EVIDENCES.
MR. BEDELL LEE YUN, Interpreter to the Magistracy.-Has resided 16 years in the Colony. Thinks the Bonham Road site too far. Considers Rangel's site very good and better than the present school site. Is confident the number of scholars will increase if further accommodation is given in the new school. Has never heard of any objection to the present school. Condemns Possession Point owing to its distance and the bad class of houses surrounding it.
DR. EITEL.-Considers the Bonham Road site would be salubrious, but its distance too great. There is no shade in its vicinity under the shelter of which the boys could walk going to or coming from the school. Intends to place his child at Central School next year. If the school were built on Bonham Road site could not send him there. Thinks the same objections as regards distance would be raised by the more respectable Chinese parents. Considers the situation of Rangel's site very convenient for the Chinese. Has heard that the Chinese consider (in which opinion he agrees) that there are not sufficient teachers in the present school. Is sure the number of scholars will very greatly increase, if there be room for them, as he knows from personal experience that there is a great and growing desire on the part of natives to learn English and have their children taught it. Has himself been called upon by them to teach English instead of preaching it, as more practically useful. Considers that the Chinese are keenly alive to the fact that there are many offices and employments open, even under their own Government, to those of them who can speak English. Knows that the number of native schools for teaching English is on the increase. Considers Possession Point would be very undesirable as a site for the new school. European parents and respectable Chinese would strongly object owing to the character of the neighbourhood which the boys would have to traverse going to and coming from school. Besides considers Possession Point also ineligible as a site owing to its excessive distance to the West.
MR. F. REMEDIOS.-Has resided 31 years in Hongkong. Has had three children educated at the Central School. Is of opinion that the proposed Bonham Road site would be too distant, and that Portuguese children would not be sent there as their parents could not afford chairs for them. Can form no opinion as to whether the same objection would hold in regard to Chinese children. The children have not only to go to school in the morning and come away in the afternoon, but they also go and come home at noon for their meals, so that four trips are entailed per diem. Considers Rangel's site would be a very suitable one, more so than any other site that he can think of. Possession Point, besides being too far to the West, would, in his opinion, be a most undesirable site, owing to the class of people residing in its vicinity. Considers the economy of the present school as actually arranged very perfect, but, if possible, thinks it would be very desirable to have Portuguese taught. If this were done more Portuguese parents would send their children to the school.
MR. CHAN A YIN, Editor of the Chinese Mail and Reporter to the China Mail. Came to Hongkong first in 1856. Has considerable experience of the Central School. Thinks the Bonham Road site would be unsuitable on account of its distance and inaccessibility. Considers Rangel's site, or the present school site the most convenient neighbourhoods. Is of opinion that Possession Point would be most objectionable not only from its distance to the West, but from the evil influences of its neighbourhood on the boys. Is certain as regards the present school, that if the accommodation were enlarged, the number of scholars would at once greatly increase. Thinks that even if admission were limited to the children of parents residents in the Colony, the number of boys would be likely to be 700. Recommends that Chinese boys, younger than 10 years and older than 18 years should not be admitted. Is of opinion that, not with religious views, but simply as a matter of education or historical information, the Bible should be read at the school. Urges the importance of insisting that English should always be spoken in the school during school-hours.
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MR. CHAN TAI KWONG.-Came to the Colony in 1849. Has resided in Hongkong twenty-seven years. Has had a son educated at the Central School, who is now employed under the Chinese Government at the Foochow Arsenal. Has another son still at the school. Has carefully considered the eligibility of all the sites discussed. Is of opinion that Rangel's site is by far the best. Has great objection to the Bonham Road site, owing to its great distance from the centre of the Chinese districts. Fears that if that site were finally adopted many of the Chinese parents would be unable to continue their children there, especially the poorer ones who cannot afford chairs. Is of opinion that Possession Point site is too far to the West, its surrounding influences are also of such a nature as to be injurious to the boys. If the Central School is enlarged, is certain that the attendance will increase in proportion. Chinese parents would be certain to avail themselves of this opportunity to have their children taught English, so as to enable them to fill those posts under the Chinese Government which are bestowed only upon candidates who have a knowledge of English. Is of opinion that the scholars should be compelled to speak in English during school-hours. Thinks they write well and correctly, but have no practice in conversation. Thinks there is a decided want of preparatory or elementary schools. Strongly advises that in the Central School the Monitor system should be extended. Thinks the scale of fees might be raised, and is of opinion that those who can afford it would gladly pay more than they have now actually to do, for their children's education.
MR. WAI KWONG.-Has resided in Hongkong since 1845. Considers that the best site of those pointed out and explained to him would be that of Rangel's buildings. Objects to the Bonham Road site on account of its height and distance, and the time it would require to go to and come from it morning and evening and at noon for meals. Objects to Possession Point on account of its approaches being through streets which consist mainly of houses of ill fame. Thinks the boys should not be exposed to such influences. Thinks that in designing a new Central School a very much larger accommodation than that contemplated should be provided. Arrangements should be made for a minimum of 800 boys. Recommends preparatory or elementary schools. Thinks the practice of English conversation should be more rigidly enforced. Is of opinion this might be accomplished by extending the Monitor system. In the event of Government deciding to ask for subscriptions from the Chinese Community towards defraying cost of the new building, thinks from ten to fifteen thousand dollars might be collected. Will subscribe $400 himself. Is of opinion that no boy younger than eleven should be admitted, nor any older than 22 allowed to remain in the school. Has had friends and relations to the number of 10 educated at the Central School. Is now compelled to send some of his boys to St. Paul's College because there is no room for them at the Central School. Considers a play-ground a great necessity. Has also considered the expediency of an "education rate" of a certain percentage leviable for a stipulated number of years, in order to meet the outlay involved in a new Central School.