indeed, one of the most distinguished men in the East-expressed his gratitude for what had been done for the Foochow Arsenal and for certain works at Tientsin by the Government scheme of education in this Colony; for he told me that every year young Chinese, well trained in their own language, were sent from this school to the Foochow Arsenal, and to other places in China where the Imperial Chinese Government have works; and that the young men who had been trained here were found most useful to the Chinese Government in the sphere in which they were then placed. Well, I told Mr. HART that it was always agreeable for the Governor of the Colony to receive the thanks of any man for what the Government had been doing; but I did not conceal from him my conviction that the young men who were sent to the Foochow Arsenal, or who might be sent to the Chinese Government establishments in Tientsin, ought to be educated, not at the expense of the ratepayers of Hongkong, but at the expense of the Government of China; and that, whilst it might be a very laudable undertaking to do something for the four hundred millions of Chinese in this vast empire near us, and that, whilst it might be a friendly act to assist the Chinese Government as far as the training of its Chinese officials goes, that, nevertheless, it did occur to me that Her Majesty's Government and the 140,000 inhabitants of Hongkong had something to say to the question; and that, if a Chinese youth is to spend five or six years in this school, being highly trained under a distinguished head master and able staff of teachers, after all it might be better for the Colony if that young man remained in Hongkong and did not proceed to the Foochow Arsenal. And then the question arises, how does it come to pass that these young men do not remain in the Colony, but that we send so many of them to be employed by the Chinese Government? This is certainly an interesting question to answer, for there is no doubt that in Hongkong, as some friends who are sitting here on my right know, there is a great demand for Chinese youths who really understand English, have a knowledge of book-keeping, and can assist in keeping accounts; and that the European merchants would be glad to have an ample supply of clerks of that stamp; but that, nevertheless, the number of Chinese boys educated here who have a good knowledge of English-both speaking and writing it-is very limited indeed. Many of my friends among the European merchants feel the inconvenience of this state of things. The records and accounts of the Foochow Arsenal are kept in Chinese, and if we set before us the task of training young natives for that institution, we must of course look to teaching them Chinese rather than English. But, I must say, I should prefer to do what we can to assist in giving the students educated here and in our other schools the kind of education suited for the mercantile life of Hongkong-this great depôt of British shipping and commerce-In that way we shall be doing our duty to Her Majesty's Government and to the local taxpayers. It is my wish-it has been the ambition of nearly every man who preceded me in the Government of this Colony, and it has been the policy of all Secretaries of State who have written to my predecessors and myself that Hongkong should be made an Anglo-Chinese Colony, where Her Majesty should have thousands upon thousands of Chinese subjects, with a thorough knowledge of the English language--amenable to English law and appreciating the British constitution, loyal to their QUEEN, and a strength to this distant part of Her Majesty's Empire. Our education scheme will accomplish a practical result if it assists in achieving that. An Anglo-Chinese Colony, such as I have over and over again expressed my wish to see here, must spring from the children in the Colony. Last year there came to me a deputation of Chinese merchants and shopkeepers. Some of them said, "We have children and grand-children, born in this Colony, and we ourselves desire to become naturalised. We desire to see the property we hold transmitted to our children as from British subjects to British subjects;" and they asked for my assistance to this end. They also told me they desired to keep their children here, with all their future interests wrapped up in Hongkong as their permanent home, their real country and last resting place. I believe that the carrying out of that policy will not only advance the interests of the natives, but also facilitate the operations of the European merchants, who feel the want of English speaking Chinese employés; and, above all, it will assist in carrying out the policy Her Majesty's Ministers have in view, that of securing here a peaceful, intelligent, reliable Anglo-Chinese community.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have thus referred briefly to the changes that have been made in 1879, and to the policy I believe our education system should be identified with. I will only add that during the absence of the head master he had no fault to find with the way in which this school was conducted; on the contrary, he tells me it was managed during his absence to his satisfaction, and he has assured me to-day that the staff of teachers present he regards as a most able, efficient, and loyal one. We have present at this moment 399 pupils. That is a respectable number to have at these examinations. The result, as far as the papers show, is also, Dr. STEWART tells me, most satisfactory. And I believe it is satisfactory, for this reason, that, in dealing with this school, knowing the character, ability, and attainments of its head master, I have agreed to every proposal he has made to me. I will let you into one little secret of official work. There comes to me every day a despatch-box from the Colonial Secretary's Office, filled with what we call the Colonial Secretary's Office papers, that is, various applications made by heads of departments and others on public business. That comes to me every morning, and I endeavour as early in the day as I can to deal with it. So far as education goes, I am in this position, that, when I see a C.S.O. paper with the handwriting of Dr. STEWART upon it, and the précis of its contents outside, I don't take the trouble of opening it. I read the little précis he has made, and I write under it "approved," sign my name, and send it back to the Colonial Secretary's Office. I am bound to say that I do the same with the papers that come to me from Dr. EITEL, the Inspector of Schools; and, therefore, I must frankly admit, that so far as the administrative conduct
Page 75
Page 76
