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Many Jesuit Provinces had missions in China before 1926 when the Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong, Fr Henry Valtorta (1883-1953), invited the Irish Jesuits to his vicariate. In October 1926, Frs George Byrne (1879-1962) and John Neary (1889-1983) left Dublin for Hong Kong, which became a Mission for the Irish Province. They were joined, in early 1927, by Fr Daniel Finn (1886-1936) from Australia and later by Frs Richard Gallagher (1887-1960), Patrick Joy (1892-1970) and Daniel MacDonald (1891-1957).

The initial work of the mission concentrated in Hong Kong, with some teaching in Canton and Macao. Their works involved: reviving the Catholic journal, ‘The Rock’; the opening of a hostel (Ricci Hall) for Chinese Catholic students at the University of Hong Kong (1929-); their involvement in the Regional Seminary, Aberdeen, Hong Kong (1931-1964), Wah Yan College, Hong Kong (1932-) and Wah Yan College, Kowloon (1952-). Some lecturing occurred in the university, in areas such as archaeology, education, engineering, and geography. In Canton, Frs Michael Saul (1884-1932) and Joseph McCullough (1892-1932) died from cholera. Hong Kong was under Japanese occupation 1941 - 1945. The Irish Jesuits organised a school for refugees from Hong Kong in Macao and the Regional Seminary was also moved to Macao. Wah Yan College was closed in 1941 and reopened in 1945. Fr Thomas Ryan’s account “Jesuits under Fire in the siege of Hong Kong 1941” deals fully with this time.

After World War Two, the Irish Jesuits established a language school, student centre and parish in Canton. They were expelled by the Communists in [1953]. Wah Yan College grew and developed and further works included the foundation of a university hostel at Kingsmead Hall, Singapore and at Xavier Hall, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Other works of note that Irish Jesuits had a hand in establishing and running in Hong Kong include: the Hong Kong Housing Society (1938); Wah Yan Relief Association (1938); Shoeshine Boys Club (1952-1962); the Credit Union Movement (1962); Rehabilitation Centre for the Handicapped (1962); Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (1963); Road Safety Association for Schools (1964); Industrial Relations Institute (1968); Chinese Opera in English (1960s); Fisherman’s Children School (1960s) and Welfare for Police in the Training School. In 1966, Hong Kong became a Jesuit Vice-Province and in 1985, the Province of Macau-Hong Kong was established. Today, Hong Kong is a unit within the Chinese Jesuit Province.

Over a hundred Irish Jesuits have served in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Singapore - 30 of whom are buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Hong Kong and two in mainland China.

Text of a MS by Fr Harold Naylor SJ on the Jesuits in Hong Kong 1926-2000. Includes a floppy disc containing the text.

Cassette tape of reminiscences of Fr Albert Cooney SJ concerning the attack on Singapore and surrender, the Japanese attack on Hong Kong, life under the Japanese, journey to China and life in a Chinese village, journey to Hanoi, North Vietnam, recall to Macau and the Jesuit school in Macau (1943 - 1945).

A file relating to the death of Fr Paul Jenkins SJ (British Province). Includes an obituary and details of a mass held for him at Milltown Park.

A file relating to the Regional Seminary, Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Includes documents relating to the establishment of the Regional Seminary, finances, annual report detailing the opening of the Seminary in 1931 (24 January 1933, 6pp). Includes letters relating to the Terna for the Rector of the Seminary (12 - 15 April 1937, 5 items and 30 June 1937 - 2 July 1937, 7 items).

Plan of a building belonging to the Jesuit mission in Hong Kong.

Photocopy map depicting eastern China (newspaper cutting).

Notes by [ ] on the invitation of the Bishop of Singapore to open a University hostel in Singapore and notes on Irish Jesuits working in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Letter from Fr Eddie Bourke SJ, Xavier Retreat House, 27 Cheung Chau, Hong Kong to Fr Joe [ ] SJ concerning news from Hong Kong. Remarks that Fr Joy has been unwell. Refers to MacGreedy who wishes to join the Irish Province but will need to obtain a release from the RAF.

A file of letters sent by the house consultors and Rector and Vice-Rector of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and Wah Yan College, Kowloon, to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file of letters sent by the house consultors, Rector and Vice-Rector of Ricci Hall, Hong Kong to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file of letters sent by the consultors of the Hong Kong mission to Irish Fr Provincial. The letters contain information on the mission and the opinions of the consultors regarding the mission and its work.

A file of letters from the Superior of the mission, Fr Herbert Dargan SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file of letters sent by the house consultors, Prefect of Studies and Rector of the Regional Seminary to Irish Fr Provincial.

