way, refusing partnership alliance with Europeans, and strictly confining itself to the relations of buyer and seller, so in matters of education also the leading men among the Chinese population have hitherto stood aloof from Government grants-in-aid as much as from the schools of Christian missions. Nevertheless, of the 10,000 children now under instruction in the schools of this colony, hardly one-fifth attend those Kaifong schools, whilst over 8,000 children, mostly Chinese, are crowding into the schools established by Church and State. Moreover, those Kaifong schools are now, so far as accommodation and scope of teaching is concerned, in the same cramped and slipshod condition in which they were 50 years ago, and as oblivious of the needs of female education as ever. On the other hand, the Mission schools and the Government schools, largely patronized by the Chinese people, are from year to year steadily improving their accommodation, their organization, and their methods of teaching, and drawing into the education net both boys and girls of all nationalities. Lest among the audience some of the leaders and representatives of the Chinese community, and I would earnestly call upon them to reconsider their attitude of isolation, not merely apart from, but virtually in opposition to the main drift of the educational movement of this colony. I would ask them to consider that the onward sweep of the world tolerates no longer any standing still, in matters of education no more than in politics, trade or civilization, that in the increasingly keen competitive struggle for individual or national existence, the victory is now with the educated, while the illiterate remain ciphers in society or become the dangerous tools of designing agitators; that, as Chancellor Kent put it, the parent who sends big sons into the world uneducated (in the modern sense of the word) defrauds the community of a useful citizen and bequeaths to it a nuisance." I would add that he who does not send his daughter to school must be regarded as an enemy of coming generations. By all means, I should say, let the leaders of the Chinese community strike out a path of their own in matters of education, but let them remember that the welfare and success of the Chinese people of this Colony require girls' schools as much as boys' schools, demand English as well as Chinese teaching, and necessitate a modern and moral rather than an antique or merely intellectual training of the people. Sir, I have spoken of the three great educational agencies at work in this colony, the people, the Church, and the State. It is to Mr. Belilios that we owe the addition of a third educational agency, as important, as powerful, as necessary as the others, the agency of private generosity in creating educational endowments. The endowed schools of England have hitherto been and still are the backbone of England's educational system. I will go further and say the endowed Schools of Europe were and are the mainsprings of European civilization and greatness. Hongkong, I am sure, needs educational endowments as well as the agencies of Church and State. Mr. Belilios has taken the initiative in creating several educational Trust Funds, for the encouragement of medical studies among the Chinese, for the promotion of female education among all classes, and so forth. The interests of the colony call upon others, whom God has blessed with worldly goods, to follow and, if possible, improve upon, the example set by Mr. Belilios, by creating educational endowments. In conclusion, I commend to Your Excellency the acceptability of the building, which accommodates over 600 children. Mr. Belilios has generously erected it on ground provided, with equal generosity, by the Government and which he desires to hand over to the unrestricted control of the Government, under the name of "The Belilios Public School."
His Excellency said-Ladies and gentlemen, I have a very pleasant task to perform this afternoon, and that is to accept, on behalf of myself and all future Governors of Hongkong, this princely gift which has been presented to the public of Hongkong by the Honourable Emmanuel Raphael Belilios. (Applause). I may mention in connection with it that several years ago Mr. Belilios offered to build a school for girls if the Government on its part would provide a suitable site. This offer, for reasons which were doubtless sufficient, was declined by my immediate predecessor, Sir William Des Vieux. Shortly after my arrival here in December, 1891, that offer was repeated, and after consultation with the Director of Public Works and the Inspector of Schools I gratefully accepted that offer. Having inspected this building, ladies and gentlemen, and looking at it from this standpoint, I must say that I consider myself very fortunate in having, even to a very slight extent, been associated with Mr. Belilios in this charitable and benevolent undertaking. Mr. Belilios has made the question of education, and especially of female education, his own in Hongkong. This building is capable, as Dr. Eitel has just stated, of holding between 600 and 700 girls, and that it will be of immense benefit to the Chinese community goes without saying. But Mr. Belilios's generous acts did not commence with this School, and I trust they are not terminated with it. He has established several scholarships here at a cost of $14,000. He has given a site to the Committee of the Medical College valued at least at $15,000, and has pledged himself to erect a College thereon at a cost of $34,000 if the maintenance of that building can be guaranteed either by private or public support. I do not wish to make any promise in regard to that project, but I shall only be too happy if, during my tenure of office, I should find myself in a position to take it into favourable consideration. This building has cost $30,000. Now, for the last fifty years the community of Hongkong has been distinguished for its liberality in subscribing towards private and public charity, and from time to time many wealthy individuals have given large sums for private and public objects. But I believe I am right in saying there is no single instance of one public institution having been founded and erected by one single individual. That is the case with the Belilios School. Such remarkable benevolence and generosity are not common in Her Majesty's colonies, though they are not infrequent in the great dependency of India, and I venture to think on this account that Mr. Belilios is not only entitled to the thanks of the present generation but that he is entitled to and will gain the respect and admiration of the community of Hongkong in all time to come. (Applause). He has spent a portion of his wealth most nobly, and the good results which will flow from his munificence will be a lasting record of his great efforts in the cause of education and public health. I am sure, ladies and gentlemen, you will all be pleased to hear that our most gracious sovereign the Queen has been made acquainted with Mr. Belilios's liberality, and I am instructed by the Secretary of State, and in giving me that instruction he has expressed his own personal pleasure, I am instructed to say that Her Majesty has approved of the honour of the Companionship of St. Michael and St. George being bestowed upon our worthy and honoured citizen. (Loud applause). No way in Hongkong is more worthy of that honour, and no man in Hongkong, I am sure, will value it more than Mr. Belilios will do. I only now have to accept, on my own behalf, and on behalf of future Governors of Hongkong, this building, and I also have to accept the responsibility which its maintenance entails. I say, and I am sure you will all say with me, may the Belilios Public School flourish; may it be the means—and I am sure that is Mr. Belilios's chief wish—may it be the means of elevating the social scale of many of the Chinese girls of Hongkong, and of spreading amongst them and their relatives on the mainland a fuller knowledge of Western methods of thought and Western educational and civilizing influences. I have only to congratulate you, sir, upon the opening of this building, and to congratulate you most heartily, Mr. Belilios, upon the honour your most gracious sovereign has been pleased to confer upon you. (Applause.) His Excellency amid loud applause cordially shook the Hon. E. R. Belilios by the hand.
