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February 16, 1901.]
“hewn to bits in this labyrinth of streets, "and now, on both banks of the river, reigned the peace described by TACITUS. In the trees of the deserted tea gardens an1 "in the great weeping willows by the way no solitary song-bird relieved the eerie "silence; the bats alone flitted about in the dusky air, and ungainly carrion birds "circled around with funereal clang of "wings."
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Truly, as Dr. DILLON says, it is not sickly sentimentality that marks the attitude of European culture-bearers to- wards China. The future historian will find it difficuit, he says elsewhere, to ex- plain how it came about that the free Christian peoples, whose generous blood boiled with indignation against the high- handed action of the British in South Africa, were at the very same time enthusi astic in their praise of the "good work done" by the brave troops in China. A little comfort can be derivel from the fact that Dr. DILLON found the British troops giving quarter and tending Chinese wounded, but he does not exonerate the Sikhs from some of the worst crimes committed in a long and shameful list against the credit of the Allies. We shall probably hear more about the conduct of the foreign troops in China. Enquiries are talked of. They are not superfluous :f any value is attached by the various governments to the good name of their armies.
EDUCATION OF EUROPEAN CHILDREN IN HONGKONG.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
hich influences them-such of them are 28 are devoid of idle prejudices-but merely a recognition of the fact that the Northern races reach maturity, later than the Southern. There is nothing narrow- minded in such an attitude on the part of parents. Again it is urged, and we think with perfect justice, for it follows naturally from the previous objection, that the Chinese child is admitted to a fuller knowledge of domestic affairs which are kept from his less matured English schoolfellow, and that the latter on going to a mixed school is sud- denly confronted with matters which he is not called upon to know. To a certain extent this is unavoidable in all schools the whole world over, but in the case of young boys it is more likely to follow here in a school of mixed races than at one where the natives are excluded. There should be some alter- native for those who hold these views, based not on prejudice but on established facts, from sending their children against their convictions to a mixed school unless they can afford to send them away.
are moving in the matter, and no doubt we shall hear the outcome of their activity known publicly, those interested should at before very long. As soon as anything is
movement in favour of a better educational once support with all their weight the
the present reproach should be removed from system in Hongkong. It is full time that the colony. The system of co-education has already been departed from in favour of the Chinese, who have schools of their Europeans too have their rights in educa- own under Government support. The tional matters, which have hitherto been disregarded. When the Right Rev. Bishop of Victoria re-awakened the residents to the
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port of all those influential members of our community who wish to see the existing re- proach removed from the name of Hongkong, that it has no means of educating efficiently the European children who are called on to live on the island and the neighbouring mainland. If a request ultimately be pre- ferred to the Colonial Office at home, sup- ported by the bulk of British and other European parents here, and, as we hope, backed by the recommendation of H. E. the Governor, the home authorities can hardly fail to see that the want complained of is a very genuine one. system, however, be refused, the public will If any alteration of the know the worst, and private enterprise must do the necessary work unaided. is
It
upheld against a general request for difficult to see what plea can be a school for European children alone. That of the undesirability of class-legislation will not hold good. The Chinese have their own schools. We learn that there are in the Colony 27 schools in which English is taught and 82 in which Chinese is taught. which English is taught are debarred to the But none of these schools, of course, in
schools or the mixed, whereas European natives, who can thus go to their own children have only the mixed to which to go. This is the state of affairs which we wish to see remedied, with Government support, we trust; but if not, without it.
HONGKONG'S GROWTH AND
ACCOMMODATION.
