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(ii) Married women not dependent for their living upon their teaching work, (iii) Wives of Government servants (unless exceptionally highly qualified)
should wherever and as soon as possible be dispensed with.
In view of the findings of the Salaries Commission it may be generally considered that Government servants are adequately paid, and the Commissioners are therefore opposed even to the temporary empolyment of the wives of these servants except in a special emergency, and then only if these ladies have high qualifications.
These temporary mistresses who are retained in the service of the Department should without exception be paid on a dollar salary, and on a uniform scale as laid down by the Salaries Commission.
(b) The abolition of the posts of Head Master of Queen's College and at least five of the European staff on amalgamation of Queen's College and King's College.
(c) The provision in the estimates for 1931 for the appointment of six British masters should be abolished. If, however, any of these appointments have already been made, the Government should take no steps whatever to fill any vacancies caused by the retirement on pension or resignation, until this retrenchment of six has been effected.
(d) There should be a reduction of at least 20% of the Chinese Vernacular teachers.
(e) There should be a reduction of at least 20% of the Portuguese and Chinese teacher of English subjects.
(f) The posts of Pianist, Teacher of Singing, Boxing Instructor, two Carpentry Instructors, two Needlework and one Portuguese teacher should be abolished. These are all teachers of 'extra' subjects, instruction in which should be paid for by the pupils themselves. It is better that teachers in these subjects should arrange with the parents as to their fees, otherwise they will draw their salaries even though there may be one taking their particular subject.
THE DIOCESAN BOYS' SCHOOL, KOWLOON.
38. Although the question as to the future of the Diocesan Boys' School, Kowloon, has not been specifically referred by the Government to the Commissioners, and although they have been given to understand that the matter is sub judice, they feel it incumbent upon them to sound a grave note of warning in this connection, as the subject has been forced upon them by the Head Master, the Rev. Mr. Featherstone.
39. They would first of all note that the Government has advanced to the Diocesan Boy's School the sum of $175,000 and that at present the School Authorities are in de- fault as regards the payment of sinking fund and interest. The Commissioners regret to have to record their opinion that adequate safeguards have not been taken for the security of these public funds, and they consider that in future any such advances of money or grant of land by the Government should only be made with the express sanction of the Legislative Council.
40. It would seem also to the Commissioners a matter for regret that a site so fine and extensive, and indeed possibly the best, in the residential portion of Kowloon, should have been allotted for the purpose of building this school: the lack of policy on the part of the Education Department would here again appear to be demonstrated. Two of the finest sites in the Colony (i.e. the Diocesan Boys' School, Kowloon, and St. Stephens' College, Stanley), have been allotted to denominational schools, while the Government has not only built King's College-at a cost of one million dollars in what one may term a back street of Hong Kong and without adequate or suitable surroundings, but also proposed to build a new Central British School, likewise at the cost of one million dollars, in a place remote from the inhabitants whose children it is proposed to educate therein, and near the purlieus of Old Kowloon City.