AnnualReport-1879 — Page 82

Hospital, in combination with a teacher of Western melical science. Some of the scholarships go to the Central School, and some to this school. I advise the pupils who may compete for the BELILIOS scholarships, to endeavour to work beyond the sixth standard, to remain a little longer at school, and to give their attention in the direction I have been pointing, namely, to English Composition and English Literature. If we have a number of pupils here who understand English thoroughly, these young men, growing up as British subjects, will certainly be as much entitled as any persons in this community to take a part in our public affairs and to attain to any position as mercantile men, or as officials, that any citizen of Hongkong can aspire to.

Of course, you are all aware that the number of British subjects in this Colony is now limited to those who have been born under the British flag. This Colony, unlike other Colonies of Her Majesty's empire, has no Naturalisation Ordinance, but it has been represented to me by some of the fathers of these boys, that is, by some of the leading Portuguese, and by others in Hongkong, that it would be desirable to have a Naturalisation Ordinance. Their views have been laid by me before Her Majesty's Government, and, in a few months, perhaps, I shall be able to say whether or not it will be possible for them to become naturalised British subjects. It was, indeed, in this school, two years ago, I adverted first to the iden of reviving our Volunteer movement, and I now see present a good many gentlemen connected with that movement,--one of them, an English gentleman, Mr. Justice FRANCIS, who has always been interested in this school, and who was recommended to me for a Captain's Com- mission by the suffrages of his brother Volunteers. No doubt, there are some here who cannot yet take part in the movement, whatever interest they may feel in the Colony, because they are not British subjects, but I am sure they share with their children and friends loyalty to the Crown.

I congratulate the Christian Brothers on the success of this their first examination under the grant-in-aid scheme. With the exception of what I have mentioned about English Composition, the report of the Examiner has been most satisfactory. I have no doubt that, next year, when I may have the pleasure of distributing prizes here, I shall be able to notice an improvement in that important

branch of education.

This is now, I think, the third or fourth time within the last two or three months that it has fallen to my lot to say a few words at schools or in connection with schools in this Colony. Not long since an honourable friend of mine who is present (the Honourable P. RYRIE), Dr. EITEL, myself, and others, assembled at St. Paul's College to assist in inaugurating a high class Church of England and Protestant school, which will be principally for European boys. That school, I am happy to say, has been well opened, and it will prove, I believe, a success. Last week I had the satisfaction of presiding at the distribution of prizes at the Central School; and it was only a day or two ago that, accompanied by my friend Dr. EITEL, I met twenty-six teachers of our other Government schools, when prizes were given to the children of twenty-nine schools, and rewards to the most efficient teachers." On that occasion I found the interesting fact, that in one native school where the Government allowed it to be optional whether the boys should learn English or Chinese, they all being Chinese, out of about sixty- oùe attending the school, it ultimately turned out that, in the cases of sixty, the parents clected that the boys should learn nothing but English. They thought that, as far as Chinese went, their children would learn enough of it at home, and they felt the great object of sending their boys to a Government school was to have them learn English. I had much pleasure in examining some of those boys. I found them able to speak English pretty well; they were evidently making steady progress. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, the state of education in the Colony is briefly this, that Her Majesty's Government have sanctioned a modification of the grant-in-aid scheme, under which all classes and all denominations can now obtain the benefit of it. All classes have now come under it. The chief education difficulty that I found existing here on my arrival has been set at rest by Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH'S wise decision. What seemed to me to be another grave defect in the Government scheme of public instruc- tion in Hongkong-too much Chinese teaching and too little English teaching is being gradually removed. I believe the scheme as it is now worked is a popular and useful scheme, and will, in time to come, give à sound English education to the youth of this Colony.---(Applause.)

Another address, thanking His Excellency and the visitors for the interest they evinced in the school, was then read by Master G. JORGE.

Mr. BELILIOS then said--Your Excellency and your Lordship,-I am highly gratified, and I feel greatly obliged to you, for the encomiums you have thought fit to bestow upon me, but I think I scarcely deserve or merit them, as in my belief I have done nothing more than what any citizen is in duty bound to do for his fellow-inhabitants. I can only hope that men of means and capacious hearts will come forward to back up the little beginning I have made, by helping to augment my little contri- bution, and thus create material support for the advancement of learning in the Colony. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, when I came here to-day, I hardly expected that I shonld be called upon tó address you on the subject now before us. The praise lavished on me has compelled me to speak, and I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without stating a few facts connected with the advantages this institution has conferred on the community. 1 landed in the island in the year 1862. The firm with whom I stayed for a short time had preceded ine by a few months. On their way to China they were told there was a dearth of clerks here, and they therefore thought it prudent to bring along a Portugueso

Hospital, in combination with a teacher of Western melical science. Some of the scholarships go to the Central School, and some to this school. I advise the pupils who may compete for the BELILIOS scholarships, to endeavour to work beyond the sixth standard, to remain a little longer at school, and to give their attention in the direction I have been pointing, namely, to English Composition and English Literature. If we have a number of pupils here who understand English thoroughly, these young men, growing up as British subjects, will certainly be as much entitled as any persons in this community to take a part in our public affairs and to attain to any position as mercantile men, or as officials, that any citizen of Hongkong can aspire to.

