presence of Dr. STEWART in London; and that is, the question of English teaching in the Government Schools of Hongkong. You are all aware that, on the first occasion of my coming here, and I think I may say on every other occasion when I have had to address the managers, or the pupils' parents, or promoters of schools in this Colony, I have invariably dwelt on the importance of teaching English to the Chinese. I have noticed to-day with satisfaction that, among the prizes which have been provided for the pupils here by Mr. STEWART, all those books that you saw on my right hand, and which I have just been giving away, are books that will be useful in teaching English to the Chinese boys who got them. Dr. STEWART selected these books himself. They are copies of an English and Chinese dictionary, a practical and valuable prize. But this is not the only indication that Dr. STEWART has given of his intention to have more English taught in the Colony. The question was put to him in England, at the instance of the Secretary of State, as to how far he could manage to have the teaching of Chinese made optional in this school. It was represented to the Government that some of the Chinese boys coming here wished to devote themselves to learning English, and that, having already, in their opinion, or the opinion of their parents, a sufficient knowledge of Chinese, they might be allowed to study English throughout the whole of the school hours. Dr. STEWART's remark upon that is to this effect, in a letter dated London, 17th January, 1879, addressed to the Under Secretary at the Colonial Office:-
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"In answer to your question whether the duties could not be so arranged as to leave it optional for a boy to learn English during all the hours allotted to work, or English for part of the time, and Chinese for the rest, I reply that it could not be done with the existing building, and with the present limited staff of masters, but if it is considered desirable by the Secretary of State that the option should be given, I will waive my own opinion and give effect to the regulation as soon as the new arrangements will permit of its being done."
Now, gentlemen, this brings me to the statement that the provision of a suitable building for the Central School is still under the consideration of the Government. In the early part of last year, I gave instructions that the plans and specifications should be prepared for the new Central School, that Dr. STEWART was to be consulted as to the precise requirements he thought necessary, and that his wishes were to be acted on as to the nature and dimensions of the building. The department to which that work is entrusted has been occupied with a very urgent work, the most important, perhaps, we have had in this Colony, the rebuilding of the Praya wall, and no one, I think, can find fault with the Surveyor General that, during my absence in Japan, he should have had to apply to the Administrator for permission to postpone dealing with the school until the Praya works were finished. That permission was given, and very properly so, I have no doubt, under the circumstances. The result is that Dr. STEWART has not the capacious building he ought to have in conducting this important institution. I may mention, in connection with the subject of teaching English to the Chinese, that I asked the Secretary of State to allow me to build five new schools in this Colony for the Chinese, where they would be taught English, saying that in the meantime efforts would be made to introduce it in all the village schools. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH has authorised me to build those schools, and to expend $10,000 on the work, and that also will be the duty of the Surveyor General when the task he has now in hand is finished; he will then undertake the preparation of plans for these five additional schools. In a word, you will see that Her Majesty's Government and the local Government are alive to the importance of teaching English to the Chinese youth of this Colony, and that practical steps are being taken to secure that result.
Now, when first I spoke from this desk, I adverted to the fact that Dr. STEWART, filling the two offices of Head Master and Inspector, was over-worked, and I indicated my wish that he might be constituted Inspector of Schools in the Colony, and relieved from the task of Head Master. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in the decision at which he arrived on the public instruction of Hongkong, directed me to inform Dr. STEWART that he thought the work of the Central School was enough for any man's time, and that therefore he was to be retained as the head master of the Central School, and that the office of inspector was to be conferred on some other gentleman. Arrangements in accordance with the wish of the Government have been made, but I have no hesitation in saying that I regard them as provisional and temporary. I was most fortunate in obtaining for the Inspectorate of the other schools in the Colony the services of Dr. EITEL, a friend of education and an accomplished scholar, and he now fills the appointment of Inspector of Schools. But I have recommended Dr. Eitel to the Government for another appointment, namely, that of being the head of a staff of interpreters, and also Chinese Secretary, a post which formerly existed and was found a very useful one; and, if the Government think fit to approve of my suggestion, the consequence will be that the appointment of Inspector of Schools will then be vacant. Everyone knows that, on its falling vacant, I should best perform my duty to the public Instruction of Hongkong, if I were then to ask Her Majesty's Government to give to Dr. STEWART the Inspectorate not only of the schools with which Dr. EITEL now deals, but of those schools together with the Central School, so that he will then be the head of the Education Department of the Colony in all its branches. That, I trust, we may yet accomplish; at all events, I shall strongly recommend it; and when it is done, but not till then, shall I be satisfied that Dr. STEWART is in the position he is entitled to hold.
During last year, not only were the changes to which I have adverted made by Her Majesty's Government, but a very eminent gentleman who had called to see me—Mr. ROBERT HART, the head of the Imperial Customs Service of China, a trusted and able officer of the Emperor of China, and,