indeed, one of the most distinguished men in the East-expressed his gratitude for what had been done for the Foochow Arsenal and for certain works at Tientsin by the Government scheme of education in this Colony; for he told me that every year young Chinese, well trained in their own language, were sent from this school to the Foochow Arsenal, and to other places in China where the Imperial Chinese Government have works; and that the young men who had been trained here were found most useful to the Chinese Government in the sphere in which they were then placed. Well, I told Mr. HART that it was always agreeable for the Governor of the Colony to receive the thanks of any man for what the Government had been doing; but I did not conceal from him my conviction that the young men who were sent to the Foochow Arsenal, or who might be sent to the Chinese Government establishments in Tientsin, ought to be educated, not at the expense of the ratepayers of Hongkong, but at the ex- pense of the Government of China; and that, whilst it might be a very landable undertaking to do something for the four hundred millions of Chinese in this vast empire near us, and that, whilst it might be a friendly act to assist the Chinese Government as far as the training of its Chinese officials gocs, that, nevertheless, it did occur to me that Her Majesty's Government and the 140,000 inhabitants of Hongkong had something to say to the question; and that, if a Chinese youth is to spend five or six years in this school, being highly trained under a distinguished head master and able staff of teachers, after all it might be better for the Colony if that young man remained in Hongkong and did not proceed to the Foochow Arsenal. And then the question arises, how does it come to pass that these young men do not remain in the Colony, but that we send so many of them to be employed by the Chinese Government? This is certainly an interesting question to answer, for there is no doubt that in Hongkong, as some friends who are sitting here on my right know, there is a great demand for Chinese youths who really understand English, have a knowledge of book-keeping, and can assist in keeping accounts; and that the European merchants would be glad to have an ample supply of clerks of that stamp; but that, nevertheless, the number of Chinese boys educated here who have a good knowledge of English-both speaking and writing it-is very limited indeed. Many of my friends among the European merchants feel the inconvenience of this state of things. The records and accounts of the Foochow Arsenal are kept in Chinese, and if we set before us the task of training young natives for that institution, we must of course look to teaching them Chinese rather than English. But, I must say, I should prefer do what we can to assist in giving the students educated here and in our other schools the kind of education suited for the mercantile life of Hongkong-this great depôt of British shipping and commerce-In that way we shall be doing our duty to Her Majesty's Government and to the local taxpayers. It is my wish-it has been the ambition of nearly every man who preceded me in the Government of this Colony, and it has been the policy of all Secretaries of State who have written to my predecessors and myself that Hongkong should be made an Anglo-Chinese Colony, where Her Majesty should have thousands upon thousands of Chinese subjects, with a thorough knowledge of the English language--amenable to English law and appreciating the British constitution, loyal to their QUEEN, and a strength to this distant part of Her Majesty's Empire. Our education scheme will accomplish a practical result if it assists in achieving that. An Anglo-Chinese Colony, such as I have over and over again expressed my wish to see here, must spring from the children in the Colony. Last year there came to me a deputation of Chinese merchants and shopkeepers. Some of them said, "We have children and grand-children, born in this Colony, and we ourselves desire to become naturalised. We desire to see the property we hold transmitted to our children as from British subjects to British subjects;" and they asked for my assistance to this end. They also told me they desired to keep their children here, with all their future interests wrapped up in Hongkong as their permanent home, their real country and last resting place. I believe that the carrying out of that policy will not only advance the interests of the natives, but also facilitate the operations of the European merchants, who feel the want of English speaking Chinese employés; and, above all, it will assist in carrying out the policy Her Majesty's Ministers have in view, that of securing here a peaceful, intelligent, reliable Anglo-Chinese community.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have thus referred briefly to the changes that have been made in 1879, and to the policy I believe our education system should be identified with. I will only add that during the absence of the head master he had no fault to find with the way in which this school was conducted; on the contrary, he tells me it was managed during his absence to his satisfaction, and he has assured me to-day that the staff of teachers present he regards as a most able, efficient, and loyal one. We have present at this moment 399 pupils. That is a respectable number to have at these exa- minations. The result, as far as the papers show, is also, Dr. STEWART tells me, most satisfactory. And I believe it is satisfactory, for this reason, that, in dealing with this school, knowing the character, ability, and attainments of its head master, I have agreed to every proposal he has made to me. I will let you into one little secret of official work. There comes to me every day a despatch-box from the Colonial Secretary's Office, filled with what we call the Colonial Secretary's Office papers, that is, various applications made by heads of departments and others on public business. That comes to me every morning, and I endeavour as early in the day as I can to deal with it. So far as education goes, I am in this position, that, when I see a C.S.O. paper with the handwriting of Dr. STEWART upon it, and the précis of its contents outside, I don't take the trouble of opening it. I read the little précis he has made, and I write under it "approved," sign my name, and send it back to the Colonial Secre- tary's Office. I am bound to say that I do the same with the papers that come to me from Dr. EITEL. the Inspector of Schools; and, therefore. I must frankly admit, that so far as the administrative conduct
Page 75Page 76
