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HISTORY
distinguished by the closest confidence and goodwill. Malaria was widespread, and plague of frequent occurrence. Extensive health measures were introduced to combat these diseases, the success of the measures being reflected in a subsequent steady rise in population.
In the first decade of this century rail connexion was established between Kowloon and Canton, involving the construction of a long tunnel under the Kowloon hills, and providing Tai Po and other New Territories villages with easy access to Hong Kong. A circular road was constructed linking the chief areas of population in the mainland part of the New Territories.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONY UP TO 1941
The history of Hong Kong is one of steady expansion of trade and population, and of consequent material and social improve- ments. The old traditional practice of Chinese and European communities living apart continued in Hong Kong and was accepted. European and Chinese each pursued his own way of life largely independent of each other. Until the Chinese had more opportunities for western education, there could be little Chinese participation in government, western commerce or the professions. There have been Chinese members of the Legislative Council since 1880 (when Ng Choy, who was the first Chinese to be called to the English bar, was appointed) and of the Executive Council since 1926.
In education, the first grants from public funds were those given to the Chinese vernacular schools in 1847 and administered by an education committee. The earliest schools were founded by the missionary bodies who have received grants or subsidies since 1873, and who have conducted their schools mainly on western lines. A demand for higher education and professional training followed and in 1887 the College of Medicine for the Chinese was founded by Dr Patrick Manson, Dr James Cantlie and Dr Ho Kai with the assistance of the London Missionary Society, one of its first graduates being Sun Yat-sen, later to become the founder of the Chinese Republic.
But undoubtedly the main educational advance was the founding of the University in 1911 which took over the work of the Hong Kong College of Medicine and the Technical Institute as the basis