HONGKONG.
REPORT ON THE QUEEN'S COLLEGE, FOR THE YEAR 1904.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
No. 1906
No. 5.
QUEEN'S COLLEGE, HONGKONG, 19th January, 1905.
SIR,-I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on Queen's College for the year 1904.
2. The total number on the Roll was 1,501, the average daily attendance being 1,000: both figures are in excess of those reached in 1903 and form a record. Our attendances, which in England would be the object of congratulation and envy, were seriously affected by the phenomenal number of cases of Beri-beri. The slight diminution in Fees, $313, is due to the unprecedented exodus, in the first half of the year, of 166 boys from the Upper School, which in March consisted of 407 boys. The vacant accommodation was as far as possible utilised for the Preparatory School where the fees are lower. It is much to be regretted that parents and guardians do not recognise that it is a penny-wise-and-pound-foolish policy to curtail the boys' education just when it is ripening, in order to earn so much the earlier a few dollars a month. Parents have often subsequently deplored the fatal mistake they have thus made.
3. The total number of applicants for seats in 1904 was 682, of which 160 (or 23%) failed to satisfy the simple Entrance test in Chinese, and 69 more were refused for want of room, Thus 453 boys were admitted. On the other hand 495 boys left in the course of the year. So long ago as in my Annual Report, January, 1896, I pointed out that, while this annual change of one-third of the total number of scholars is. prejudicial to the best interests of education, it has always obtained in the history of this College, i.e., for over forty years.
4. In the Estimates, $66,689 were voted for Queen's College, of this sum only $60,411 were expended, including Crown Agents' Account. The total amount of Fees was $29,048, and minor sums were paid to the credit of the Government, leaving $31,337 as the Government share of expenditure on Queen's College for the year 1904 chargeable to the public. It is to be noted that though in the Estimates there was an increase for Expenditure of $8,148, the actual increase of cost to the Government was only $5,184 for Normal Master, an additional English Master, five Vernacular Masters, and higher rate of salaries for Chinese Assistants.
5. Mr. A. J. MAY, the Second Master, returned to the Colony on the 28th September, Mr. RALPHS had been acting for him up to 29th February, and Mr. DEALY from the 1st March, having returned on the 25th February. Mr. RALPHS went on twelve months' leave to Europe on 23rd March. Messrs. DE MARTIN, B.A. Dublin, and GARRETT, B.A. Cantab., arrived on 25th February and 24th September respectively both gentlemen have zealously and successfully taken up their work, which being chiefly of an elementary character with Chinese pupils is a novel experience. The former is a new appointment to the Eleventh English Mastership put on 1904 Estimates for the first time, the latter fills the vacancy caused by the sad death of Mr. SEYMOUR, who was at his duties from 9 to 12 Saturday 14th May, was admitted to the Government Civil Hospital at 3.30 the same day on a medical certificate declaring him to be suffering from Bright's Disease, and died Tuesday 17th May at 11.30 p.m. Mr. SEYMOUR took great interest in the boys' sports and his classes passed successfully with high percentages. Four Chinese Assistants left in the past twelvemonths, Mr. Au WING-CHING 9th C. A. on 3rd February going to the Sanitary Department, Mr. WONG MING 3rd C. A. on 29th February as Inter- preter and Translator to Messrs JOHNSON, STOKES & MASTER, Solicitors. Mr. LUK KI-KWONG 5th C. A. on 31st March as Instructor at the Military College at Whampoa, and Mr. WONG KAI-LEUNG 4th C. A. on 31st December to join the Interpretation Branch of the Registrar General's Department. These unavoidable losses temporarily weaken the strength of the teaching staff. Mr. WONG KAI- LEUNG, with his bright cheerful disposition and readiness to contribute to the College organ-the Yellow Dragon-will be specially missed.