Daily Press, 12th February.) It will be noted that in his report on Vic. toria Gaol in 1900 Captain Superintendent MAY has called attention to the insufficient
gaol accommodation of the Colony and asked for early consideration to be given to the building of a new prison for convicts. The actual words of the report are worth quota- tion. Captain Superintendent May says:-
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how far co-education may tend to render Apart, therefore, from the question as to
inefficient the children at existing institutions in the instruction of European colony, parents have every right to ask that their demand for a purely European school shall receive attention. We need not assume that the demand will be ignored, that the Government will be hostile. The right course to adopt is to consolidate the forces of those who feel strongly on the subject and to present the petition for this necessity for the future welfare of Hong- (Daily Press, 9th February.)
kong in the most effective manner possible. The correspondence, which has been pro- ber of European residents anxious to see We have seen that there are a great num- ceeding in these columns and in those of something done, and willing to assist with our senior evening contemporary during funds if necessary. We believe that at the the past few days has shown that the sub-present moment certain influential persons ject of educational facilities in Hongkong is one which has a real interest for residents hare. The discussion has been freely con- tributed to by Euglish and Chinese alike, and the standpoints adopted have been various. There is a general agreement, however, among the English writers that a school for European children is a most urgent necessity for this colony, and that as long as we are without it Hongkong will labour under a most serious disadvantage, compared even with much less important ports in China. We think that our Chinese correspondents have rather mistaken the point at issue, or perhaps they have been led astray by the more injudicious among those who urge the necessity of a school or schools for Europeans alone. Several necessity of action in this matter, he laid all of the Chinese who have contributed all our strength; and the question is not of us under an obligation to support him with letters on the subject have expressed no little indignation at the suggestion
one which can again be dropped. that the morals of the European boys are contaminated by association at (Daily Press, 13th February.)
This failure of our prison accommodation school with Chinese. Contamination," of
to meet the calls made upon it once more We call our readers' attention to a letter brings out the point that Hongkong has far course, is a strong word and likely to hurt appearing in another column under the outgrown its existing buildings and institu- the feelings of those against whose fellow heading "Educational Facilities in Hong-tions of a public character. This fact was countrymen it is employed. The idea in- kong," and we think that the suggestion tardily recognised in the case of the Law tended to be conveyed should be put differ- there made will be welcomed by those in- Courts and the Post Office: Consequently ently. We may with justice ask our Chi-terested in the improvement of education we are in the not very remote future to nese renders who have taken an interest in
have Law Courts more worthy of the the question whether it is not a fact that
greatest port in the East, while the Post the Chinese boy does not develop more
Office is at least to be improved, though we quickly than at least his English, school
fear not to the extent to which it should. fellow, whether he is not more "grown up,"
We have also at last a pier which when as the expression is, for his age. The
completed will have some pretensions to majority of English parents would refuse
suitability to our great harbour, while we to send their song to school in France or
have learnt that the new Blake Pier is not Italy for precisely the same reason, that they
to be the only addition to
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for European children in Hongkong. As we stated on Saturday, influential persons have been moving in the matter, and what is required is that the support given shall be thoroughly representative and of a nature to command respect. Any impression that the local authorities are hostile to the move ment must be done away with. In fact, we should be surprised if it were not found that
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Five hundred and fourteen prisoners can thus be confined on the separate sys- "Tem-the only satisfactory one-while 56 more prisoners could be accommodated on emergency by putting 5 prisoners in each association cell. This gives a total capa. city of 570 prisoners. The daily average "number of prisoners was last year 486, and on occasions, by no means of emergency, as many as 598 prisoners were confined at ope and the same time, while the numbers "for several weeks in the hottest weather sive number of prisoners for the legitimate were over 570." The picture of an exces- capacity of the Gaol spending the hottest the Colony to contemplate, and it is to be part of last year there is unpleasant for
hoped that the new report will prompt attention.
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do not consider it for the benefit of these the contrary is true. But it is of neces- the Praya, but is to be on the wharveston
constructions. Then
sone that they should be thrown in direct sity that the unofficial public should
of several similar and intimate contact with those who, though show how strong is its feeling in of schools, now so much to
there is the question perhaps no older, are more advanced the matter. The petition, whatever form which can no longer be elected. It would
front physically. · It is no artificial race distinction may ultimately take, must bear the sup-be easy to multiply instances, and refer to