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January 22, 1906.]
ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE.
SCHOOL SPEECH DAY.
H.E. the Governor presided at the annual distribution of prizes at St. Stephen's College on January 12. Accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. R. A. B. Ponsonby, he arrived to time, and was received by the principal, Rev. E. J. Barnett, M. A. The cadets of the school were drawn up as a guard of honour along the entrance, and as His Excellency entered the gate they came to the salute, and when he passed. formed 'two deep' and marched behind him into the hall. His Excellency's military spirit must have been gratified the discipline displayed by young China, and their machine-like precision iu obeying commands.
In the hall, His Excellency was supported on the right by the Rev. E. J. Barnett, and on the left by the Venerable Archdeacon Bannister. Amongst those present were Dr. Ho Kai, Messrs. E. A. Irvine, Inspector of Schools, S. H. Piercey, principal of the Diocesan School W. D. Braidwood, head of the Ellis Kadoorie School, and many of the parents of the students. After an opening prayer, the Rev. E. J. Barnett read the annual report, extracts from which are as follows:-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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1 deeply sympathize in her indisposition, and the idea of establishing a class for Chinese trust she soon may be fully restored to health. young ladies. It is true that the students of this During Miss Fletcher's enforced absence, College will naturally desire to marry educated we have been fortunate in enjoying the girls, but it seems doubtful whether it is the temporary assistance of the Rev. Frank part of the College to train those girls Child, who, being compelled to remain in laughter). I am odly arguing against dis- Hongkong for a short time, generously cam persion of effort, and on the same point of view to our assistance. Mr. Ng Tin Po, assisted by I am not quite certain whether the College Mr. Chau Kam Kai, has carried on the teching authorities should not confine their attention of Chinese with care and diligence The Pre- to the Colony itself. rather than devote part paratory School, opened in March last, has not of it to an institution in China. The history been successful in point of numbers. This bas of education in Hongkong has been a very been due, doubtless, to the inconvenient situation varying oue; many institutions have been of the building. New premises have now been starte, aud after running for a time with rented at 33, Caine Road, and Miss Garden has partial success, have failed for want of support already removed the school thither, with the pro-I
attribute this largely to that dis mise of additional pupils.
energy which I recommend A class for Chiuese. pa.sion of
the St. young ladies will also be formed in connection
Stephen's College to avoid therewith. It perhaps worthy of mention us far as possible, There is another direction that we have been asked to establish, and main- in which I should suggest concentration of tain the oversight of, an Anglo-Chinese school effort, and that is that it would seen desirable in an important centre in the Kwong Tung to coutine instruction, at any rate for the pre- province. A building has been offered with a sent, to what are university subjects in contra- guarantee of thirty scholars. To those friends distinction to commercial and technical educ- of the College who have so generously con-
tion. The latter are excellent things, but I tributed to the Prize Fund we tender our
doubt if the master and present staff are to in. sincere thank: The I ord Bishop of Victoria, struct in them as well as in literary subjects, Dr. Ho Kai, . M.G, Dr. Wan Tuen Mo, Dr. whether the proficiency gained.in those liter- Coxon To, Messrs. S. W. Ts'o, Ts'o Taz Kei,ary subjects would be as large as if they con- Lau Chin Ting, Wong Wing Ho, Honfined their attention to them. I don't for one Yung Kim, Chan Siu Kei, Chiu Fung, Lo Cho moment under-rate the value of commercial Shau, Lo Bua Kei, Wei On, Fung Ka Shan, education, but am inclined to think it may be Wong sui Lung, theng Wo Hin, Chau Kam provided otherwise in other places. I will Wing, Ng Po Kwan, Ng Pak To, Chan Oi repeat the information which I gave at another Ting, Chan Hewan. Wee Chi Beck, Ho Ping prize-giving-tuat the Government have in Naam, Chan King Ting, Yeung Yau Shing consideration the establishment of an evening and Yau Shui Sz Nai. To the boys we wish continuation class to b held at Queen's a very happy New Year, and a re-invigorating College, ut open to all. Instruction will commercial and technical holiday, after which we hope to see them again be given in on Wednesday, February 14th, when classes subjects, and it will be for the consideration of will re-assemble. (Applause.)
the Colleg whether to send to this class those boys who are destined by their parents to a commercial or engineering career. It now only remains for me to thank Dr. Barnett for his interesting and lubid report; to express sati- faction at the number of people who have come to see the prize-giving, and to present to the already over-charged dux of the school a further special prize (applause).
