AnnualReport-1924 — Page 502

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F. M. S. Cadets and Police probationers, 16 Examinations of Interpreters and 16 Examinations of officers studying under the bonus regulations. In addition to this an Inspector of Vernacular Schools attended the Examinations of police officers at the Police Head Quarters every Tuesday afternoon.

5. HEALTH.

The school work was not seriously interrupted by epidemics during 1924, but three of the staff were unfortunate enough to have their summer holidays spoiled by an attack of typhoid fever. The summer term 'was cool but a hot September proved trying to staff and pupils.

Medical inspections of Government Schools have been conducted from time to time, when the service of one or other of the Government Doctors has been available for the work: but such work is necessarily intermittent and steps have been taken towards procuring a medical officer to give his entire attention to the work.

6. BUILDINGS.

Considerable progress was made with the building of the new Saiyingpun School, but the building of the new- Queen's College had to be further postponed, and the only work done there has been on site formation. The present Victoria British School stands on part of the new Queen's College site, and negotiations have been satisfactorily completed during the year for its removal to a pleasant position on the old Ewo gardens, part of the garden lot formerly belonging to Sir Robert Jardine.

Work was begun on the site of the new Quarry Bay British School towards the end of the year.

Among the Grant Schools, the authorities of St. Joseph's College have been making an important extension of the school buildings during the year, which provides for two laboratories, a School Assembly Hall, and a covered playground together with a new School Chapel-at a total cost of about $120,000, towards which a grant of $50,000 has been made by the Government.

7. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The only Revenue collected by this Department comes from school fees, which amounted in 1924 to $121,478.00.

The Expenditure was $932,924.65, an increase of $87,895.87 over the previous year. These figures do not include Expenditure on School Buildings or Furniture which are debited to Public Works.