House consultor's letter from Frs John Collins, Donal Taylor, John O'Meara, Francis McGaley, James Hurley and Joseph Mallin, and John Gannon, St Francis Xavier's, (Language School, Novitiate and Retreat House) 27 Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong.

A file of copies of letters from Irish Fr Provincial to the Superior of the Hong Kong Mission concerning the administration of the mission and men destined for work in Hong Kong.

A file relating to the Irish Jesuit Mission Office (The Ricci Mission Unit) based in Ireland. The file contains financial information (accounts, donations and burses) relating to the Hong Kong mission, letters by Fr Thomas Martin SJ, relating to the administration of the Hong Kong mission and personnel/volunteers for the mission.

A file relating to the Church of St Francis Xavier, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Federation of Malaya. Includes documents relating to the proposed contract between the Society and the Bishop of Kuala Lumpur.

House consultors letters regarding the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Federation of Malaya to Irish Fr Provincial.

Reasons for requesting that the Hong Kong mission should revert to the normal government of the Society, under the Irish Fr Provincial.

Note relating to contacts for air and sea passages to Hong Kong.

Letter from Fr Thomas Fitzgerald SJ, Catholic Cathedral, 3 Farquhar Street, Penang to Fr Pat [ ] SJ concerning a questionnaire about Chinese Rites. Asks for Pat [ ], SJ's opinion on some points relating to Chinese Rites.

A file of letters from the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas Byrne SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file relating to Ricci Hall, Hong Kong. Includes documents relating to the finances of the hall, visitation memorials, Historia Domus.

Memorandum on social work by Jesuits in Hong Kong.

Copy of a letter from the Internuncio Apostolic in China concerning the possibility of establishing a Catholic University in Canton under the direction of the Jesuit Fathers. Expresses his pleasure at the enlargement of the Jesuit Language School in Hong Kong.

Memoranda on Chinese post-secondary colleges in Hong Kong and on the problem of staffing a Catholic post-secondary college.

Copy of a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Michael A. O'Grady SJ, 85 Eglinton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin to Fr General J B Janssens SJ, 5 Borgo Santo Spirito, Rome outlining the reasons why he feels the novitiate for candidates of the Society of Jesus in the far East should be transferred from Formosa to Hong Kong.

Summary of the Annual Letters from the Hong Kong mission, including a summary of the Apostolates in each house in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya.

Copies of documents sent to the Province entitled 'China. Secretive Directives on how to Destroy the Church' from International Fides Service.

A file of letters from the Superior of the mission, Fr Richard Harris SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file relating to visitors to the Chinese/Hong Kong mission. The letters relate to the administration of the mission and the Jesuits working in the mission. Includes a copy of a letter from the Superior of the mission Fr Thomas F Ryan SJ to Fr Visitor, Fr Burkhardt SJ concerning the mission in light of the communist occupation of the neighbouring provinces of China. Describes the effects of this occupation on the work of the mission (15 January 1950, 11pp).

Copy of a draft of a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Michael A O'Grady SJ to Fr General J. B. Janssens SJ concerning the question whether the Irish Jesuit Mission of Hong Kong (including Singapore and Malaya) should be constituted a dependent Vice-Province or retain its status as a mission under the jurisdiction of the Irish Provincial. Outlines the opinions of the consultors of the Irish Province the Superior and consultors of the Hong Kong mission and the Provincial of the Irish Province.

A report by John Gannon SJ sent to Irish Fr Provincial on Chinese education and a proposal to establish a centre for Chinese students. Includes a covering letter.

A file of letters from various individuals living and working in Hong Kong to Irish Fr Provincial concerning their work in the Hong Kong mission.

A file relating to Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and Wah Yan College, Kowloon. Includes minutes relating to the salaries of lay masters and the purchase of school buildings in Wah Yan, finances of the college. Includes a relatio as to the advisability or otherwise of admitting Portuguese or European students in to Wah Yan College by Fr Richard Gallagher SJ, Vice-Rector ([1933], 6pp). Includes a general memorial of visitation (1936, 3pp).

Letter from Fr Patrick Joy SJ, Kingsmead Hall, Victoria Park Road, Singapore to Miss Joy, 41 Adelaide Road, Dublin concerning his work in the Far East and family news.

Photographic album of the (the new) Wah Yan College, Hong Kong. The photographs have typewritten captions. Includes: various buildings, exteriors, interiors and landscape photographs of Wah Yan College, Queen's Road East, Hong Kong: opening day ceremonies of the new college (27 September 1955); Irish Jesuits Frs John Carroll, Richard Harris, Matthew Corbally, Richard Gallagher, Donald Lawler, Thomas Ryan, Timothy Doody, James McAsey, Herbert Dargan, Patrick Toner, Edmund Sullivan and Cyril Barrett; Monsignor Lorenzo Bianchi, Bishop of Hong Kong; Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham and Lady Grantham; Professor Gordon Brown.
Includes photographs of Fr Gallagher's jubilee dinner ar Ricci Hall.

