18
free a sum of 84,113.
2.
Apart, however, from these mission- -conducted schools which received a grant from Government, there are an immense number of private vernacular primary schools run as a speculation by Chinese teachers of which the Government has little or no knowledge whatever. Many others are supported by Chinese Societies, such as tae Ellis Kadoorie Schools Committee, the Confucian Society, and others. I have long thought that this was a sphere in which the leading Chinese in this Colony would undoubtedly interest themselves, if they were invited to do so by the Government and assured of Government, co-operation. I consulted therefore the Chinese Members of the Council and many of the leading Chinese. gentlemen with the Registrar-General and the Director of Education, and eventually a Chinese Board of Primary Vernacular. Education was appointed by an Order-in- -Council which appeared in the Gazette of September 15th., 1911. The object of the Order is to constitute a Board somewhat similar to the Directorate of the Tung Wa, but which includes the Registrar-General and the Director of Education. It is my hope that the Chinese will take this matter of primary vernacu- -lar education into their own hands, as a new form of civic usefulness, assured of Government co-operation and financial assistance, but unhampered by red tape and unnecessary control or interference. When they have made their plans and formulated a scheme they can ask for whatever statutory powers they find necessary. It is proposed to hand over to them the 84,100 saved on the mission-conducted schools of the same class.
3.
I have great hopes of this scheme if it is allowed to develop on natural lines of evolution in its orm way. I hope that in the future every primary school in the Colony in which instruction is imparted in the Chinese language other than those conducted by Government itself, or by missions under a Government grant, will be under the cognizance of this Board, and I trust that a great improvement in methods of
education