raw material could be procured locally at permanent prices or at least at prices which could be approximately foretold, the industry would undoubtedly receive a much-needed impetus.
In other respects the outlook for industrial enterprise in Hongkong continues on the whole to be promising.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan and many others in the New Territory are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh-water fish is largely imported from Canton and the West River.
FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE. Afforestation of the island and the New Territory has proceeded normally, the year being a favourable one as regards absence of typhoons and diminution of fires and forestry offences. The Colonial Herbarium was enriched during the year by several small but interesting collections from different parts of China, and was visited by botanists from Europe, America and Japan. The efforts of the Government to improve the cultivation of sugar-cane in the New Territory have been continued by the distribution of better varieties of cane among the farmers. The kinds introduced have grown well at the experimental estate at Castle Peak, and give a better percentage of sugar than any hitherto cultivated in this part of China.
The hilly character of the island and comparative absence of fertilising soil have prevented agriculture from becoming an active source of industry in Hong-kong. The area of cultivated land in the island is only a little over 400 acres. The old dependency of British Kowloon, which is chiefly composed of level ground, contains almost the same amount of cultivated land. This, however, tends to diminish as buildings extend. The only part of the Colony where agricultural industries can be expected to thrive is the New Territory, including the large islands of Lantao and Lamma. Valleys intersected by extensive ranges of barren hills are utilised to the utmost extent by rice plantations and other crops. The area of cultivated land in the New Territory (including the islands) may be roughly estimated at 90,000 acres, but much of this contains exceedingly poor soil and consists of minute holdings belonging to the poorest class of peasants.
(6.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND. The amount received from sales of Crown land was over $510,000, which was considerably over the average amount received from such sales, though $60,000 less than the receipts for the previous year.
The survey of the New Territories has been completed and valuable maps of each sub-district are now in the possession of the Government.
Building land in the urban portion of the Colony and in the Peak district is limited in extent and steadily increasing in value. The natural consequence is that house-rents, especially on the higher levels, have advanced to an extent probably unknown in other British Colonies.
LEGISLATION.
Twenty-four Ordinances were passed by the Legislature during 1903, of which ten were measures for the amendment or repeal of previous enactments. The most important measures of the year were the Public Health and Buildings Amendment and Consolidation Ordinance (No. 1 of 1903) and the Waterworks Ordinance (No. 16 of 1903). The latter repeals the Waterworks Consolidation Ordinance of 1902, which was referred to in the Blue Book Report for that year, and makes further provisions for economising the water-supply. The former was undoubtedly the most important measure which has been enacted for many years. It is hoped that the ultimate benefits which it may be expected to confer upon the health and well-being of the Colony will be far-reaching. Further reference to this measure will be found under the heading of Vital Statistics. As in other parts of the Empire, an Ordinance was passed to declare a proclamation holiday on the anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria.
IV.-EDUCATION.
The educational system of the Colony is still undergoing revision, and the results which may be expected from the changes cannot yet be judged with exactness. The demand among the Chinese for instruction in the English language continues to increase, and every effort is made to meet that demand and to render the methods of instruction as thorough as possible. All the Anglo-Chinese schools have their full complement of pupils, and Queen's College, the principal school in the Colony, is unfortunately obliged, through lack of accommodation, to refuse admittance to many applicants. A Sub-Committee of the Governing Body of that institution was appointed during the year to draw up a course of study for the Chinese classes in the College. The same course has been adopted in the Anglo-Chinese District Schools, and in most of the Anglo-Chinese and Vernacular Grant Schools.
One of the most important changes recommended by the Committee on Education which sat in 1902 was the substitution of a new Code for the then existing Grant-in-aid Code. The new Code was drafted early in the year under review and has met with general approval. It was decided not to bring it into universal operation till January 1st, 1904, but schools were permitted, if they so desired, to adopt it from the 1st July, 1903. About one half of them elected to do so. The following are some of the points of difference which distinguish the new from the old Code:-
(a.) The Grants are paid upon the results of the Inspector's observation throughout the year, and not upon the success or otherwise of individual scholars at an Annual Examination.
