224
SIR,
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
REPORT of CHINESE EDUCATION COMMITTEE:-
Victoria, Hong Kong, February 16, 1855. In compliance with the instructions of the Hon. the Lieutenant Governor contained your letter No.406 of December 19, 1854, we have the honour to forward the following report of the Government schools during the past year.
These schools are still five in number: no increase has been made though applications have been forwarded for the establishment of elementary schools in other localities. The school accommodation provided by Government is therefore sufficient for one hundred and fifty children only, and from the returns of the Registrar General we estimate that in private native schools about two hundred and fifty children are under instruction.
The number of Chinese children within the colony is eight thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, and the amount spent by Government in education during the past year was 1247. 7s. 11d. sterling.
The average attendance at the Government schools was one hundred and twelve. The Victoria school had thirteen more than its complement; the Wongneichoong school two less; and the others, situated in the out villages, many less. The emolument of the schoolmaster fluctuates with the number of his scholars, while this remains below thirty; above that number, the master has no interest in the increase of pupils.
The Wongneichoong schoolhouse is the only one which is at all suited for its purpose; the rest are hired rooms, most dirty to behold, and most unpleasant to visit.
English is taught in two schools by two Chinese lads, whose united remuneration is five pounds a year. The subjects of instruction are similar to those mentioned in our last report.
Under the present aspect of affairs education in Hong Kong, as aided by Government, may be pronounced at almost its lowest ebb. It has neither the means of present good nor the elements of future advantage. It has neither suitable buildings, suitable masters, nor suitable supervision. As the Government has expressed no intention of originating an efficient scheme and voting the requisite funds, it does not lie within our province to do more than report upon what now exists; and for the improvement of this we think indispensable, first, the building of suitable school houses; secondly, the establishment of paid apprentice teachers; thirdly, the appointment in each school capable of enlargement of an assistant schoolmaster, with a knowledge of the English language, receiving a salary of not less than twenty dollars a month; fourthly, the appointment of an inspector to pay at the least weekly visits to each school, and report to the committee the results of each visit.
(True copy.)
We have, &c. (Signed)
G. VICTORIA, C. B. HILLIER, JAMES LEGGE,
M. C. ODELL, Committee for superintending
Chinese Education.
The COLONIAL SURGEON'S REPORT for 1854.
Topography and Climate, &c.
The nature of the climate and topographical description of Hong Kong require no remark, both having been (I presume) fully detailed in former reports; nor is there now any occasion to describe the position of the several police stations, with the accommodation of each, such being already well known to the authorities.
Hospital.
The hospital situated at the corner of Graham Street, and for some years past in use, was shortly after my appointment as colonial surgeon removed to the present building, as I considered that it did not afford the necessary accommodation, and was further deficient in ventilation and drainage, all of which essential requisites the present building possesses.
Fevers.
The prevalent diseases during the year have been, as usual, fever and bowel complaint. The intermittent fever of this colony is most pertinacious in its attack, any individual having once suffered being liable to a recurrence of the disease, until the constitution is completely sapped and the patient reduced to a state of the most distressing debility. The remittent fever is less frequent but more fatal; it is often the result of the former, but by no means invariably so. During the year many cases occurred, but with the exception of a few fatal ones the disease was amenable to treatment. During the months of October and November the fever of the cold season (an obscure remittent) has been unusually prevalent, difficult to check, and the convalescence slow. This class of disease generally lays the foundation of some organic affection of the abdominal viscera, especially the spleen