J
July 30 1896.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Ct.
"their way to adopt, more extensively than they have hitherto done, the plan of seeking to elevate the Chinese people of "this colony by means of English rather "than Chinese teaching." This seems rather a large order" in view of the fact that the schools have neither the books, nor methods, nor organisation suitable for the mass of Chinese children. Dr. EITEL might, usefully, we think, have indicated in what respect the books, the methods, and the organisation are defective, in order to point the way to improvement. But, as the learned doctor says, the vast majority of the Chinese residents of this colony have neither domestically nor commercially any use or demand for any but Chinese education, and that being so it would seem that the efforts to promote English _education carried to extremes. Every possible facility and reasonable encouragement ought to be afforded to those who desire to study English, but on the other hand the with drawal of the grant-in-aid from schools which do not teach English appears to us a mis taken policy. To the Chinese an education in their own language is essential and no official impediment ought to be thrown in the way of their obtaining it. If in addition to their own language they can be induced to qudy English much the better, but if neither the necessitry hooks, nor methods, nor organisation for that purpose are in exis- tence steps ought tô be taken by the Govern- ment to supply the want,
him so liberally, and he was then apparently hale and hearty, as it is to be hoped he will long continue, but we cannot see on what" principle of equity the payment of the large ́amount of money he has draw, from Hong- kong taxpapers can be justified. Another case is that of Dr. Wharry, who retired on, account of ill health in 1887, estab- lished himself in practice at San Frau- cisco, and is drawing a pension of £230 a year from Hongkong. We notice, too, that Sir E, L. O'MALLEY'S name still appears in the list as drawing 8720 a year (the contribution of this colony towards the pension on which he retired when Chief Justice of the Straits), although he has rejoined the service and now holds the appointment of Chief Justice in another colony. It is hardly conceivable that he should be drawing pension and pay at the same time, and it is presumably by error that his unme still appears in the list. With regard to retirement on account of ill health, however, it seems to us that n distinction might not unreasonably be made between cases of permanent breakdown and those in which the sufferers are in a condition to earn their own living on being transferred to another climate. Out of sixty-nine pensioners on the general list, as distinct from the policespension list. forty-two are entered as having retired on account of ill health. If inquiry were tuade we think it would be found that the majority of them are now quite well and, that a con- siderable number are earning an income by their own labours independent of their pensions.
ENGLISH TEACHING IN HONG-
KOŃ. SCHOOLS.
may be
THE MISSING DESPATCHES.
The reply of the Colonial Secretary to the Hon. T. II. WHITEHEAD's question with reference to the' missing despatches on the constitutional reform question is an example of what is termed diplomatic language. Mr. WITEHEAD asked if there was any cor- respondence in existence from the Colonial officials to the Home authorities and vice versa between the 23rd August, 1894, the date of Lord RIPON's despatch, and the 29th May, 1896, the date of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN'S despatch on the subject, and if so, would the Government lay it upon the table; if not, why not. The reply of the Colonial Secre- tary was that the Government had no further correspondence to lay upon the table, all public correspondence having already been laid. That means, as we read it, that there has been correspondence, but that it is not of a nature which it pleases the Government to make public, and that it is therefore to be treated as private 'or confidential. If there had been no correspondence whatever Mr. LOCKHART would naturally have an- swered the question with a direct negative. What line of distinction is drawn between public and non-public correspondence on such a subject we do not know, but it is certain there ought to be no such distinction at all. The form in which the answer was given evades altogether Mr. WHITEHEAD'S inconvenient "if not, why not?"
The Inspector of Schools in his report for last year makes some interesting though rather inconclusive remarks on the question of promoting English education amongst the native population of Hongkong. The vast majority of the residents of this colony being Chinese, and having neither domestically nor commercially any use or demand for any but Chinese education, the nature of the education given in the majority of local schools is largely confined to the teaching of the Chinese classical language. This, Dr. ErTEL says, has considerable educative value, though it limits the mental and moral vision to the horizon which confined the mind of CONFUCIUS twenty four centuries ago, cramps the intellect, stunts the growth of moral feeling, and bends the will iuto an tagonism to everything non-Chinese. In the grant-in-ai schools this is happily balanced by the teaching of Christianity and by the spirit of modern civilisation, but, the Head of the Education Department goes on to say, those local schools (grant-in-aidschools and Government schools) which give. a European education in the English lan- guage have neither books, nor methods, nor organisation suitable for the mass of "the Chinese children of this colony. This "defect is strongly felt by the Chinese population, and restrains the growth of a
The following notes on Korean' affairs are popular demand for an English education on the part of Chinese residents, Not from a native source: The British Legation guard was withdrawn from Seoul on the 19th until this defect is remedied will there be ultimo, but the U.S. Legation still retains its any possibility of accomplishing the desire guard of marines. The Russian Legation is "which at present animates the Govern- garrisoned by from 250 to 300 Cossacks, who “ment, viz., to promote English rather than came overland from Possiet Bay. The Korean "Chinese education among the native King has granted to Russia the harbour known population of Hongkong. During the year the jurisdiction of Chemulpo, for the formation as Moon-tail Island (probably from its shape) in 1895, two-thirds of our local schools gave of a naval coaling station and sanitorium for a Chinese education and one-third a Euro-invalids belonging to the Russian navy. A pean education." In another paragraph large dockyard is also, it is said, to be built, Dr. EITEL says, "It is to be hoped that with a machine shop. The harbour is easily
managers of grant-in-aid schools will see defended.-N. C. Daily News.
露
"
THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS
now.
Our contemporary the Hongkong Telegrap calls attention to the fact that the a ment of Dr. WILM to the Plague Hospita was not notified in the Gazette. Many things that ought to appear in the Gazett and which formerly did so, are omitted Whether this is mere carelessness in editing or is due to some unfathomable offi- cial design we do not know, but as a record to official appointments the Gazette is now almost useless. A search through its index ought to show who was in charge of any particular office time, and until recently that was the case, but of late the notifications of the resump tion of office by officers who have been on leave have been omitted, so that the public are left in ignorance as to when
at
any particular
an officer returns or if he ever returns at
all. The notifications of leave granted ap- pear, but as a matter of fact officers almost invariably obtain extensions, and the ori- ginal notification is therefore little guide to the time at which they may be expected to resume duty. And, as we see in the case of Dr. WILM, even appoint- ments are now omitted to be notified. This is not as it ought to be. No secrecy ought to be practised with regard to official appointments and leave movénients.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 22nd July in the Council Chamber. Present:—
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL- LIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, Acting Attorney- General.
Hon. A. M. THOMSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works,
Hon. R. Murray Rumsey, Harbour Master, Hon. COMMAnder W. C. H. HASTINGS, Acting Police Magistrate.
Hon. C. P. CHATER. Hon. Ho KAI. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
A
Mr. F. J. BADELEY, Acting Clerk of Councils.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid the following. papers upon the table: His Excellency the Governor's despatch on the plague in 1896, despatches on the military contribution, and the report of the Street Lighting Committee.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
On the motion of the Colonial Secretary Financial Minutes Nos. 4, 5, and 6 were referred
to the Finance Committee.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid on the table the report of the proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a meeting held on. the 8th July and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
FIRE SIGNALS. Hon. E. R. BELILIO8-Is there, as if I mis
take not was the case on the old police hulk, a lookout for signals for aid afloat maintained at Tsimsatsui Police Station. If not, why has the system been abandoned P.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—The answer to is yes; therefore it is not necessary to the former part of the hon. member's que the latter part.
THE CONSTITUT ON OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD With re the papers on the subject of a Petition addr.
}