(b.) The Code recognizes that schools employing a well-educated Staff are worthy of special recognition by giving a higher rate of Grant, paid in sterling, to such schools. The Staff must, in order to meet the requirements of the Code in this respect, be partly composed of Europeans, or natives of very unusual qualifications.
(c.) The old Code gave Grants to schools giving a Chinese education on the time-honoured Chinese lines, as well as to schools in which Portuguese or German was the medium of instruction. The present Code recognizes only modern Western methods of imparting instruction, and insists that either English or Chinese must be the medium of instruction: other languages may of course be studied as Class subjects.
The Kowloon School for European British subjects has now been open for nearly two years. The attendance during 1903 averaged 46.4 as compared with 39.3 in 1902, an increase of 18 per cent.
The District Schools were entirely re-organised at the beginning of the year. Special attention has been paid to the improvement of the Chinese Masters in their methods, especially in the method of teaching English.
Of the Anglo-Chinese Schools, three at least-the Roman Catholic Cathedral School, the Ellis Kadoorie School, and the St. Stephen's Anglo-Chinese School-have given evidence of a desire to attach greater importance than heretofore to the study of spoken English. The last-named is an encouraging example of a well-conducted school under Chinese Masters only.
The Vernacular Schools have on the whole greatly improved in the last two years. This improvement is most apparent in the schools which elected to come under the new Code at once, thus freeing themselves from a hard-and-fast line of study.
V.-PUBLIC WORKS.
The principal public works in progress during the year were the new Law Courts, new Harbour Office, the extension of the Tytam Reservoir, the Kowloon Waterworks, the provision of temporary pumping plant for water-supply purposes at Tytam Tuk and preliminary works there to ascertain the most favourable position for a large dam, the reconstruction of street gullies, large extensions of the cattle depôts, and the training of nullahs for the improvement of the sanitary condition of some of the residential districts. A substantial start was made with the...
Page 694
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6
raw material could be procured locally at permanent prices or at least at prices which could be approximately foretold, the industry would undoubtedly receive a much-needed impetus.
In other respects the outlook for industrial enterprise in Hongkong continues on the whole to be promising.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan and many others in the New Territory are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh-water fish is largely imported from Canton and the West River.
year
FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE. Afforestation of the island and the New Territory has proceeded normally, the year being a favourable one as regards absence of typhoons and diminution of fires and forestry offences. The Colonial Herbarium was enriched during the by several small but interesting collections from different parts of China, and "was visited by botanists from Europe, America and Japan. The efforts of the Govern- ment to improve the cultivation of sugar-cane in the New Territory have been continued by the distribution of better varieties of cane among the farmers. The kinds introduced have grown well at the experimental estate at Castle Peak, and give a better percentage of sugar than any hitherto cultivated in this part of China.
The hilly character of the island and comparative absence of fertilising soil have prevented agriculture from becoming an active source of industry in Hong- kong. The area of cultivated land in the island is only a little over 400 acres. The old dependency of British Kowloon, which is chiefly composed of level ground, contains almost the same amount of cultivated land. This, however, tends to diminish as buildings extend. The only part of the Colony where agricultural industries can be expected to thrive is the New Territory, including the large islands of Lantao and Lamma. Valleys intersected by extensive ranges of barren hills are utilised to the utmost extent by ciee-plantations and other crops. The area of cultivated land in the New Territory (including the islands) may be roughly estimated at 90,000 acres, but much of this contains exceedingly poor soil and consists of minute holdings belonging to the poorest class of peasants.
(6.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND. The amoy b
received from sales of Crown land an over $510,000, which was considerably over the average amount received from such salce, though $60,000 less than the receipts for the previous year.
The survey of the New Territories has been completed and valuable maps of each sub-district are now in the possession of the Government.
