COPY.
To
426
CO
33388
Enclosure 1.
26 SEP 04,
His Excellency
Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G.,
Governor of
Hongkong.
The humble petition of the undersigned, who are residents on the Island portion of the Colony of Hongkong, setteth forth and sheweth:
That, as parents, we lie under grievous disability regarding the education of our children in a separate European School. The Government has already conceded the principle of separate education for European children, by providing the Kowloon District with 'The British School', which was opened in April 1902.
We submit that every reason, urged by the Kowloon residents for providing a British School on the mainland, may be urged with equal force by your Petitioners.
The difficulties, which prevent our using the School at Kowloon, are very great; and are altogether insurmountable in the cases of the younger children.
The East-central and Eastern portions of Victoria, together with the rapidly increasing parts along the route of the Electric Tramway system, are absolutely devoid of British School accommodation.
The result is deplorable in many respects, one being, the early division of many families on account of children being, almost of necessity, sent to Europe for education.
We, therefore, respectfully memorialize yourself and the Government which you head, to provide at the earliest possible time, British School accommodation, as near the centre or East-centre of Hongkong as may be practicable.
And your Petitioners will ever pray.
(Here follow 76 signatures.)