Secretariat Reference No.148/48.
3,
Encl. No.1
Encl. No.2
NO.
166.
CONFIDENTIAL
Sir,
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GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG,
14th July, 1948.
I have the honour to address you in regard to certain suggestions made by the Bishop of Hong Kong with reference to the Grant Code and the current system of grants-in-aid to approved schools in the Colony.
2. The Bishop's proposals are outlined in the attached copy of a demi-official letter from himself to the Acting Director of Education; and the background against which the request has been made is set out in the enclosed copy of a memorandum prepared by the Acting Director.
3. It will be observed from the attachments to this memorandum that the question of a thorough revision of the existing Grant Code has been exhaustively considered and rejected by the Grant Schools Council and the Board of Education.
Encl. No.3 A copy of the minutes of the relevant meeting of the Board is
As
enclosed for information. The subject has in addition be en discussed at length by the Acting Director, the Bishop, the Colonial Secretary and myself. As will be apparent from his memorandum, the Acting Director is opposed to a modification of the existing Code in the direction desired by the Anglican schools. While giving full weight to these objections I have been nevertheless considerably impressed by the Bishop's arguments. In brief these centre round the fact that the Anglican schools are not in receipt of missionary funds from abroad but are organised as an integral part of the local community to whose resources they look wholly for support. a living part of that community, they are managed and run by a Board of Managers comprising public-spirited citizens: and upon these Boards the Anglican schools depend for their inspiration and leadership. The Boards cannot function with the necessary degree of initiative under the provisions of the existing Code by which they are denied full responsibility, in several important matters, for the administration of the particular school with which they are concerned. They cannot, for example, carry out repairs without prior inspection and approval by appropriate Governmental departments and staff appointments require covering approval from the Director of Education before being confirmed.
if a
4 The Bishop's contention in short is that Board of Managers is accepted as a responsible body, then it should be trusted to administer its school without interference, Government's part being confined to the duty of assuring itself by inspection that public funds are being profitably and properly spent. He further contends that under the present system the authorities are unable to accord to the Board this measure of trust.
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I hold strongly to the view that a primary need of this Colony is an effective means whereby its residents may be
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ARTHUR CREECH JONES, M.P.