Building land in the urban portion of the Colony and in the Peak district is limited in extent and steadily increasing in value. The natural consequence is that house-rents, especially on the higher levels, have advanced to an extent probably unknown in other British Colonies.
ill LEGISLATION.
un-
Twenty-four Ordinances were passed by the Legislature during 1903, of which ten were measures for the amendment or repeal of previous enactments. The most important measures of the year were the Public Health and Buildings Amend- ment and Consolidation Ordinance (No. 1 of 1903) and the Waterworks Ordinance (No. 16 of 1903). The latter repeals the Waterworks Consolidation Ordinance of 1902, which was referred to in the Blue Book Report for that year, and makes
ther provisions for, economising the water-supply. The former was doubtedly the most important measure which has been enacted for many years. It is hoped that the ultimate benefits which it may be expected to confer upon the health and well-being of the Colony will be far-reaching Further reference to this measure will be found under the heading of Vital Statistics (). As in other parts of the Empire, an Ordinance was passed to declare a porpoinal holiday on the anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Qason Victori
ness.
IV.-EDUCATION.
The educational system of the Colony is still undergoing revision, and the results which may be expected from the changes cannot yet be judged with exact- The demand among the Chinese for instruction in the English language continues to increase, and every effort is made to meet that demand and to render the methods of instruction as thorough as possible. All the Anglo-Chinese schools have their full complement of pupils, and Queen's College, the principal school in the Colony, is unfortunately obliged, through lack of accommodation, to refuse admittance to many applicants. A Sub-Committee of the Governing Body of that institution was appointed during the year to draw up a course of study for the Chinese classes in the College. The same course has been adopted in the Anglo- Chinese District Schools, and in most of the Augle-Chinese and Vernacular Grant Schools.
One of the most important changes recommended by the Committee on Educa- tion which sat in 1902 was the substitution of a new Code for the then existing Grant-in-aid Code. The new Code was drafted early in the year under review and has met with general approval. It was decided not to bring it into universal opera- tion till January 1st, 1904, but schools were permitted, if they so desired, to adopt it from the 1st July, 1903. About one half of them elected to do so. The follow- ing are some of the points of difference which distinguish the new from the old Code:-
(a.) The Grants are paid upon the results of the Inspector's observation throughout the year, and not upon the success or otherwise of individual scholars at an Aunnal Examination.
(6.) The Code recognizes that schools employing a well educated Staff
are worthy of special cognition by giving a higher rate of Grant, ! paid in sterling, to such schools. The Staff must, in order to meet the requirements of the Code in this respect, be partly composed of Europeans, or natives of very unusual qualifications.
(c.) The old Code gave Grants to schools giving a Chinese educatiou on the time-honoured Chinese lines, as well as to schools in which Portuguese or German was the medium of instruction. The pre- sent Code recognizes only modern Western methods of imparting instruction, and insists that either English or Chinese must be the medium of instruction: other languages may of course be studied as Class subjects.
The Kowloon School for European British subjects has now been open for nearly two years. The attendance during 1903 averaged 464 as compared with 39-3 in 1902, an increase of 18 per cent.
The District Schools were entirely re-organised at the beginning of the year. Special attention has been paid to the improvement of the Chinese Masters in their methods, especially in the method of teaching English.
Of the Anglo-Chinese Schools, three at least-the Roman Catholic Cathedral School, the Ellis Kadoorie School, and the St. Stephen's Anglo-Chinese School- have given evidence of a desire to attach greater importance than heretofore to the study of spoken English. The last-named is an encouraging example of a well- conducted school under Chinese Masters only.
The Vernacular Schools have on the whole greatly improved in the last two years, This improvement is most apparent in the schools which elected to come under the new Code at once, thus freeing themselves from a hard-and-fast line of study.
V.-PUBLIC WORKS.
The principal public works in progress during the year were the new Law Courts, new Harbour Office, f extension of the Tytam Reservoir, the Kowloon Water-works, the provision of temporary pumping plant for water-supply purposes at Tytam Tuk and preliminary works there to ascertain the most favourable posi- tion for a large dam, the reconstruction of street gullies, large extensions of the cattle depôts, and the training of uullahs for the improvement of the sanitary con- A substantial start was made with the dition of some of the residential districts,
694
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