The educational program conducted by Seventh-day Adventists in China had its beginning in the south. In 1903 the Church opened its first school taught in Chinese. This school was conducted especially for girls and was called "The Bethel Girls' School". Miss Ida THOMPSON acted as the first principal. Hong Kong Adventist College (HKAC), established in 1903, is a four-year liberal arts college founded and supported by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It has a strong tradition of providing quality education with an emphasis on developing the potential of the whole person. The integration of faith and learning provides a unique academic environment for students from a variety of cultures and religious backgrounds.