162
6
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS--ANNUAL.
in 1894 and the subsequent resumption of the district known as Taipingshan, arrangements were made during last year for taking a census early in the current year, and the result of the census, which was taken on the 20th January, gives a total population of 245,000.
EDUCATION.
Owing to the prevalence of plague during the year, there was, I regret to state, a considerable decrease in the number of pupils attending the various schools. The total number of Educational Institutions open during 1896 amounted to 215, (of which 101 were Grant-in-Aid Schools and 17 were Government Schools) with an enrolment of 9,686 scholars as compared with 236 schools with 10,876 pupils in 1895. It is a noticeable fact that since the epidemic of 1894 the number of scholars attending the several schools has decreased by 2,293.
No material change has taken place as regards the nature of the education given in the local schools since the Government announced its intention to promote an English rather than a Chinese education among the native population. Only one-third of the schools can be said at present to offer an European education, and the fees charged at such schools appear to be prohibitive to the mass of the people. I am pleased to notice, however, a tendency on the part of the managers of Grant-in-Aid Schools to meet the wishes of the Government as soon as it is practicable to do so, and in view of the growing demand amongst the Chinese for an English education, the need of a Training School, which will furnish a supply of qualified native teachers and so place the means of acquiring a knowledge of the English language and Western ideas within the reach of the poorer classes, is gradually becoming more pressing, and will, doubtless, receive the early consideration of the Government.
As regards female education, the epidemic which prevailed during the year considerably reduced the general attendance at the different schools; but, notwithstanding this temporary check, there is distinct evidence to indicate that a progressive movement is at work and that the prejudice of the Chinese against female education is gradually yielding so far at least as a purely Chinese education is concerned. On the other hand, however, the objection to an English education, as tending to imbue the minds of Chinese girls with a desire for independence inconsistent with the subordinate status assigned to them in Chinese society, still prevails and opposes progress in this direction.
TRADE.
4
I regret to state that from a local commercial point of view the year 1896 was somewhat disappointing. Trade was, generally speaking, unprofitable, and importers characterise it as one of the
162
6
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS- -ANNUAL.
in 1894 and the subsequent resumption of the district known as Taipingshan, arrangements were made during last year for taking a census early in the current year, and the result of the census, which was taken on the 20th January, gives a total population of 245,000.
EDUCATION.
Owing to the prevalence of plague during the year, there was, I regret to state, a considerable decrease in the number of pupils attending the various schools. The total number of Educational Institutions open during 1896 amounted to 215, (of which 101 were Grant-in-Aid Schools and 17 were Government Schools) with an enrolment of 9,686 scholars as compared with 236 schools with 10,876 pupils in 1895. It is a noticeable fact that since the epidemic of 1894 the number of scholars attending the several schools has decreased by 2,293.
No material change has taken place as regards the nature of the education given in the local schools since the Government announced its intention to promote an English rather than a Chinese education among the native population. Only one-third of the schools can be said at present to offer an European education, and the fees charged at such schools appear to be prohibitive to the mass of the people. I am pleased to notice, however, a tendency on the part of the managers of Grant-in-Aid Schools to meet the wishes of the Government as soon as it is practicable to do so, and in view of the growing demand amongst the Chinese for an English education, the need of a Training School, which will furnish a supply of qualified native teachers and so place the means of acquiring a knowledge of the English language and Western ideas within the reach of the poorer classes, is gradually becoming more pressing, and will, doubtless, receive the early consideration of the Government.
As regards female education, the epidemic which prevailed during the year considerably reduced the general attendance at the different schools ; but, notwithstanding this temporary check, there is distinct evidence to indicate that a progressive movement is at work and that the prejudice of the Chinese against female education is gradually yielding so far at least as a purely Chinese education is concerned. On the other hand, however, the objection to an English education, as tending to imbue the minds of Chinese girls with a desire for independence inconsistent with the subordinate status assigned to them in Chinese society, still prevails and opposes progress in this direction.
TRADE.
4
I regret to state that from a local commercial point of view the year 1896 was somewhat disappointing. Trade was, generally speaking, unprofitable, and importers characterise it as one of the
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