CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890 — Page 819

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

not proving what I could desire, I felt obliged to respectfully decline the post; however, in the following month, I was again favoured by the Crown Agents offering me an Appointment as a mastership in the Govt Central School, Hongkong, which I had much pleasure in accepting. I sailed from England on... He th

hee

1884, and upon my landing in China, I applied myself constantly and assiduously to the acquisition of the Chinese language, tried to make myself familiar with the manners and customs of the varied races with which I came in contact.

The Govt Central School (now the Victoria College) was indeed a favourable ground for my observations, being as it is, one of the finest educational institutions in Asia and possessing some 700 students ranging from 12 to 25 years of age. Some are Chinese, while the remainder are composed of Mahomedans, Hindoos, Parsees, Japanese, Jews, Portuguese, Spaniards, with a small residue of English. It will be seen that to meet with unqualified success, great discretion and knowledge of races is required in order not to offend the various susceptibilities of the different nations alike.

In Febry 1886, I was officially reported to the Rt Hon Sir George Bowen (then Governor of HongKong) as having readily adapted myself to this peculiar position and having made my labours a credit and success.

Since then, I have passed my examinations in Chinese, both in the colloquial and in the written character, "with credit."

In 1886, the Japanese Consul being in need of an English secretary, applied to the Hon. Fred Stewart, the Colonial Secretary of HongKong, and I was recommended to this private position for two years, in fact until the Consul, Minami, was appointed Under-Secretary for Agriculture in the Japanese Government.

This period (1886-88), in the Japanese Consulate at HongKong, is perhaps the most eventful in its history. As your lordship is aware, some 20 years previous to this, Japan had opened her gates to the flood of civilization, and was beginning to manufacture and to seek, by every legitimate means, outlets for her manufactures and products.

In 1886, the Japanese Consulate at Hong Kong had done little or nothing to promote the increase of Japanese trade, but with Mr. Minami as Consul (a gentleman of great sagacity and perseverance), no stone was left unturned to increase the Japanese trade. Before he left the Colony, therefore, he had the extreme satisfaction of seeing much readier markets than when he arrived.

In Hongkong, for such products as: - matting, porcelain, peppermint oil, copper, inferior soap, rough yarns, and cotton cloths, to say nothing of the much increased British trade, which he greatly favoured. If I may be permitted to call your lordship's attention to the fact that the official language of Japan is English (at least in my experience), and that every commercial or diplomatic letter (except to and from the Chinese, who use the Chinese characters, the same as the Japanese) was composed and written by me, and that the Consul Minami, although an Oriental scholar, spoke little and less English, then the nature of my services can be accurately estimated.

Shortly after Mr. Minami returned, I received an intimation from the secretary of the late Count Mori (then Minister of Education in Japan) that...

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not proving what I could desire, I felt obliged to respectfully decline the post; however, in the following month, I was again favoured by the Crown Agents offering me an Appointment as a mastership in the Govt Central School, Hongkong, which I had much pleasure in accepting. I sailed from England on... He th hee 1884, and upon my landing in China, I applied myself constantly and assiduously to the acquisition of the Chinese language, tried to make myself familiar with the manners and customs of the varied races with which I came in contact. The Govt Central School (now the Victoria College) was indeed a favourable ground for my observations, being as it is, one of the finest educational institutions in Asia and possessing some 700 students ranging from 12 to 25 years of age. Some are Chinese, while the remainder are composed of Mahomedans, Hindoos, Parsees, Japanese, Jews, Portuguese, Spaniards, with a small residue of English. It will be seen that to meet with unqualified success, great discretion and knowledge of races is required in order not to offend the various susceptibilities of the different nations alike. In Febry 1886, I was officially reported to the Rt Hon Sir George Bowen (then Governor of HongKong) as having readily adapted myself to this peculiar position and having made my labours a credit and success. Since then, I have passed my examinations in Chinese, both in the colloquial and in the written character, "with credit." In 1886, the Japanese Consul being in need of an English secretary, applied to the Hon. Fred Stewart, the Colonial Secretary of HongKong, and I was recommended to this private position for two years, in fact until the Consul, Minami, was appointed Under-Secretary for Agriculture in the Japanese Government. This period (1886-88), in the Japanese Consulate at HongKong, is perhaps the most eventful in its history. As your lordship is aware, some 20 years previous to this, Japan had opened her gates to the flood of civilization, and was beginning to manufacture and to seek, by every legitimate means, outlets for her manufactures and products. In 1886, the Japanese Consulate at Hong Kong had done little or nothing to promote the increase of Japanese trade, but with Mr. Minami as Consul (a gentleman of great sagacity and perseverance), no stone was left unturned to increase the Japanese trade. Before he left the Colony, therefore, he had the extreme satisfaction of seeing much readier markets than when he arrived. In Hongkong, for such products as: - matting, porcelain, peppermint oil, copper, inferior soap, rough yarns, and cotton cloths, to say nothing of the much increased British trade, which he greatly favoured. If I may be permitted to call your lordship's attention to the fact that the official language of Japan is English (at least in my experience), and that every commercial or diplomatic letter (except to and from the Chinese, who use the Chinese characters, the same as the Japanese) was composed and written by me, and that the Consul Minami, although an Oriental scholar, spoke little and less English, then the nature of my services can be accurately estimated. Shortly after Mr. Minami returned, I received an intimation from the secretary of the late Count Mori (then Minister of Education in Japan) that...
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not proving what I could desire, I felt oblige to respectfully decline the post; however, in the following month. I was again favoured by the Crown Agents offering me as an Appointment a mastership in the Govt Central School. ) Hongkong, which I had much pleasure in accepting, I sailed from England. on. He th hee 1884, and upon my landing in China apple my self constantly a assiduously to the acquisiti Chinese language, tried to make myself familiar with the manners customs of the varied came in contact. raees with which ar The Govt Central School (now the Victoria College) was indeed a favourable ground for my observations, being as it is, one of the finest educational institutions in Asia and possessing some 700 stude ranging from 12 to 25 years of age. Som yo pc. are Chinese, while the remainder "composed of mahomedans, Hindoos, Parse Japanese, jews, Portuguese, spaniards, with a small residue of English to that it wil be seen, to meet with un -qualified success, great discretion & knowled o knowledge of races is required in order order not to offend the vario susceptibilities of the different nation alike. In Febry 1886 I was officially report to the Rt Hon Sir George Bowen (then Govern of HongKong) as having readily adapted. myself to this peculiar position and having made labours a credit & success. my Since then, I have passed my examinations in Chinese, both in the colloquial & in the written character, "with credit. " In 1886 the Japanese Consul being in need of an English secretary applied the Hon, Fred! Stewart, the Colonial Seare! of I held of HongKong, and I was recommended, this private position for two years, in fact until the Consul minami was appointed Under. 815 -Secretary for agriculture in the Japanese Government.- This period (1886-88), in the Jahani -Consulat at HongKong, is perhaps the most- eventful in its history. As is aware her gates The is herself some 20 years ndu Previous to your lordship years ago Japan opened to the flood of civilization, and to manufacture for be ginning and to seek, by every legitimate mean outlets for her manufactures & products. 1886 the Japanese Consulate at Hong Kong had done little or nothing to promote the increase of Japanese trade, but with AVT minami as consul (a gentlem man of great sagacity & perseverence) left unturned to increase the Japan.. Before he left the Colony therefore the extreme satisfaction of seeing no stone was Commen a of he had much readier markets than when he arrived. in Hongkong for such products as :- matens porcelain, heppermint oil, copper, inferior soap, rough yauzs cotton cloths, to say nothing of of the much increased Brikish trade, which he greatly favounay be permitted to call If I trat every Com the your lordship's attention to the fact that the official language of Jahan is English (at least in my experience) and mercial or diplomatic letter (except to & the Chinese use the Chinese, for the Japanese same characters) was composed & written by and that the consul minami, although me, an Oriental scholar, spoke little & less English, then the nature of my services estimated... be accurately can to Japan wrote Shortly after MI Minami returned an I received an intimation from the secretary of the late Count mori ( then brinister of Education in Japan) that М t P
2026-05-26 17:21:42 · Baseline
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not proving what I could desire, I felt oblige to respectfully decline the post; however, in the following month. I was again favoured by the Crown Agents offering

