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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
and who will undoubtedly see that it is spent to good purpose. How the measures they may introduce will react on our sub- sidiary coinage problem in this Colony re- mains to be seen, and we shall shape our policy accordingly when we know them. The balance of the sum due for the revision of the Ordinances is included. The total net cost after deducting the value of the copies purchased at the ordinary sale price will be $5,000 only, and I can personall testify, as also can the Law Committee of this Council, to the inneuse amount of time, industry and ability which Sir Francis Piggott has devoted to the work. fortunate in having so exceptionally able an
Chair at the University. It will supersede the vote of $2,500 which has hitherto been granted to the College of Medicine, since this institution will now be absorbed by the University. The latter vote has been re- tained on the estimates this year, as the College will continue for a great part of the year, but it will not be fully spent. The University vote, should the Council ap- prove, will be paid in full in order to covor cost of passages, etc. i propose that the sum shown in the estimates shall annually be paid over to the funds of the University, as a recognition by Goverment on the one band of the large amount subscribed by voluntary contributions towards this project, and on the other hand because the Uni-editor. versity will greatly benefit the taxpayers of the Colony by affording a means of com- pleting the education of the pupils in the highest classes of our secondary schools. is not an unduly liberal contribution com- pared with the $11,150 per annum which The Straits give to the Medical College there. This Government recognition, if assented to by this Council, will. I ma con- fident, greatly encourage the Chinese gentle men who have made such strenuous efforts to promote this scheme. The Miscellaneous vote is, as I have alread said, increased by a sum of $32,000 for coal for launches, which replaces votes to a larger amount hitherto shown under various departments.
It
Police, Etc.
We are
The cost of the assisted-passages scheme involves an increase of soure $6,000 in the transport vote, which was previously under- estimated; the actual expenditure last year standing at $14,000. The police have becu increased by the addition of one European sergeant and two lance sergeants; the In- dians decreased by 14 constables and the Chinese increased by 44 police constables, while No. 3 police launch is re-commissioned with a full crew. The additions to the strength of the police are made in order to admit of a considerable increase in the detective force, and the division of the whole Subsidiary Coinage, Etc.
city and of Kowloon into detective divisions for the better suppression of crime. These Provision is made for the loss actually measures have already been carried out, the incurred by the receipt of revenue paid in cost this year having been approved by this subsidiary coins, the discount being estimat-Council in a supplementary vote, and I ed at seven per cent. No provision is made think I can already detect a good result. for demonetisation, which the Secretary of The re-commissioning of the launch is in State and the Lords of the Treasury con- order to more effectually patrol the waters sider to be an inadvisable measure, and the of the Colony, with a view to stopping cost of which we are at present ill able to armed robberies at sca, which are of too afford. We may, however, count it to our frequent occurrence. A new police station selves for righteousness that during the last has been opened at Tsun Wan, a Europeau four years we have recalled from circulation police sergeant being withdrawn from Au and melted down silver subsidiary coins to Tan for this charge. The effect of those the value of $5,272,012, and copper to the changes is to increase the total for salaries value of $255,446, representing a total of by $17,000, but the total cost of the police, over 78,000,000 coins at a cost to the re-exclusive of fire brigade and prisons, re- venue of $795,758. We shall await with interest the disclosure of the steps which are about to be taken by China for the reorganisation of her currency under the auspices of the four Powers who have guaranteed a great loan for the purpose,
mains the same owing to various economies under other charge votes, and to the transfer of $13,000 for coal for launches to the head Miscellaneous Services. The cbarge for the department is roughly 12 per cent. of the revenue of the Colony. Some economies
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have been effected in the prison staff on the suggestion of the Assistant Superintendent of Victoria Gaol, especially the substitu- tion of four Indian for two European war- ders; and on the recommendation of the Captain Superintendent of Police the $5,000 voted under Fire Brigade last year for street fire alarms has not been spent. A motor tender with new ladders to enable the fire men to reach the scene of a fire more quickly than is at present possible with coolie drawn arts has been substituted, at a cost to be provided next year of $14,000.
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pupils as the chief sign of progress and development. The staff of the Schools had not in the large majority of cases kept pace with the increase in numbers of scholars and the Government schools were no ex- ception. In Queen's College, for instance, the attendance was about 1,000, though the numbers for whom it is now foun1 (even with extra class rooms) that proper accom- modation can be provided is only 800. As a consequence the size of the classes had in many cases grown very large and much in excess of the number which could properly and efficiently be taught by a single master. The quality of the education afforded was therefore deteriorating from year to year, while the schools were overcrowded. More over, there was a tendency in most, if not in all, of the schools which professed to give a secondary education, to increas the num- bers in the lowest (viz., the primary) classes, and as the grant was given per caput, the same sum was received for a mere infant as for boys in the top classes whose education required expensive masters.
The Medical Department shows no change of importance. The Lunatic Asylum is re- tained on its present basis, but the question of providing some better accommodation for its increasing numbers is engaging my at tention. The grant to the Tung Wa Hos. pital for medicines, hitherto an elastic amount, is increased by $1,000, and $2,500 is now fix d as a maximum. The Sanitary Department continues its policy of sub stituting direct control for the unwiel y contracts which it was difficult to supervise The total of the salaries is thereby increased
I laid those matters, with some others, to a small amount by the engagement of before a committee of experts early last extra bullock drivers and launch men in year, and their recommendations were order to effect a much larger decrease in the summarized in a report which was laid contracts which appear under other charges. before this Council on May 5th, 1910
Effect The total estimated expenditure in this de-
(Sessional Paper 3, 1910). partient has now fallen to $341,096, with given to their proposals by various altera- To heck the an increase of efficiency due to improved tions in the Grant Code. methods and to the coustaut supervision tendency to augment the lower classes at and thought given the Head of the De- the expense of the advanced on s, a higher partment, and by the public-pirited gentle-grant was given for pupils in the upper and middle divisious of a school than for those men who form the Sanitary Board. The Botanical and Forestry Department con-
in the lower division; while a special grant. tinues to carry out most useful work in the which now appears separately to the amount afforestation of the Colony and the care of of $3,500, was given for those who passed its splendid public gardens, By various the tests of the Oxforu Local examination. economies its cost has been reduced to To ensure adequate person 1 atten ion to $44,256.
every pupil, and to check overcrowding, the numbers in a single el ss under one master were limited to 40. The standard of each class was at the same time made identical in all Government and grant schools
The Government's Educational
Policy
was
In dealing with the Vote for Education | throughout the Colony so that comparison
I shall ask your attention to a few remarks on the progress of the general educational policy which has been followed during the past three years.
First, as regards the schools (whether supported by Government alone, or by missions or by others with a Government grant) in which a secondary education is given. A tendency had grou up to regard an increased attendance of
of the education given by each school is now easy. These reforms were applied to Government schools equally with graut schools, and the teaching staff was consider- ably increased, while the number of pupils was reduced partly by the introduction of dual desks, which prevented the former over- crowding and reduced the accommodation available, and partly by the slimination of
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