The Hon. E. R. Belilios said-Your Excellency, Lady Robinson, ladies and gentlemen. Before handing over the keys of this building I have to thank Your Excellency and Dr. Eitel for the flattering remarks you let fall when alluding to what you were pleased to regard as acts of benevolence on my part to this colony. I can assure you, sir, that what little I have done in the past and whatever (God willing) I may be able to do in the future has been and will be undertaken, not with any thought of self-glorification but purely and simply for love of this island, where I have spent the best years of my life, and from esteem for that great book, the Bible, which solemnly imposes on man as one of his first duties to do good to his fellows to the best of his means and ability. This honour of the Companionship of St. Michael and St. George which you have just conferred on me is a pleasant surprise to me. If I had known it was coming I would have detained my family from going home in order that they should have been present to have witnessed the ceremony performed and to have participated...
475
way, refusing partnership alliance with Euro- peans, and strictly confining itself to the rela tions of buyer and seller, so in matters of educa tion also the leading men among the Chinose population have hitborto stood aloof from Go- verument grants-in-aid as much as from the schools of Christian missions. Nevertheless, of the 10,000 children now andor instruction in the schoole of this colony, hardly one-fifth attend those Kaifong sobools, whilst over 8,000 children. mostly Chinese, are crowding into the schools established by hurch and State. Moreover, those Kaifong schools are now, so far as accommodation and scope of teaching is concerned, in the same cramped and slipshod condition in which they wore 50 years ago, and as oblivions of the neods of female education as ever. On the other hand. the Mission schools and the Government schools, largely patronized by the Chinese people, are from year to year steadily improving their ac- commodation, their organization, and their me thods of teaching, and drawing into the education nat both boys and girls of all nationalities. Laco among the audience some of the lewders aud representatives of the Chinese community, and I would earnestly call upon them to reconsider | their attitude of isolation, not merely apart from. but virtually in opposition to the main drift of the educational movement of this colony I would ask them to consider that the onward sweep of the world tolerates no longer any standing still, in matters of education no more than in politics, trade or civilization, that in the increasingly keen competitive struggle for individual or national existence, the vio tory is now with the educated, while the illi terate remain ciphers in society or becoins the dangerous tools of designing agitatore; that, as Chancellor Kent pat it, the par-ut who sends big sou into the world nuoducated tin the modern sense of the word) defra ds the community of a useful citizen and ↳ queaths to it a nuisance." A would add that he who does vot soud his daughter to school must be regard- ed as an enemy of coming generations. By all means, I should say, let the leaders of the Chi- ness community strike out a path of their own in matters of education, but 1t them remein- ber that the welfare and success of the Chi- nese people of this Colony require girls' schools as much as boys' schools. demand Bng- lish as well as Chinese teaching, and naces jsitate a modern and moral rather than an anti- que or merely intellectual training of the people. Sir, I have spoken of the three great educational ! agencies at work in this colony, the people, the Church, and the State. It is to Mr. Belilios that we jowe the addition of a third educational agency, as important, as powerful, as necessary as the others, the agency of private generosity in creating educational endowments. The endowed schools of gland have hitherto been uni still are the backboue of England's educational system. I will go further and say the endowed Schools uf Europe were and are the mainsprings of Buro- peau civilization and greatness. Hongkong. I jam sure, needs educational endowments as well | as the agencies of Church and State. Mr. Belilios has taken the initiative in creating i seroral educational Trust Funds, for the en-į couragement of medical studies among the Chinese, for the promotion of female educa- tion among all classes, and so forth. The interests of the colony call upon others, whom God has blessed with worldly goods. to follow! and, if possiblo, improve upon, the example set by Mr. Belilios, by creating educational endow. ments. In conclusion, I countend to Your Ex- alloney the acceptability of the building, which accomiendates over 600 children. Mr. Balilios bas generously erected it on ground provided. with equal generosity, by the Government and which he desires to hand over to the unrestricted control of the Government, under the name of
The Belilies Public School."
