182
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE HONGKONG BANK AND THE UNIVERSITY SCHEME.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG
DAILY PRESS."]
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
DEAR SIR, -An announcement has recently appeared in the local papers to the effect that the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora-, tion has contributed the sum of $50,000.00 to- wards the Endowment Fund of the Hongkong University. Though I presume there is no doubt as to the legality of the, Board's action in voting this donation without consulting the wishes of shareholders, it would be of interest to shareholders to know on what ground the vote was made.
Neither myself nor any other Hongkong shareholder doubts for an instant the spirit of philanthropy actuating our esteemed "fellow citizen, Mr. Mody, in initiating the Hongkong University scheme and most liberally contri- bating the cost of the buildings. But whilst one may admire his generosity and public spirit, one may honestly be sceptical of the usefulness of the project and have strong grounds for belief that it is not worthy of support. Hongkong in the past has witnessed the inception of philanthropic schemes that have not by any means fulfilled the expecta- tions of their promoters.
Once upon a time a Reformatory was built and presented to the Colony by an Eminent citizen Opened with a flourish of Guber- natorial Trumpets. Declared to fill a long-felt
want.
The Government managed to secure one specimen for reformation. The boy did not like the process. Walked out one night. Never returned. This disheartened the Gov. ernment. The Institution was wisely closed. It was not wanted. Money wasted. Moral:- Always Look a Philanthropist's Gift in the Month!
Something more is required in the expenditure of the orporation's funds than following the lead of a generous donor, seeing that the Bank's example will be used to bring pressure to bear on others. There should be strong grounds for belief that its donation will be used beneficially to the community in which the bank's interests are situated.
Assuming that the technical training the "University proposes to afford will be of value to the individual student, which is quite a debateable matter, and granting that it will be successful in attracting pupils, which is more than doubtful considering the educational qualifications it is proposed to require from the entrants, the influence of the Institution to justify the Bank's grant should be of benefit both to the foreign and native communities of this Colony and of the neighbouring empire.
aware that the promoters of the Hongkong University claim that some of the dangers above indicated will be obviated by the home associations and restraining in fluences which will surround the students during the time their training is in progress, Doubtless the site for the University Buildings has been specially selected within, well, speaking distance of the West Point District, in order that these moral influences and family associa- tions may have the fullest scope. How the British public do like to be humbugged!
46
[August 30, 1909.
of all of us in the murder of Sir Curzon Wyllie | large and small, showed their condemnation. and Dr. Lalcaca.
voted sentiments of loyalty to their Emperor, I am
and University educationalists were the first to lead their uneducated brothren in the movement. Aye, even the parents and brothers of the fanatic (all University men, by the bye) disowned their kith and kin for their country and honour's sake. Why is this not seen and appreciated by such writers as A Bank Shareholder ? " Why do they see through the wrong end of the glass P class prejudice. University education not fit for the Chinese or Indian, forsooth! If it be sauce for the goose, it is ditto for the gander. Sturdy, stern old Britons-all glory to them-were not of this opinion, and they knew better, as they were disinterested. O! tempora, O mores !--- Yours, &c.,
H. S. KAVARANA.
one of
“lukewarm
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS."]
HONGKONG
By voting this substantial amount towards the University, the Board may be taken to have signified their collective belief in the soundness and desirability of the scheme. Such an opinion, I venture to say, is not held either by the majority of the Bank's shareholders or the European members of the LACK OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
AT THE PEAK. general community, whose attitude, at the best, may be designated as acquiescence." It is unbelievable that the individual members of the Board can be so far out of touch with the general sentiment. They have my sympathy if their collective action is the result of pressure. The Bank's vote will be used as an example and as a lever to extract contributions from every Hong and Company in this Colony. Il, whether in sympathy with the scheme or not, will be made to feel that it is necessary to follow suit according to their means, as a refusal will result in their being
sent to Coventry."
Knowing the result of appearing to oppose or hold one's own opinion about the "Fad of the moment" in Hongkong, I prefer to shelter myself under the cloak of anonymity. Never. theless, I trust that the Chairman in his speech at the Bank's Meeting to-morrow will see fit to take the shareholders into his confidence as to the reasons for the Board's action. is remarks will be listened to with great interest by those present as well as by
A ANK SHAREHOLDER. Hongkong, August 20th.