me as an Appointment

a mastership in the Govt Central School. ) Hongkong, which I had much pleasure in accepting,

I sailed from England.

on. He th

hee

1884, and upon my landing in China apple

my self constantly a assiduously to the acquisiti

Chinese language,

tried to

make myself familiar with the manners customs of the varied

came in contact.

raees with which

ar

The Govt Central School (now the Victoria College) was indeed a favourable ground for my observations, being as it is, one of the finest educational institutions in Asia and possessing some 700 stude ranging from 12 to 25 years of age. Som yo pc. are Chinese, while the remainder "composed of mahomedans, Hindoos, Parse Japanese, jews, Portuguese, spaniards, with a small residue of English to that it wil be seen, to meet with un

-qualified success, great discretion & knowled o

knowledge of races is required in order

order not to offend the vario susceptibilities of the different nation alike. In Febry 1886 I was officially report to the Rt Hon Sir George Bowen (then Govern of HongKong) as having readily adapted. myself to this peculiar position and having

made

labours a credit

& success. my

Since then, I have passed

my examinations in Chinese, both in the colloquial

& in the written character, "with credit.

"

In 1886 the Japanese Consul being in need of an English secretary applied the Hon, Fred! Stewart, the Colonial Seare!

of

I held

of HongKong, and I was recommended, this private position for two years, in fact until the Consul minami was appointed Under.

815

-Secretary for agriculture in the Japanese

Government.-

This period (1886-88), in the Jahani -Consulat at HongKong, is perhaps the most- eventful in its history. As

is aware

her gates

The is

herself

some 20 years

ndu

Previous to

your lordship years ago Japan opened to the flood of civilization, and

to manufacture for be ginning and to seek, by every legitimate mean outlets for her manufactures & products.

1886 the Japanese Consulate at Hong Kong had done little or nothing to promote the increase of Japanese trade, but with AVT minami as consul (a gentlem man of great sagacity & perseverence) left unturned to increase the Japan.. Before he left the Colony therefore the extreme satisfaction of seeing

no stone was

Commen a

of

he had much readier markets than when he arrived.

in Hongkong for such products as :- matens porcelain, heppermint oil, copper, inferior soap, rough yauzs

cotton cloths, to say nothing of

of the much increased Brikish trade,

which

he greatly favounay be permitted to call

If I

trat

every

Com

the

your lordship's attention to the fact that the official language of Jahan is English (at least in my experience) and mercial or diplomatic letter (except to

& the Chinese use the Chinese, for the Japanese same characters) was composed & written by

and that the consul minami, although me, an Oriental scholar, spoke little & less English, then the nature of my services

estimated... be accurately

can

to Japan

wrote

Shortly after MI Minami returned an I received an intimation from the secretary of the late Count mori ( then

brinister of

Education in Japan) that

М

t

P

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