77.
45
I now turn to the concluding paragraph of the report and I wish to know how far the words which I proceed to quote really represent the views of the Commission, and if so to point out what conclusion can logically be drawn from them. The words are
"The Committee hold that what Education is given should be thorough, and that better results will be obtained by assisting to enlighten the ignorance of the upper classes of Chinese than by attempting to force new ideas on the mass of the people."
This is a definite and intelligible statement, embodying a principle which, whether sound or not, could, if adopted, quite well be brought into practice and be acted upon steadily and consistently for many years to come. It implies that such Government money in Hong Kong as is devoted to education should preferably be spent on teaching a few scholars of the higher rather than