Formation 1881 Region Hong Kong Website www.standrewshk.org | Type Gentlemen's club Chieftain Stewart Saunders | |
The St. Andrew's Society of Hong Kong is an elite Scottish club in Hong Kong established in 1881.
History
In the early 19th century, Canton was the centre of China's foreign trade and the base of the foreign trading community. Several St. Andrew's Dinners, celebration of the St. Andrew's Day, were held during the 1830s in Canton. Being closely associated with the Jardine, Matheson & Co. which was established by the Scotsmen, the Scottish community were strong in Canton as well as Hong Kong, where the Jardine Matheson & Co. set up their headquarters and established their offices and accommodation at East Point after it was occupied by Britain in 1841.
The St Andrew’s Dinners were held at East Point from the 1850s until it was moved to the Hong Kong Club in Central, at that time located at the corner of Queen’s Road Central and Wyndham Street.
The St Andrew’s Dinners were turned into an Annual Ball from 1877. Before 1881, the Ball was held by an ad-hoc committee. In 1882, when the St Andrew's Society was established, Society has been responsible for the St. Andrews's Ball and later the Burns Night.