A home away from home : social value of Kowloon Cricket Club and its significance for the Indian community in Hong Kong

Abstract

Social value has been defined as the collective attachment to places that embody meanings important to a community. Value for a place is assigned by people who relate to it or, for whom it matters in their shared experience. Social value can also be understood as communal value, which addresses the value given by a community to places they identify with.

Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) has served as a sports and social hub to its community since 1904. The Club complex sits on a prime location in King’s Park, encompassing a luscious green cricket field. KCC’s main building was confirmed as a Grade 2 historic structure by the AMO in 2009. However, the heritage values of this institution lie in its extraordinary social spirit. KCC is a multicultural and family oriented club that has a reputation for being the most friendly and hospitable club in Hong Kong. It is a culturally rich entity endowed with heritage values. Although all its tangible attributes contribute to the identity of the place, its social value stands to be the most significant.

Multi-ethnicity is an integral overriding factor that governs the social character of KCC. The Club recognises a number of ethnic groups of Hong Kong within its 2000 members and subscribers. The major ethnic groups are considered to be the Chinese, Indians and Caucasians who contribute and participate in all the activities of the Club. KCC has become a way of life for its members, and going to the Club is now part of their culture. The Indian community is a component of KCC’s wider community and forms a noteworthy share in the membership. Indians have made notable contributions to the well-being and prosperity of Hong Kong. The characteristic lifestyle of the Indian community resonates with the culture of KCC. Based on different variables, the social value of KCC can be further examined to understand the association of the Indian community to this institution.

Although the built structure of KCC has been extensively remodelled, this research attempts to extract those stories and memories that have embedded themselves in the place and are integral to the spirit of the place. A legacy of memories has been created in this very place and even through physical transformations, there are fragments of association that eventually tie the entire built form together with a common social spirit.