Advertisement leaflet for a sale of work in aid of the Irish Jesuit mission to China.

Annual accounts for the Hong Kong Mission. Includes accounts for the Wah Yah Colleges in Hong Kong and Kowloon, the Language School in Cheung Chau and Kingsmead Hall Singapore and the Revisor’s report.

A file relating to Fr Francis Chan SJ and his qualifications and suitability to take a course in Education in Manresa College, Roehampton, London.

A file relating to the Language School, Loyola, Tai Lam, Ch'ung, Un Long, Hong Kong.

Revisors reports of the Chinese mission.

Letters sent by the house consultors of the Language School, 1 Battery Path, Hong Kong.

A file of letters from Fr Patrick Joy SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission.

A file relating to Irish Jesuits working and living in China and Hong Kong during the rise in communism after the Second World War. Includes newspaper cuttings and descriptions by the Irish Jesuits of their experiences.

Letter from Fr Edmund Sullivan SJ, Wah Yan College, Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong to Fr Socius thanking him for his sympathy following the death of his mother. Discusses his work in the college.

Catalogus of the Hong Kong mission for 1953.

Map of Victoria and Kowloon.

Copy of the a preliminary report on the construction of new buildings at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong by Philip Will Jr.

Letter from Fr Albert Chan SJ, Boston College High School, 761 Harrison Avenue, Boston to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning his studies.

Plans, elevations cross-sections and brochure of the proposed new building for Wah Yah College, Kowloon.

Extracts from a letter from Fr John O'Meara SJ, Canton to Superior (Fr Richard Harris SJ) concerning his work and life in Canton.

Article entitled ‘Cross-roads in China’ by Fr Thomas Ryan SJ, which discusses the transformation in Chinese society, pre and post war, missionaries, Catholicism and schools.

Newspaper cutting reporting on a lecture delivered by FrRobert Nash SJ in support of the Irish Jesuit mission to China.

A file of letters sent by the house consultors of St Ignatius House, Canton to Irish Fr Provincial.

Photograph depicting a view of Hong Kong harbour and Kowloon.

Photograph of a Chinese woman holding a baby.

A file containing financial accounts of the Chinese mission.

A file of medical reports for candidates for the Chinese mission.

A file of letters from the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas F Ryan SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

Visitation memorials by the Superior of the Mission, Fr Thomas F. Ryan SJ for St Ignatius House, Canton.

Letter book containing copies of letters and cables sent to the Hong Kong Mission by the Irish Province.

Map of Hong Kong and the new territories. Scale 1: 80,000.

Letter from Fr Thomas F Ryan SJ, Superior of the mission, Wah Yan College, Hong Kong to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning documents associated with the Seminary Commission. Includes the report of the Commission.

A file of letters from Fr Daniel Donnelly SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

Comment on a memorandum concerning 'Sheaf'.

General Memoriale and Memoriale for Fr Superior of the visitation by Fr Thomas Ryan SJ to St Ignatius’ House, Canton.

Details of the Chinese mission of the Irish Province entitled 'The Hong Kong Letters'. See MSSN/HONG/2/8, 2/10

Copy of a letter, unsigned, Sacred Heart School, Taai San Road, Canton to the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas Cooney SJ concerning a request by the Bishop of Swatow for the Irish Jesuits to take charge of a college in the town. Remarks that he was asked by the Bishop and the Rev. Procurator, Fr Desruelles to put their case before the Superior of the mission.

Letters from J. P. McCarthy SJ, Heythorp College, Chipping, North Oxon. to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning the finances of Hong Kong, in particular Canton.

A file relating to the fate of the Irish Jesuit priests working in Hong Kong during the Second World War and the Japanese occupation of the city. Includes returned letters to Irish Fr Provincial marked 'No Service Return to Sender'. Includes letters from family members asking for news or reporting to Irish Fr Provincial on letters received by them. Includes letters from other individuals seeking news about non Jesuit family members. Includes a copy of a request by Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ to Joseph P. Walshe, Department of External Affairs seeking help in assisting four Jesuit students to return home to Ireland (23 March 1943, 1p). Includes a reply stating that a proposed scheme to exchange civilian internees applies only to British or Allied subjects (12 May 1943, 1p). Includes a memorandum written by Fr Joy on Irish nationals in Hong Kong. The memorandum was sent by Irish Fr Provincial to the Irish Red Cross (24 October 1942, 2pp). Includes letters concerning Irish Jesuits who left Hong Kong to live and work in India during the war and subsequent return to Hong Kong when the war was over. Includes 'A Priest in a Japanese Jail' by Fr Gerard Casey SJ (1948)

Document which briefly outlines the history of the beginnings of missions in Australia, Hong Kong and Northern Rhodesia.

