27.
Mr. May writes:
"I note that in the Yellow Dragon just to hand, you enquire as to why the quondem 'Victoria' was changed to 'Queen's'. I feel sure if you look up the old letter book 1894-5 you will find the reason.
'My memory now (83) is not so good as it was when I studied Chinese, but I am under the impression it was changed because there was a private boys and girls' school at the corner of Pottinger Street kept by a Mr. and Mrs. Hanlon (named Victoria School), hence the change from Victoria to Queen's.'
"It might be noted that the change of name was gazetted on January 31, 1894.
"As regards the other school with the name Victoria, it is interesting to note that this was originally a grant-in-aid institution founded in 1873-74 under the management and with the support of the Hon. Mr. Phineas Ryrie, and conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Hanlon. It was known as the Victoria English School. Before long, however, it decided to close down, and was taken over by the Roman Catholic Mission, who turned it into a school for Portuguese boys.
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"I also find the following in the current Yellow Dragon, relating to Queen's College of old. The journal states:
"We thank Mr. M.K. Lo for sending us a booklet entitled 'Rules of the Government Central School, Hongkong,' dated 1887 and signed by Dr. G.H. Bateson Wright: it was found amongst the papers of the late Mr. Lo Cheung-siu and will be placed with the School Records. A few extracts will no doubt interest (and amuse) the present generation:
Fines- 2 cents for Spilling Ink, 5 cents for Spitting in Class Room, 5 cents for clearing throat with offensive noises, 5 cents for bringing flowers with overpowering odour, as Hom Siu Fa, into school, 5 cents for dirty face or hands or unshaven head, 50 cents for smoking.
School hours 6.30-8.00 a.m. Chinese Classes 4, 5, 6; 9.00-1.30 p.m. English School, all classes; 2.30-4.30 p.m. Chinese Classes, 1, 2, 3.
Half Holidays
December.
-
Horse Races in February; Boat Races in
Corporal punishment by pulling the queue is not allowed.
Boys are required to come to school in shoes and stockings.
Boys' heads must be shaved (unless they are in mourning or suffering from a cold) when they come to school on Mondays.
During the wet season, boys in very wet clothes must be sent home to change them. It will be generally observed that except in very bad weather, studious boys manage to keep dry, starting from home a little earlier or later than usual to escape showers.