M.F.
x.380.
28 OCT 1901
Sir,
Government House,
Hongkong, 24th September, 1901.
I have the honour to forward a letter received from eight of the leading Chinese Gentlemen of the Colony, praying that facilities might be afforded them for securing for the children of the better class Chinese a good English education, their reasons for desiring a special school being given. I deferred dealing with this until the general question was being considered, but remembering that the better classes of Chinese are quite as anxious as any Europeans to preserve their children from contact with children of a lower class, intimate communication with whom would be prejudicial to their moral character, I sympathise with the desire of the writers, and hope to receive authority to meet their views as well as those of the European Petitioners for a separate school.
2. The question might present itself that the wealthy Chinese could themselves engage the teachers; but I do not think that they could secure the same class of teachers and the same continuity that would result from the employment of teachers by the Government.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
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