THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH JULY, 1878.
it is to be regretted that he does not think it necessary for the public service to act on the suggestion conveyed in Mr. AUSTIN's letter, and thus be able to discuss with the Colonial Secretary, myself and others (such as the Members of Legislative Council who represent commercial interests) the problem of again teaching English in all the Government Schools, and of making the nominal programme of four hours a day of English for every boy at the Central School a reality, so that all the pupils in that school should be able to speak Er lish-perfectly or imperfectly-instead of only 60 out of 610.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
11th February, 1878
Inspector of Schools to The Honourable J. Gardiner Austin, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG, 12th February, 1878.
SIR, I have the honour to bring to your notice that there is a serious misapprehension abroad a to the working of the Central School.
2. This misapprehension has arisen from a question put to me by His Excellency the Governor. on the 25th ultimo, at the Distribution of the Prizes at the Central School.
3. I was then asked, "How many of the boys now in the school speak English?" I answered, "From fifty to sixty; and that imperfectly."
4. His Excellency, in his speech as published in the Government Gazette of the 26th of January, said, "In this English Colony we must not be satisfied with 60 out of 600 being able to speak English in our principal Government School, and that imperfectly."
5. On the following day, these words appeared in the "Catholic Register," "He" (His Excellency) "remarked on the small proportion, only 50 or 60 out of that number (610), who knew anything of English and of their very imperfect knowledge of the language."
the forenoon of the 9th instant, on school, I called His Excellency's special and learning, that is studyir., it; as the apprehension on the subject.
6. At an interview to which the Governor invited m reference being again made to the speaking of English in attention to the distinction between speaking a langu impression wa n gaining upon me that there was a
7. In the
the Governor
said, "He was
fifty of the Chine
language to an
there was taug
江
nche same day, on the occasion
College, Mr. FRANCIS is r
find
- tha unent e will:
f the Distribution of Prizes by rted in the "China Mail" of
of th
7
g instruction there were reng taught Eng
e was under the impression piously that ever
glish, and he was much surprised to find that that was ne
8. In the report of the same proceedings contained in the "Daily Pres Mr. FRANCIS is similarly reported to have said, "I was astonished to find at t the Central School only forty or fifty of the boys were able to speak Eng under the impression that the one thing that school existed for was to teac was taught English, and I was very much astonished to find that was not the 9. On the same occasion, His Excellency is reported in the "China Mail” to heard it said that only about forty or fifty, I think the actual number given was fifty or sixty, of the Chinese boys being educated in the Central School las that imperfectly.
27.
10. Further on, His Excellency is reported to have said, "It was only interview I had with Mr. STEWART, who is at the head of our Government e him, what I was bound to repeat to him, namely, the views of leading merch of my Council, and others in this Colony, which are that they desire the Hongkong to teach more English, and that no boy should, in time to come, leave without being able to speak English.
11. The report of His Excellency's words in the "Daily Press" is in and need not therefore be
12. Now I v
italicised the wo
13. The bel
more than fifty study of Chin teach. Indeed, as appears above, only forty or fifty practically endorsed
nted.
to point out that in all this there is a fa
hat fallacy turns.
Colony is that no attempt is made at sh; and that the study of that lang nd the Chinese masters devote ther ple could believe otherwise, cons ege on the 9th instant, that he v School were being taught Englis ng it to pass unchallenged altho
is Excellency
+
date to have