WHO IS KWOK MOK HOI 郭木開?

Based on the research by the Our Heritage & Archive Group so far, he was one of the most outstanding Ying Wa boys of his time.

During his years in Ying Wa, he was a very active member in the school – not only that he was a key member of the scout troop, received the Hong Kong Governor’s letter of commendation in 1926 for rendering first aid to injured persons on two occasions, he was also a member of Ying Wa’s winning basketball team in the Hong Kong basketball open league in 1926 and 1927.

After graduation from Ying Wa, he joined the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)(皇家香港義勇軍團), participated in the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941, and upon surrender on 26 December 1941, escaped from Hong Kong to continue the Allied’s campaign against Japanese invasion, eventually arrived at Kunming and served as a war interpreter for the US airforce. He continued to serve at the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) for many years after the war.

As a keen sportsman, he devoted his career in the development of sports in Hong Kong – in 1936, he became the head of YMCA sports department, and after the war in 1955, he was appointed as the head of the Elizabeth Stadium – one of the few key indoor sports venues in those days, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1966.

As a Ying Wa alumni, for many years, he was remembered as “the man with a gun” in many of the annual Ying Wa Athletic Meets, officiating track events by firing his riffle. From 1956 till late 1960s, he acted as the secretary of YWC Old Boys Association.

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