His Excellency said-Ladies and gentlemen, I have a very pleasant task to porform this. afternoon, and that is to accept, on behalf of ayself and all future Governors of Hongkong, this princely gift which has been presonted to the public of Hongkong by the flonourable kmannel afael Belilios. Applause). i may mention in connection with it that several years. ago Mr. Bolilios offered to build a schoot for girls if the Government on its part would providen suit- able site. This offer, for reasons which were doubt- less sufficient, was declined by my immediate pro- deosssor, Sir William Dos Vieux Shortly after
my arrival here in December. 1891, that offer! was repeated, and after consultation with tha; Director of Public Works and the Inspector of Schools I gratefully accepted that offer. Hay. ing inspected this building, ladies and gentle- mon, and looking at it from this standpoint. I
must
must say that I consider myself very fortunate in having, even to a very slight extent, been as- soniated with Me. Belilios in this charitable and benevolent undertaking. Mr: Belilios has madə the question of education, and especially of fecalo education, his own in Ifongkong. This building is capable, as Dr. Eitel bas just stated, of bold- ing between 600 and 700 giris, and that it will be of immense benefit to the Chinese com- unnity goos without saying. But Mr. Balilios's generous acts did not commenco with this School, and I trust they are not torminated with it. He has established several scholarships Jusre at a cost of $14.000. He has given a sita Ito the Committee of the Medical Collage valued į at least at $15,000, and has pledged himself to jerect a Collego thoreon at a cost of $34,000 if the maintenance of that building oan be guaranteed either by private or public sup. port. I do not wish to make any promise in regard to that project, but I shall only be too happy it, during my tenure of office, I abould find myself in a position to take it into favourable consideration. This building has cost $30,000. Now, for the last fifty yours the community of Hongkong has been distin- guished for its liberality in subscribing towards i private and public charity, aud from time to time many wealthy individuals bare givou large sums for private and public objects. But Ilieve I am right in saying there is no single, instance of one publio institution having been! founded and eracted by one single individual! That is the case with the Belilios School, Such remarkable benevolence and generosity are not rommon in Her Majesty's colonies, though they are not infrequent in the great de- pendency of Iudis, and I ventura to think on this account that Mr. Beliling is not! only entitled to the thanks of the present gous ration but that he is entitled to and will gain | the respect and adtuirat on of the cominu ity of Hongkong in all time to come. (Applause). He bas spent a portion of his wealth most nobly. and the good results which will flow from his munificence will be a lasting record of his great efforts in the cause of education and public huaith. I am sure, ladies and gentlemen, von will all be pleased to bear that our most gracious sovereign the Queen has been mundo Hoquainted with Mr. Belilios's liberality. and I am instructed by the Secretary of State, and in giving me that instruction he has expressed his own personal pleasure, I am instructed to say that Her Majesty has approved of the honour of the Corpauionship of St. Michaelį and St. George being bestowed upon our worthy and honoured citizen. (Lond applause). No
$
( way in Hongkong is more worthy of that honour, and no man in Hongkong, I am sure, will value it more than Mr. Balilios will do. I only now have to accept, on my own behalf, and on behalf of future Governors of Hongkong, of this build- ing, and I also have to accept the responsibility whicb its maintenance entails. I say, nud I an sare you will all say with me, may the Bellins Public School flourish; may it be the means-- and I am sure that is Mr. Bolilios's chief wish- may it ba the means of elevating the social scale of many of the Chinese girls of Hongkong, and of spreading amongst them and their relatives on the mainland a faller knowledge of Western methods of thought and Westera educational and civiliz- ing influences. I have only to congratulate you, sir, upon the opening of this building, and to congratulate you most heartily, Mr. Belilios. upon the bonour your most gracious sovereign has been pleased to confer upon you. (Applause.) His scellency amid loud applause cordially shook the Hon. E R. Belilios by the hand,
The Hon. E. R. Belilios said-Your Ex- cellency, Lady Robinson. ladies and gentlemen Before handing over the keys of this building I have to thank your Freollency and Dr. Eitel for the flattering remarks you let fall when alluding to what you were pleased to regard as acts of benevolence on my part to this colony. I can assure you, sir, that what little I bave done in the past and whatever (God willing) I may be able to do in the fature has been and will be undertaken, not with any thought of self- glorification but purely and simply for love of this island, where I have spent the best genes of my life, and from esteam for that great. book, the Bible, which solemnly imposes ou man as one of his first duties to do good to his I-llows to the best of his means and ability. I This honour of the Campruionship of St. Michael and St. George which you have just conferred en me is a pleasant surprise to me. If I had kuown it was coming I would have detained my family from going home in order that they should have been present to have! witnessed the ceremony performed and to have
participate
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