[TO THE EDITO« OF THE "HONGKONG DAILY PRESS"]
means
Canton, 23rd ugust, 1909. SIR,It is a pity that a solitary discordant letter appeared in your issue of 21st inst., over. a nome de plume of "A Bank hareholder." When he was so sceptical of the usefulness of this project, and when he believed that it was not worthy of support, he should have adduced strong aguments in support of his contention, but instead, he showed his narrow-mindedness by decrying higher education among Chinese, setting up a bogey of one day being castigated on the back by the self-same youngsters who will get the blessings of a university educa- tion. If this bank shareholder Does an examination of the results obtained to pocket his fat bonus every year at the by similar educational efforts under like circum-expense of the Chinese, who should be, in his stances warrant a belief that its influence will opinion, always hewers of wood and drawers of be an unmixed blessing either to the foreigner water, he should know others, or rather almost or the native?
all shareholders, are not of the same selfish mind, They showed their liberal-mindedness by cordially approving, at the meeting of Saturday last, the handsome donation, and thus neatly sent the captions writer to Coventry." No better answer could have been given. If this writer conscientiously believed the University scheme would be a failure and the donation a mistake, where was he during the Bank meeting? Why had he not the courage of his conviction to cry it down? Perhaps he thought there were too many twigs to form too strong a birch to castigate his devoted back.
Ask the foreign communities in Japan whether conditions in that country have improved during the last thirty years! Is business more profit. able or easier to conduct ? Has not every opportunity been taken to oust the foreigner in every direction? From the foreign resident's point of view, I venture to say we are helping to gather together the twigs that will go to form the birch to castigate the backs, possibly not of ourselves, but certainly of those who follow after us.
A still more striking example is the India of to-day, a country where the growing spirit of unrest and sedition finds its strongest forcing grounds in the universities and high schools. Will it benefit this Colony or increase its prestige to turn out a large percentage of impracticable dreamers of the type manu- factured by the Indian Institutions? Are you doing the foreigner in China or the Chinese themselves a service by breeding a race of graduates and "Failed B.A..s" to preach the doctrine that "Killing the foreigner is no murder and to instil the subtle poison of resistance to all lawful government in the minds of the less intelligent? Those are the results to-day of education in India and the latest fruit of that system must be vividly before the minds
学
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36
p.com
DEAR SIR,-I was very pleased to see Children's Friend's " letter in the Daily Press this morning re the education of children living in the Peak district, and I am sure that all Peak residents will endorse every word that he has written; it is a subject which should have been raised long since, and no doubt would have been but for the proverbial apathy with which the Hongkong resident-treats most local matters.
There are schools for European children in Kowloon and Hongkong, and even the Military authorities provide good schools for their children, and the powers that be are straining every nerve to raise a large sum to provide a University for the Chinese (who, by the way, are quite able to provide it for themselves they want it), yet the Peak residents (who are tax-payers) are completely neglected in this respect.
Surely it should be the interest of the Govern- ment to increase educational facilities in the Colony, and so enable us to keep our children with us a few years longer. Why should Hongkong, a Crown Colony, be so far behind I am afraid Shanghai in educational matters ? the answer is: because it is a Crown Colony.
Possibly the responsible authorities have hitherto assumed that all Peak residents are wealthy taipans and can afford to provide private tuition for their children, but I should like to assure them that such is not the case, and that a Kindergarten School on the linės suggested by your correspondent would meet. with very great appreciation.-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DALLY PRESS." ]
*X.Y.Z.
"HONGKONG
Hong kong, 24th August, 1909, DEAR SIR-I have read the correspondence relative to the above subject in your columns, and also the leader in your to-day's issue.
The matter does not seem to progress, and seeing that the Government has its work out out to raise revenue it is unlikely that assist ance may be expected from that quarter.
I estimate & Kindergarten School could be run at a cost of $400 per month at most. Say, $250 for a Mistress and $150 for rent, pupil teacher, stationery, &c.-and I fancy the expenditure would be covered by the monthly school fees.
It has been suggested to me that one of the rooms at the Peak Tram Station (topside) would make a good schoolroom
Failing which it should not be difficult to obtain another.
Now, all that is necessary is for ten good man (wealthy taipans or otherwise) to each guarantee $40 per month in school fees. If the guarantors have a child or children attending, the fees for such can be deducted from the amount of 840 guaranteed.
He hangs his arguments on the peg of Indian politics and points to the present case in India. Such irresponsible and captious writers have more often than not done much mischief in India and England; they superficially see a thing, meddle and muddie. If University education has manufactured a handful of malcontents, it has also produced thousands of youths who would be ready to lay down their lives for the British rule, for they know well that in defending it they
If the school is run by Government, you are defend their hearths and homes. How were the bound to accept any pupil the former may choose murders of Sir Curzon Wyllie and Dr. Laicaca to send you. received in India? From Cashmere to Cape The style
"State," or Government," Comorin, the Indians of all castes and creeds "Board" School doesn't appeal to many parents, showed their horror and detestation of and the title “Kindergarten" will probably not this madman's crime; individuals, corporations, suit his little Nibs" aged 9 years, who objects
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