I went to a tailor shop and had the tailor make me a suit just like the one Clyde wore
in the movie. About half inch vertical stripes of grey and white running down both the suit coat and the pants.
When I walked in the door at home wearing the suit, both my mother and father burst out laughing because they
thought I looked so ridiculous…I can still repeat (in Chinese) the speech they made every time the Star Ferry left
the dock…I had a Bonnie (of Bonnie & Clyde fame) beret…The American Club in St. George’s building…the
Governor’s Mansion…onion skin blue aerograms…cricket & rugby…Cotillion!...walking around Victoria in the
humid nighttime air…San Miguel, Carlsberg, the Mocambo and Neptune Bars…Six-Fingers, the pak-pai driver
…the Hong Kong trails…Fanling Golf Club…Man Mo Temple…bootleg recording shops…the China Mail…good
times at the Go-Down and Diamond Horseshoe, The Den, The Eagle’s Nest, The Scene…local pop radio
stations that took requests every week from Cinderella Pan and Romeo Chan!...roasted chestnuts…Botanical
Gardens…Big Wave Bay…Kai Tak Airport…Sincere Department Store… the Hilton snack bar, the Lido jukebox
at Repulse Bay and, of course, the Wanchai bars!...I loved Tiger Balm Gardens—a little worse for wear, but still
there and fascinating in the late 60s…eating salted cuttlefish…fish & chips in newspaper brought inside movie
theaters…the Mandarin Hotel bar with the high-slit dresses on the bartendresses…Suzie Wong…playing the
Kinks on the Lido jukebox at Repulse…the thrill and sleaze of the Wanchai bars…the whole run of Nathan Road
all the way to upper Nathan Road where we lived in Yau Yat Chen, our daily commute to HKIS via cab or bus,
ferry, and school bus of 1 hour and 45 minutes each way...shopping at Shui HIng…Blue Heaven Restaurant and
the dim sum ladies carrying the big trays with straps…Rick Hum’s apartment balcony view of the harbor, Wimpy
Hamburgers…Fung Lam…Top Gear in Wanchai…spiffy shorts worn by traffic police…sandals with socks…
Green Spot…paisley shirts with white collars and cuffs…bottle rockets (until outlawed after the ’67 disturbances)
…mention of the disturbances made me remember riding with (I think it was) Peter Swaine in his little convertible
when he inadvertently blew past a police barricade. A hundred yards later we were confronted by a second
barricade, although this time all the police had their rifles directly pointed at us. The English police officer was
nice enough about it, but told us we were almost shot. Didn’t know if that was true, but we certainly didn’t want to
test it again!...mom and I were on a double decker streetcar when a small bomb went off behind us near the
track—SCARY!...Quotations from Chairman Mike…luminescent jelly bugs when swimming in the dark…barking
deer…cholera shots on request at the Star Ferry landing…Cultural Revolution victim bodies floating down the
river from the mainland…flattening coins by placing them on tram tracks…notorious Chungking Mansions…the
gore of Central Market…watching tai chi every morning while waiting on the school bus…the Red Chinese
department stores with red rugs leading to huge portraits of Chairman Mao (it was so kitsch!)…being able to
explore in relative safety………………………..…may the reminiscing continue at our 50th+ HKIS Class Reunion!

As Margie Hornbostel Still said, “We all knew each other for a sliver of time when we were at HKIS. We just landed
in the same spot and were together. It was a pure and wonderful experience for me to know all of you just as you
were at that moment in time.” We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun!

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Cartoons by Zabo as featured in the South China Morning Post – Sunday edition.

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The HKIS high school academic handbook for
2019-20 is 172 digital pages and may be
viewed on our HKIS 1968 & 1968 Alumni
Facebook page.

By contrast, the first HKIS handbook was
written in 1968 by Student Council President,
Michael Swaine, and 61 pages covered the
entire school grades K-12.

Chairman Mike’s 3”x5” little red handbook (also
available on our Alumni Facebook page) was a
parody of the little red book “Quotations from
Chairman Mao Tse-Tung” which was popular at
the time in Hong Kong and China.


ACAACDAEDMEMICICHHAANNDDBBOOKK 22001199-2-200






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HKIS School Newspaper – JUNTO Vol. 2, No. 10

June 13, 1969







Mike Swaine, President of Junior Class,
presents Christy McCaskill with her class
ring at the HKIS Junior/Senior Prom in 1968

Since Mrs. Dorothy Mache (HwKasISoCulrasAsrtotfe1a9c 6h8e)r,, I Sample of current HKIS senior class ring
asked her son, Eric Mache if

he remembered whether his mother had designed
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the first HKIS senior class rings. His response was:

“I remember sketches my mother made for the ring

designs and it would make sense that she was in

charge of them. She also had her own jewelers that

she worked with over the years who would have

manufactured them.”

Dragon Math

1968/69 2019

Number of Students 630 2825
Number in Senior Class 28/56 178
Number of HS Teachers/Staff 37 83
Number of Band Members 24 125
Number of Cheerleaders 8 0 since ‘96
Number of HS Counselors 1 8
Number of HS Varsity Sports 4 15
School Yearbook Orientale Orientale
School Newspaper Junto Junto
Cost of High School Rings US$35 US$300
HKIS Tuition US$610 US$30,300
Avg. Faculty Salary US$10,000 US$85,000

1967 HKIS Tuition Statement

Student: Steve Adcock

Date: 9-5-67

Grade: 11

Tuition for the period
9-11-67 to 1-31-68 HK$1750

Books HK$ 150

Education Activity Fee HK$ 150

Student Accident Insur HK$ 25

TOTAL DUE HK$2075

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JUNTO Vol. 2, No. 1
September 12, 1968 (pages 2 & 4)



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JUNTO
Vol. 2, No. 1
September 12, 1968
(pages 2 & 3)



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JUNTO
Vol. 2, No. 5
January 30, 1969

We are fortunate to have had several
classmates with photography
hobbies.

Members of the original 1968 HKIS
photography club (pictured below)
were:
(front row): Rick Hum,
(2) Eric Mache, Becky Raborn,
(3) Julie Newport, Benjamin Wu,
Ken Szeto, (4) Chris Richards,
Dave Landau, Roy Leung,
David Vaughn, (back row):
Tay Bosley, Glenny Hadinoto,
Janet Terwilliger, Peter Swaine
and Cheryl Mushett.

In particular, Rick Hum, Tay Bosley,
Eric Mache and Ed Chen were never
seen around school without their
cameras!

Thank you for capturing special
moments of our youth and the early
history of HKIS. And special thanks
to Rick Hum for volunteering to be
our reunion’s official photographer!

Rick Hum recently commented he
appreciated this JUNTO article since
he could “show his grandchildren that
he once had hair!!”





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