(8)
In the Report published in 1876 we read of European boys being for the first time admitted into the Reformatory; they were either orphans or children whose parents entirely neglected their education and who would have certainly turned bad if left outside. We have to remark, once for all, that a principle we have always acted upon was never to make the Establishment a convenience for the offspring of illegitimate connections between Europeans and Chinese. From its foundation, it has been specially for destitute boys who would otherwise grow up scamps, it being our conviction, as expressed elsewhere, that the best means to diminish crimes is to prevent people from becoming criminals.
A small printing press was added to the Reformatory in 1877 and we read in the Report published in 1878:--- "The boys have made wonderful progress in printing." "The number of the boys," continues the Report, "has also increased, the Chinese being upward of sixty, to whom not less than twelve boys of other nationalities have been added. More would have been accepted had there been room."
In the same Report the necessity of providing some home for the poor non-Chinese boys was again insisted upon, as well as the necessity of Portuguese boys learning some respectable trade, such as printing, bookbinding, tailoring, etc.
The Report published in 1879 is much more encouraging. "Twenty-five boys entered the Institute in the year 1878, and eight left for situations, nearly all carpenters. At the end of the year there were 59 boys distributed thus:- 10 carpenters, 8 shoemakers, 20 tailors, 8 printers, 4 gardeners, 9 studying.
At this time the ground adjoining the Reformatory, which was some years before a barren piece of land, having been raised in terraces, became a very well cultivated garden, and the inmates of the Reformatory began to draw some advantage by having daily fresh vegetables and even, by selling the surplus on behalf of the Institution. In one of the local papers in 1880 there appeared the following:-
(9)
"The ground adjoining the Reformatory, which was some years ago a barren piece of land, having lately been raised in terraces, is now a very well cultivated garden owing, no doubt, to the exertions the Brothers have brought to bear upon the boys, who, instead of lying idle after school hours, are employing their time in gardening which, it must be admitted, is one of the most delightful occupations for boys, as it combines not only innocent amusement with exercise of the healthiest kind, but also skill and taste, and is full of instruction, for it leads the mind to the wonderful operations of Nature as well as to the great Originator and Preserver of all things.
"The place now looks so nice, especially the garden, and the boys so happy that everyone who visited the Reformatory on Saturday last left it with the highest admiration on the system under which the establishment is carried on.
"The enlarging of the Reformatory is badly wanted, and we think that it is the only Establishment of this kind which exists in the Colony, and, as the Institution has invariably received every boy sent by the Magistrates, the Government ought to encourage the Directors, who are the Christian Brothers, by giving work and larger pecuniary means to enable them to increase the number of the inmates, and to enlarge the building. At home, the Government has provided in the Educational Code for the existence and development of these Institutions under the heading 'Industrial Schools.' Why could not the same be done here? Why should private charity have to support nearly entirely the poor of the Colony? Why in Hongkong should the Government do so little on behalf of the poor? Upwards of ten thousand children
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