Of course, you are all aware that the number of British subjects in this Colony is now limited to those who have been born under the British flag. This Colony, unlike other Colonies of Her Majesty's empire, has no Naturalisation Ordinance, but it has been represented to me by some of the fathers of these boys, that is, by some of the leading Portuguese, and by others in Hongkong, that it would be desirable to have a Naturalisation Ordinance. Their views have been laid by me before Her Majesty's Government, and, in a few months, perhaps, I shall be able to say whether or not it will be possible for them to become naturalised British subjects. It was, indeed, in this school, two years ago, I adverted first to the iden of reviving our Volunteer movement, and I now see present a good many gentlemen connected with that movement,--one of them, an English gentleman, Mr. Justice FRANCIS, who has always been interested in this school, and who was recommended to me for a Captain's Com- mission by the suffrages of his brother Volunteers. No doubt, there are some here who cannot yet take part in the movement, whatever interest they may feel in the Colony, because they are not British subjects, but I am sure they share with their children and friends loyalty to the Crown.

I congratulate the Christian Brothers on the success of this their first examination under the grant-in-aid scheme. With the exception of what I have mentioned about English Composition, the report of the Examiner has been most satisfactory. I have no doubt that, next year, when I may have the pleasure of distributing prizes here, I shall be able to notice an improvement in that important

branch of education.

This is now, I think, the third or fourth time within the last two or three months that it has fallen to my lot to say a few words at schools or in connection with schools in this Colony. Not long since an honourable friend of mine who is present (the Honourable P. RYRIE), Dr. EITEL, myself, and others, assembled at St. Paul's College to assist in inaugurating a high class Church of England and Protestant school, which will be principally for European boys. That school, I am happy to say, has been well opened, and it will prove, I believe, a success. Last week I had the satisfaction of presiding at the distribution of prizes at the Central School; and it was only a day or two ago that, accompanied by my friend Dr. EITEL, I met twenty-six teachers of our other Government schools, when prizes were given to the children of twenty-nine schools, and rewards to the most efficient teachers." On that occasion I found the interesting fact, that in one native school where the Government allowed it to be optional whether the boys should learn English or Chinese, they all being Chinese, out of about sixty- oùe attending the school, it ultimately turned out that, in the cases of sixty, the parents clected that the boys should learn nothing but English. They thought that, as far as Chinese went, their children would learn enough of it at home, and they felt the great object of sending their boys to a Government school was to have them learn English. I had much pleasure in examining some of those boys. I found them able to speak English pretty well; they were evidently making steady progress. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, the state of education in the Colony is briefly this, that Her Majesty's Government have sanctioned a modification of the grant-in-aid scheme, under which all classes and all denominations can now obtain the benefit of it. All classes have now come under it. The chief education difficulty that I found existing here on my arrival has been set at rest by Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH'S wise decision. What seemed to me to be another grave defect in the Government scheme of public instruc- tion in Hongkong-too much Chinese teaching and too little English teaching is being gradually removed. I believe the scheme as it is now worked is a popular and useful scheme, and will, in time to come, give à sound English education to the youth of this Colony.---(Applause.)

Another address, thanking His Excellency and the visitors for the interest they evinced in the school, was then read by Master G. JORGE.

Mr. BELILIOS then said--Your Excellency and your Lordship,-I am highly gratified, and I feel greatly obliged to you, for the encomiums you have thought fit to bestow upon me, but I think I scarcely deserve or merit them, as in my belief I have done nothing more than what any citizen is in duty bound to do for his fellow-inhabitants. I can only hope that men of means and capacious hearts will come forward to back up the little beginning I have made, by helping to augment my little contri- bution, and thus create material support for the advancement of learning in the Colony. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, when I came here to-day, I hardly expected that I shonld be called upon tó address you on the subject now before us. The praise lavished on me has compelled me to speak, and I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without stating a few facts connected with the advantages this institution has conferred on the community. 1 landed in the island in the year 1862. The firm with whom I stayed for a short time had preceded ine by a few months. On their way to China they were told there was a dearth of clerks here, and they therefore thought it prudent to bring along a Portugueso