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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DECEMBER 6, 1935.
Proclamation No. 3.-Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, No. 35 of 1935, to come
into operation on the 1st January, 1936.
Proclamation No. 4.-Hong Kong (Coinage) Order, 1895:-Approval of new
coins.
QUESTIONS.
4. The Hon. Mr. José PEDRO BRAGA, pursuant to notice, asked the following
questions:--
1. Will the Government state whether it concurs in the opinion expressed by Mr. E. BURNEY, M.C., in his Report on Education in Hong Kong, that the Central British School is "lavishly staffed", with 14 full-time and 3 part-time assistants for about 250 pupils on the books?
2. Has the Government taken "the first opportunity to review the staffing"
aforesaid, as recommended in the Report?
3. If no such steps have yet been taken to rectify the disproportion between teachers and assistants and pupils, will the Government explain the delay, if any, in giving effect to Mr. BURNEY'S recommendation?
4. What economy is it expected to effect, respectively, in the current financial year and for the year 1936 when the proposed reduction in the staff is carried out?
The Colonial Secretary replied as follows:-
1. The Government does not concur in the view that the Central British School is at present "lavishly staffed". These two words are employed by Mr. BURNEY in his Report but with important qualifications which the Honourable Member has omitted to mention.
2. The staffing in question has been reviewed and in the present view of the Government this is not excessive for a mixed school providing inter alia physical instruction and a divergent curriculum for boys and girls. I invite the Honourable Member's attention to Mr. BURNEY'S remarks about the size of the present classrooms.
3. & 4. These questions do not arise as the new premises are not expected to be ready for occupation until next autumn. Although the Report in question has been laid on the table of this Council it is the opinion of the Government that the consideration of its detailed recommendations should in the first place be the concern of the Board of Education to which the Report has been referred.
5. The Hon. Mr. JOHN JOHNSTONE PATERSON, pursuant to notice, asked the following
questions:-
1. With reference to the statement which has recently been published in the local press to the effect that the Government is granting the use of the late Sir PAUL CHATER'S residence, Marble Hall, as a residence for the Admiral, will the Honourable Colonial Secretary say whether such state- ment is correct? If so, for what period and on what terms and for what rent has such use been granted?
2. If such statement is correct, has any such grant been sanctioned at any time, and if so when, either by the Legislative Council or by the Finance Committee thereof?.
3. Were not Marble Hall together with the pictures, porcelain and pottery therein belonging to the late Sir PAUL CHATER bequeathed by him to the Government of the Colony, and was it not thereby implied that such bequest was made for the use and benefit of the general public of this Colony? If not, for whose use and benefit were such bequests made?