indeed, one of the most distinguished men in the East-expressed his gratitude for what had been done for the Foochow Arsenal and for certain works at Tientsin by the Government scheme of education in this Colony; for he told me that every year young Chinese, well trained in their own language, were sent from this school to the Foochow Arsenal, and to other places in China where the Imperial Chinese Government have works; and that the young men who had been trained here were found most useful to the Chinese Government in the sphere in which they were then placed. Well, I told Mr. HART that it was always agreeable for the Governor of the Colony to receive the thanks of any man for what the Government had been doing; but I did not conceal from him my conviction that the young men who were sent to the Foochow Arsenal, or who might be sent to the Chinese Government establishments in Tientsin, ought to be educated, not at the expense of the ratepayers of Hongkong, but at the ex- pense of the Government of China; and that, whilst it might be a very landable undertaking to do something for the four hundred millions of Chinese in this vast empire near us, and that, whilst it might be a friendly act to assist the Chinese Government as far as the training of its Chinese officials gocs, that, nevertheless, it did occur to me that Her Majesty's Government and the 140,000 inhabitants of Hongkong had something to say to the question; and that, if a Chinese youth is to spend five or six years in this school, being highly trained under a distinguished head master and able staff of teachers, after all it might be better for the Colony if that young man remained in Hongkong and did not proceed to the Foochow Arsenal. And then the question arises, how does it come to pass that these young men do not remain in the Colony, but that we send so many of them to be employed by the Chinese Government? This is certainly an interesting question to answer, for there is no doubt that in Hongkong, as some friends who are sitting here on my right know, there is a great demand for Chinese youths who really understand English, have a knowledge of book-keeping, and can assist in keeping accounts; and that the European merchants would be glad to have an ample supply of clerks of that stamp; but that, nevertheless, the number of Chinese boys educated here who have a good knowledge of English-both speaking and writing it-is very limited indeed. Many of my friends among the European merchants feel the inconvenience of this state of things. The records and accounts of the Foochow Arsenal are kept in Chinese, and if we set before us the task of training young natives for that institution, we must of course look to teaching them Chinese rather than English. But, I must say, I should prefer do what we can to assist in giving the students educated here and in our other schools the kind of education suited for the mercantile life of Hongkong-this great depôt of British shipping and commerce-In that way we shall be doing our duty to Her Majesty's Government and to the local taxpayers. It is my wish-it has been the ambition of nearly every man who preceded me in the Government of this Colony, and it has been the policy of all Secretaries of State who have written to my predecessors and myself that Hongkong should be made an Anglo-Chinese Colony, where Her Majesty should have thousands upon thousands of Chinese subjects, with a thorough knowledge of the English language--amenable to English law and appreciating the British constitution, loyal to their QUEEN, and a strength to this distant part of Her Majesty's Empire. Our education scheme will accomplish a practical result if it assists in achieving that. An Anglo-Chinese Colony, such as I have over and over again expressed my wish to see here, must spring from the children in the Colony. Last year there came to me a deputation of Chinese merchants and shopkeepers. Some of them said, "We have children and grand-children, born in this Colony, and we ourselves desire to become naturalised. We desire to see the property we hold transmitted to our children as from British subjects to British subjects;" and they asked for my assistance to this end. They also told me they desired to keep their children here, with all their future interests wrapped up in Hongkong as their permanent home, their real country and last resting place. I believe that the carrying out of that policy will not only advance the interests of the natives, but also facilitate the operations of the European merchants, who feel the want of English speaking Chinese employés; and, above all, it will assist in carrying out the policy Her Majesty's Ministers have in view, that of securing here a peaceful, intelligent, reliable Anglo-Chinese community.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have thus referred briefly to the changes that have been made in 1879, and to the policy I believe our education system should be identified with. I will only add that during the absence of the head master he had no fault to find with the way in which this school was conducted; on the contrary, he tells me it was managed during his absence to his satisfaction, and he has assured me to-day that the staff of teachers present he regards as a most able, efficient, and loyal one. We have present at this moment 399 pupils. That is a respectable number to have at these exa- minations. The result, as far as the papers show, is also, Dr. STEWART tells me, most satisfactory. And I believe it is satisfactory, for this reason, that, in dealing with this school, knowing the character, ability, and attainments of its head master, I have agreed to every proposal he has made to me. I will let you into one little secret of official work. There comes to me every day a despatch-box from the Colonial Secretary's Office, filled with what we call the Colonial Secretary's Office papers, that is, various applications made by heads of departments and others on public business. That comes to me every morning, and I endeavour as early in the day as I can to deal with it. So far as education goes, I am in this position, that, when I see a C.S.O. paper with the handwriting of Dr. STEWART upon it, and the précis of its contents outside, I don't take the trouble of opening it. I read the little précis he has made, and I write under it "approved," sign my name, and send it back to the Colonial Secre- tary's Office. I am bound to say that I do the same with the papers that come to me from Dr. EITEL. the Inspector of Schools; and, therefore. I must frankly admit, that so far as the administrative conduct
Page 75Page 76
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