Page 391
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JUNE 14th, 1880.
EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.
one or two representative Chinese gentlemen. The idea appears to be that the five elementary schools—which, we believe, will be under European masters—act as feeders to the Central School, in which a superior education is designed to be given, qualifying young Chinese for schoolmasters and for the learned professions, including that of medicine. Such a change would indeed be radical, and would require grave and mature deliberation. It is in contemplation to make the proposed Training College self-supporting, and if it be established, this should certainly be done, as the natives who are ambitious of obtaining a higher education are quite competent to pay for it. The people of Hong Kong are sincerely desirous of seeing the cause of education promoted, but they at the same time do not wish to have the burden of taxation increased; nor, seeing that a large proportion of the pupils turn their education to account outside the Colony—in the Chinese service for instance—is it fair that it should be paid for by the taxpayers of Hong Kong. It will be seen what the proposed Commission have to recommend, and whether they consider that the existing scheme needs to be supplemented. Whatever the result of their inquiries, we cannot but regret the possibility which presents itself to our mind of the construction of the new building for the Central School being once again deferred. The present structure is so unsuitable, and so inadequate for the purpose, so unhealthy for boys and tutors, that the provision of better accommodation is a matter of urgency. Moreover, the waste of money entailed by the site of the new School lying idle for so many years is so grievous, that the patience of the taxpayers has, not unnaturally, long since evaporated. Whatever is done, therefore, in connection with education had better be done quickly. Possibly the suggested change in the character of the institution would not entail the necessity of any material alterations of the plans for the building, which, on this assumption, might be proceeded with at once.
A most complete change is impending, we learn, in the whole scheme of education in this Colony. It will be remembered that Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY, in his speech at the Central School on the annual prize day, referred to the subject of English teaching and mentioned that he had applied to the Secretary of State for permission to build five new schools for English teaching solely, and that Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH had sanctioned the expenditure of $10,000 for this purpose. This amount, it is satisfactory to learn, is to be taken from the Special Fund. The sum named, however, will scarcely suffice for the construction of the buildings, unless they are of a very cheap description indeed, but probably there will be little difficulty in getting the appropriation of a larger amount sanctioned, for the Special Fund could hardly be applied to a more useful purpose. The five new schools are to be erected in the outlying districts of Victoria and at the villages of Yow-ma-ti and Shau-ki-wan, and they will probably absorb not less than three or four hundred of the pupils in the lowest classes of the Central School.
The plans for the new Central School were laid before the Executive Council on Monday by the Hon. J. M. PRICE, when some discussion arose, we learn, upon the question of education, and an opinion was expressed that the time had come to establish a Training College in connection with the Central School. It was suggested by His Excellency the Governor that the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Surveyor-General, and Dr. Eitel should form a Committee to consider the question, but, subsequently, it was resolved to make the Committee thoroughly representative, and Dr. STEWART expressed the opinion that it would be advisable for the Committee to take into consideration Dr. EITEL's suggestions contained in his last report and revise the whole educational policy of the Colony.
The composition of the Committee, as suggested, is as follows:—The Hon. Dr. F. STEWART (Chairman), Hon. E. I. O'Malley, Hon. J. M. Price, Hon. P. Ryrie, Hon. W. Keswick, Hon. Ng Choy, with Dr. Eitel, and Innes Jackson.
See minutes & draft on
GR1178/1922/32(III)
59
(0151
77 Hong Kong & the passages I have mailed in the minutes of Executive Council