Your Excellency, Mr. Archdeacou, Ladies and Gentlemen.-To day we close our third year's work. The year has been one of activity, progress and interest. The number of scholars enrolled has exceeded that of past years. In 1903 the roll showed 33 in attendance, in 1904 there were 85, and this year the number reached 109. One of our senior scholars loft for England in July last to prosecute his studies along lines not provided for in Hongkong. Others are about to follow his example. * uch incidents naturally turn our thoughts to the necessity for providing a higher standard of education. True, in the past, Chinese young men, with few exceptions, have sought only that minimum amount of knowledge in English by which they might secure a higher us there has financial return for their services. But there is a growing desire for a wider and deeper study of Western thought and knowledge. We may carry our boys through the Oxford senior examinations, or even beyond, but this will not meet the present demand. They require farther knowledge in literature, in scieuce, and in such subjects as would be taught iu a good technical school. If we believe in the future of Hongkong, and in the salutary effects of British prestige and British influence imparted through education, it would be a wise policy to make some provision to meet this new demand. Duing the past year elementary science and trigonome try were added to our school curriculum, and arrangements have been made for commercial training and the teaching of chemistry (both theoretical and practical) during 1906. have been requested to teach Latin and political economy also. This will be done
We
if there are sufficient students to form a small class. Given the buildings, in a few years, we believe, the major portion of the current expenses of a university would be met by tnition. This year for the first time we sent -up boys for the local Oxford examinations, The Dux of the College this year is Chan Kwan Lam, who has obtained the exceptionally high percentage of 92.3 marks upon his written papers. (Applause). The results on the whole have been very encouraging. The College Council wishes here to acknowledge its in- debtedness to the master for the hearty and consistent manner in which they have united their efforts for the welfare of the College, But teaching staffs, no less than individuals, are creatures of change, and it is with much regret that we are called upon to say farewell to Mr J. Lewis Byrne and Mr. Landa- maun, the latter being about to sail for Australia. Mr. Byrne, my personal friend
boen
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The prizes having been presented by His Excellency, he addressed those present as follows: Mr. Archdeacon, Ladies and Gentle- men.-The report which Dr. Barnett read to us is on the whole satisfactory. He tells marked improve ment in the moral tone of the School, and also that the management is pleased with the result of the examinations. Several successes have been obtained in the junior and preliminary Oxford local examinatious. observe that as yet no student of St. Stephen's College has passed the higher Oxford local examination, but I hope that at next prize. giving there will be several successes in that section. The school continues to rapidly increase in numbers When it was first formed on the February 3rd, 1903, there were seven pupils, and this year there has been 109 on the roll. I and others of as here are watching the progress of the school with great interest. It is, as you are aware, intended for the sons of Chinese gentleman who can afford to pay higher
fres than those collected at schools which have
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Government assistanc, and what is far more important, who cau afford to keep their boys longer at school than is necessary to obtain so much elementary education as will qu lify them to earn some sort of live ihod as clerks in offices. The education giveu in the school is still elementary, but as the scholars advance no doubt provision will be made for higher in- struction, and from the report read to us, we soe that tue necessity for such instruction is fully recognised by the management of the school. It has been made a reproach to the Colouy that there is no secondary or advanced education given in it. I h pe to see this reproach re- moved, and there seems no reason why, as regards literary education, St. Stephen's should not take a prominent part in advancing it. At Sierra Leone, a colony with which I was at one time and another a good deal conuected, the hurch Missionary Socie y had a college run somewhat on the lines of this one, which affiliated with the University of Durham, aud which granted degrees. This seems to me to be a for over a decade, has been with ns for two
matter worthy of the consideration of te years and a half. His chief charge has been College Conocil and all supporters of the College the senior class, sparing himself neither in whether St. Stephen's should not aim at a hours nor out of hours if there was anything he like position (app'ans). If they intend to do could do to help. The final examination results this it might possibly be as well to concentrate of Form 1V. and Form II. bear gratifying their attention more exclusively to the higher evidenc to the care bestowed upon them by education of boys. I don't quite understand why Messrs Harkness and Mackenzie respectively. other schools under the Church Missionary With Miss Fletcher, who has from the Society should not serve as preparatory schools beginning so kindly given her services, we to St. Stephen's; I also don't quite understand
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Archdeacon Bannister said the duty devolved upon him, as representing the governing body of the College, in the absence of His Lordship the Bishop, to express to His Excellency their grateful thanks for his presence and the real interest. he had take in the institution since its establishment. their thankfulnes for the kind remarks the Governor made to them, and for the advice tendered.
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He would further express-
The establishment of the College had been from the beginning in the nature of an experiment, but it had received a cordial, warm, earnest and helpful sympathy from Chinese gentlemen, many of whom were present, and as already pointed out in the report, they wished to combine education with the highest possible mural ideals. The speaker then told the boys of the highest possible ideal expressed by one of their countrymen, an ancient sage and teacher, and in conclusion asked friends and students to socord to His Excellency their warmest sympathy and thanks by acolamation.
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Thre cheers were then given for the Gover- nor, three for the Venerable Archdeacon and three more for Dr. Barnett, the principal.,
ELLIS KADOORIE CHINESE ́SCHOOLS' SOCIETY.
INTERESTING TOUR BY THE GOVERNOR. At the Hongkong College of this Society on Jan. 15th, His Excellency the Governor distributed the prizes won by students for the year's work.
The cadets were drawn up as a guard of honour, and welcomed him on arrival with a salute. Amongst others present were Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Kadoorie, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Braidwood, Messrs. D. Nicol, J. Walker, E. J. Moses, E. C. Lewis, Lan Chu Pak, Fung Wa Chan, Fung Shan Shan, Ho Kom Tong, Choi Tese Yik, Lam Shan Ping, Ip Lan Chuen, Revs. E. J. Barnett and H. R. "Wells, and Mesdames Gainler, Ears, Petrie, Pearce, Alinutt, Woodcook, Bryson and Chapman.
Mr. W. D. Braidwood, principal, read the annual report as follows:----
Your Excellenoy, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me much pleasure to present
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