96
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH FEBRUARY, INSU
"the Government by allowing this would be departing from the position of religious neutrality which it has hitherto thought it advisable to maintain. All the protestant denominations that have accepted the "scheme comply ungrudgingly with the regulation, which would therefore appear to be a fir and a "reasonable one.
It seems to me that this point is one peculiarly calling for the decision of the Everetury “of State as a question of policy."
Now, before I received the decision of Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH upon this report of Dr. SrzwanT. there came to me a representation from the Rev. Mr. Kinn, our late Colonial Chaplain, in which he stated in one sentence his objection to the grant-in-cid scheme. He said:---
"I am sorry to say that I am unable to put my school under Government inspection, and rims claim, "the pecuniary support (under the grant-in-aid scheme) which I really very inuch need. I cannot "conscientiously give secular instruction only for the required number of hours per day, or can I omit "the Bible and the Prayer Book from my time-table."
The question that Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH had to decide was one of importance.
had properly described it. It was a question of policy, and it has been finally set at rest, the decision being that the word "secular," wherever it appeared, was to be struck out of our grant-in-aid scheme. In reply to the letter of the Colonial Chaplain I received a despatch dated April, 1879 from Sie MacHazi HICKS BEACH, telling me that the modifications he had instructed me to make in the grab-in-aid scheme would remove the objections taken to it by the late Colonial Chaplain; and no doubt that is the case. The grant-in-aid scheme is now published for the information of the whole community. The word "secular" no longer appears in it. Every friend of education in the Colony can now coins under that scheme and get the benefit of it. The schools must be open to Government inspection ment Examiners must examine the children, and report upon the results of education in the specified subjects of the standards; and upon those reports the Government will give its aid. So for he that important question, The decision, I am aware, has given general satisfaction throughout the whole community.
Govern
Think I
There was another subject, and one also of public interest, which at that time was moder, the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, who were assisted in coming to a decision by the presence of Dr. STEWART in London; and that is, the question of English teaching in the Gonent Schools of Hongkong. You are all aware that. on the first occasion of my coming here, and may say on every other occasion when I have had to address the managers, or the pupils' parents, or promoters of schools in this Colony, I have invariably dwelt on the importance of teaching English to the Chinese. I have noticed to-day with satisfaction that, among the prizes which have been paovided for the pupils here by Mr. STEWART, all those books that you saw on my right hand, and which I have just been giving away, are books that will be useful in teaching English to the Chinese boys who gor them. Dr. STEWART selected these books himself. They are copies of an English and Chinese dictionary of his a practical and valuable prize. But this is not the only indication that Dr. STEWART hus giss intention to have more English taught in the Colony. The question was put to him in England at the instance of the Secretary of State, as to how far he could manage to have the teaching of Chi optional in this school. It was represented to the Government that some of the Chinese Lange coming here wished to devotet hemselves to learning English, and that, having already, in the pinion, or the opinion of their parents, a sufficient knowledge of Chinese, they might be allowed to sandy Zaglish throughout the whole of the school hours. Dr. STEWART's remark upon that is to this ¿ffect, in a letter dated London, 17th January, 1879, addressed to the Under Secretary as the Colonial fea
"In answer to your question whether the dutics could not be so arranged as to leave it optional for "a boy to learn English during all the hours allotted to work, or English for part of the, cond Chinese limited "for the rest, I reply that it could not be done with the existing building, and with the press "staff of masters, but if it is considered desirable by the Secretary of State that the option should de "given, I will waive my own opinion and give effect to the regulation as soon as the new an "will permit of its being done.
Picments.
!
Now, gentlemen, this brings me to the statement that the provision of a suitable building for the Central School is still under the consideration of the Government. In the early part of lart your gave instructions that the plans and specifications should be prepared for the new Central School, thit Dr. STEWART was to be consulted as to the precise requirements he thought necessary and that his The demanent to wishes were to be acted on as to the nature and dimensions of the building. which that work is entrusted has been occupied with a very urgent work, the most important. perhaps, we have had in this Colony, the rebuilding of the Praya wall, and no one, I think, can find fault with the Surveyor General that, during my absence in Japan, he should have had to apply to The Administrator for permission to postpone dealing with the school until the Praya works were finished. That permission was given, and very properly so, I have no doubt, under the circlanstances. The result is that Dr. STEWART has not the capacious building he ought to have in conducting this important institution. I may mention, in connection with the subject of teaching Euglish to the Chinese, that I asked the Secretary of State to allow me to build five new schools in this Colony for the Chinese, where they would be taught English, saying that in the meantime offorts would be inade to introduce it in all the village schools. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH has authorised ine to build