Photographs of Hong Kong missionaries. Most of the individuals are identified. Inlcudes a letter from Br E Connolly, Secretaritus Missionum, Borgo S. Spirito, Roma, Italy to Fr John Coyne SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin enclosing a list of photograph in their archives of missionaries on the Hong Kong mision.

Includes photograph of visit of Fr General Pedro Arrupe SJ to Wah Yan College

A file of telegrams and one letter from Fr Eddie Bourke SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission.

A file relating to the accounts of the Language School in Canton. Includes a note concerning the Procurator of the mission who was to reside permanently in Ireland.

A file containing letters relating to Ternae for the Rectorships of Wah Yan College and the Regional Seminary, Aberdeen.

A file of letters to Irish Fr Provincial from Irish Jesuits on their way to the Hong Kong mission describing their journey by air.

A file of letters and telegrams from the Superior of the mission, Fr Patrick Joy SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file containing letters relating to Ternae for Superior of the Hong Kong mission.

A file relating to correspondence between the Irish Province and the Provincial of the Portuguese Province. The file relates to the Portuguese Mission in Macao and the Portuguese Provincial's wish that the Irish Province take over the Jesuit institutions in the Macao Diocese and to accept the mission territory at present cared for by the Portuguese Province.

Document concerning new regulations on the type of apostolate work being carried out in China. The document was circulated at a General Congregation of the Society.

Copy of a letter from Fr John Hannon SJ (English Assistant) to Fr General seeking permission for Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the mission) to sell property in Hong Kong. The permission was granted.

Report by Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the Hong Kong mission) on interviews he had in Rome with various officials concerning the future of the Hong Kong mission.

Expenses of Hong Kong mission visitors. A note reads 'It was agreed that the Provincial would support and clothe the above visitors (extraordinary medical expenses excluded) and should receive anything earned by them while in Ireland, including masses.'

Letter from Fr Patrick Joy SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin to Fr John [ ] SJ concerning the return of Frs McCarthy SJ and Tom Cooney SJ to Hong Kong.

A file of letters from Fr Joseph J. McAsey SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission.

Note by Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ concerning Fr Dan Donnelly SJ and his MS on the war years in Hong Kong.

A file relating to the publication 'The Rock'. Includes financial details of the publication and letters relating to the political nature of some of the articles.

Minutes of Hong Kong mission consults and summaries of decisions taken at mission consults.

Points discussed and agreed between Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ and Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the Hong Kong mission) concerning financial arrangements for the mission.

Status of the Hong Kong Mission.

Letter from Dr J. P. Fehilly, 5 Aigburth Hall, Hong Kong to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ concerning Fr Joy's return to Hong Kong. Remarks that he feels it would be a mistake for him to return without a proper rest.

A file relating to army chaplains. Includes letters and memoranda relating to the non-payment of their salaries to the Hong Kong mission. Includes extracts from letters by Fr Matthias Bodkin SJ, a naval chaplain concerning news of the Irish Jesuits in Hong Kong.

A file of correspondence between Fr Eddie Bourke SJ, Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and Bishop Valtorta concerning the issuing of an order that the Irish Jesuit Fathers are to wear a soutane in public. Fr Bourke's letters urge the Bishop to reconsider. Outlines his reasons for this request (1946). Question already arose in 1935.

File of telegrams concerning the Hong Kong mission and departure to and arrival of Jesuits in Hong Kong.

A file of letters from scholastics studying in the scholasticate, Zi-Ka-Wei, Shanghai, China to Irish Fr Provincial concerning their studies and lives in Shanghai.

Memorandum written by Fr Thomas Fitzgerald SJ at Fr Patrick Joy's request concerning the activities of Irish Jesuits in Macao.

Copy of a letter from Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the mission), Wah Yan College, Hong Kong to Bishop Valtorta, Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong concerning the Bishop's approval for the Jesuits to have their own church in Hong Kong. Discusses possible sites. Includes a copy of the Bishop's reply.

Copy of a letter from Fr John Hannon SJ (English Assistant), Rome to Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the mission) concerning the Hong Kong mission. Encloses a copy of a letter from Fr General to Fr Hannon raising a number of points about the work of the Hong Kong mission.