المحنة
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AGA Re
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Copy.
Enclosure
RECE
C.O
25
0405
VC FEB OF
1
The Secretary of State does not
specify what statements in the Inspector of Schools'
Annual Report for 1899 have caused him to regard the
state of education in Hongkong as not altogether Batie-
factory, birt they are probably those dealing with the
following matters.
2. (a) The decrease in the number of
Grant-in-ald Schools for teaching Chinese' their o
language. (. See paras 4, 60, 25 and 27).
T- 3. This decrease" is due to a rise
in house rents and in the general cost of living. The
extra grant to be made to schools occupying rented premises, which has been voted for next year will probably
check any further decrease.
4. (b) The decrease in the ratio
which the net expenditure on education bears to the
revenue of the Colony. (See para €).
5. This is due in part to the
causes mentioned in the Report. But the Bducation Depart-
ment is at a disadvantage when its claims on the Govern-
ment have to be considered at the same time as those made
by other departments such as the Public Works, the Police
or the Sanitary Department. In the case of the three latter, the questions involved are those of the material interests of the Community and of the security of life
and property. Consequently when any difficulty arises in keeping the expenditure below revenue, the reasons for educational expenditure can rarely appear so urgent' as
those