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of their studies, especially in work requiring the use of instru- ments and the construction of accurate diagrams.
The opening of the new session 1929 has been marked by a notable and gratifying increase in the Faculty of Engineering, the First Year of which now numbers 32. Consequently there are now 52 students in the First Year class in Pure Mathematics and the accommodation of the lecture-room has had to be increased by the provision of twelve new tables and chairs.
Mathematics, whether Pure or Applied, calls for little in the way of equipment, but it is to be hoped that if and when funds become available, something may be spared for models and wall-diagrams, and for new and improved black-boards.
W. BROWN,
Professor of Mathematics.
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS.
Staff-W. Faid, M.Sc. (Professor of Physics).
D. F. Davies, B.A. (Lecturer).
Un Po, B.Sc. (Demonstrator).
The lectures in Physics are attended by undergraduates drawn from all three faculties. In the Medical Faculty the first year Physics course is compulsory, whilst in the Engineering Faculty both the first and second year courses are compulsory. Groups 2 and 4a of the Faculty of Arts offer advanced courses in Physics, the former allowing for four years study of the The total number of students attending classes was subject. 94, distributed as follows:-
Medical Faculty
Engineering Faculty
Arts Faculty
Ist Year, 2nd Year. 3rd Year.
32
19
16
18
8
I
It is worthy of note that the science groups of the Faculty of Arts are now increasing in popularity, and provided suitable employment is offered to graduates from these groups, it seems certain that they will continue to increase in strength. The lead, regards the employment of these Pure Science graduates, should be given in Hong Kong and as a matter of course other places will follow.
Mr. D. F. Davies, B.A. has recently joined the staff of the department as lecturer. His appointment was essential, for in previous years the call in hours per week on the staff, was such as to make it increasingly difficult to maintain a suit- able standard of work.
With the staff question settled there now only remains the the problem of equipment for advanced courses and post- graduate work. There seems no other way of meeting this need than by having a special fund from which research grants can be drawn, for the yearly departmental grant is not even big enough to meet the needs of the ordinary courses.
W. FAID,
Professor of Physics.
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY.
Staff:-G. T. Byrne, M.Sc., A.I.C. (Professor of Chemistry).
Chan Chau Lam (Demonstrator).
The lectures in Chemistry are attended by students of all three faculties. The number of undergraduates in the depart- ment was 119, divided as follows:-
Medical Faculty
Engineering Faculty
Arts Faculty
1st Year. 2nd Year. 3rd Year.
35
22
17
18
17
9
I
The teaching work during 1928 was very heavy and did not allow any time for innovations.
The Staff of the department has been strengthened by the addition of a lecturer, Mr. R. A. Hill, M.Sc., A.I.C., who began work at the commencement of the present term (1929). Mr. Hill has special qualifications in physical chemistry and has been engaged for some years in industrial research.
Instruction in physical chemistry can now be developed to an extent which was not possible formerly.
G. T. BYRNE, Professor of Chemistry.
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35