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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
trait scarcely deserves a passing notice. A school of Chinese boys is a disciplinarian's paradise.
14. In the course of the year 95 boys left school. Of these, 40 are in business, some as interpreters, some as clerks, some as assistant compradores, some as assistants in Chinese shops, some as brokers, printers, and so on. Some have gone to California, some to Japan, others to Tientsin, Shanghai, Foochow, Canton, Macao, Saigon, Annam, and Bombay, while 25 remain in Hong Kong. Of the remainder, 8 left on account of sickness, 18 left the Colony along with their parents, 14 were removed from the roll principally for irregularities, 6 went to Chinese schools, 6 left for causes unknown, 1 was poor, 1 died, and 1 was married. Why the last should have considered himself excused it is difficult to say, for nearly all in the first class and many of those in the second are married.
15. There is nothing special to report in connection with the Chinese classes. They are three in number, and under three very competent masters. The same time is devoted to Chinese as to English, that is, four hours a day to each. Every effort is made, by weekly revisals and occasional examinations, to ensure as much attention to this part of the work as to that of the English classes; and this is the more necessary, as a good deal of latent opposition has to be encountered in the teaching of Chinese in the school. The people have very deeply-rooted notions of their own as to the selection of masters and the number of scholars whom one master should teach; and teaching by classes, while admitted to be very good in the teaching of English, is declared to be altogether unsuitable for the teaching of Chinese. Patience and perseverance will enable the school to outlive these prejudices.
16. The Preparatory Class, which was established to secure a certain knowledge of both English and Chinese before admission into the regular classes, has given proof of the usefulness which was expected of it. The mastership of this class is given as a reward to one of the best scholars taught in the school. Under him the boys learn the elements of reading, writing, and arithmetic, as a preparation for the English classes; and under one of the Chinese masters, who take this class alternately, they are prepared for the Chinese classes.
17. The school fees for the year amounted to $1,701.65, of which the sum of $1,460.75 was paid into the Treasury, and $240.90, being the fees paid by the Preparatory Class, went to the payment of the teacher of that class.
18. There only remains, under this division, to acknowledge, on behalf of the school in general and of successful scholars in particular, the liberality of the Honourable C. C. Smith, Dr. Murray, Mr. Hayllar, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Wai Kwong, and Mr. Kwok Cheung, who added so largely to the Prize Fund. While there is, no doubt, a good deal of hard work on the part of the boys, due to a desire for respectable and lucrative employment, the incentive to diligence produced by the valuable prizes which are given annually is of the most marked character. It is gratifying to be able to state that next year the list of donors will be considerably increased. These