43
post. The most suitable candidate to succeed him out of
the professional staff of the Department was stated to be
Mr. A.R. Sutherland; but it was his intention to retire
as soon as possible, and in these circumstances, since you
regarded it as most desirable that the officer selected
should have before him a long tenure of the post, you were unable to recommend Mr. Sutherland's appointment. Apart
from this reason, however, you preferred Mr. N.L. Smith as the most suitable officer for appointment; and this
recommendation was approved, subject to Mr. Smith's under-
taking a course of study of educational institutions and
methods in this country with a view to his obtaining
information and experience useful to him in his new duties.
The present vacancy arises from the promotion of
Mr. Smith to high administrative office in control of
another Department of the Administration after a compara-
tively short tenure of the appointment of Director of Educa-
tion, and I note your inability to recommend any member of
the professional staff of the Education Department to
succeed him.
4.
5.
I fully appreciate the importance, especially at
the present time, of having the control of the Education
Department in the Colony in the hands of an officer with
knowledge and experience of the Chinese and their manner of
life and thought. But I think it scarcely less important
that the Governor's educational adviser should be an
officer not only familiar with Chinese affairs, but also a
man of experience and proved capacity in the sphere of
educational work.
6.
It is possible that any risk that an unsuitable
policy might be adopted in respect of vernacular education
in Hong Kong could be guarded against by according to the
Secretary for Chinese Affairs a special advisory position
in all matters affecting policy in Chinese vernacular
education;