CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9] — Page 7

The Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.

CHINESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL.

13th.

Hongkong, October, 1916.

Gentlemen,

With reference to the resolution proposed and carried at the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber held on the 27th March, and the circular letter dated the 9th May, 1916, addressed to the members, the Committee now take pleasure in announcing that arrangements have been made to open the school on 1st November, 1916, so far as regards the Cantonese Section. The Mandarin Section is held over for the present for further consideration, but should sufficient support be forthcoming, the earliest opportunity will be taken to add this branch of study to the school.

The Committee reserve to themselves the right to alter the general scheme with a view to co- ordination with the school recently opened under the auspices of the British Chamber of Commerce in Canton with which it is desired to collaborate

The Committee recognise that the times are abnormal and the school cannot hope to obtain the same measure of student attendance which it would receive in time of peace. Notwithstanding the small staffs with which most firms are now working, however, they trust that all members of the Chamber will endeavour to release employees desiring to take the course during the hours arranged for group study. The Committee attach so much importance to the study of the Chinese Language that they hope firms will institute arrangements for paying or refunding under certain conditions the fees of such of their employees as are prepared to take the course, and perhaps also offer in the form of bonus or otherwise a sufficient reward for what is recognised as a laborious undertaking.

The school will be available only for the Employees of Members of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.

The Committee have the power, however, to make exceptions to the above rule provided that they, in their discretion, consider it advisable to do so. In such a case, the Student would have to pay slightly increased fees.

Firms are asked to send in the names of prospective Students immediately to the Secretary.

Outlines of Scheme.-(Subject to amendment as stated above).

Name. The Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce Chinese Language School.

Objects. To promote the study of spoken Chinese, in the two leading vernaculars, Cantonese and Mandarin; and also the study of written Chinese; with a view, in the first instance,

Specifically,

to a knowledge of vernacu.ars that will enable pupils, at the end of a two years course of study, to conduct business, safely, in the spoken language; and at the end of three years, to acquire such knowledge of the written characters as may prove of practical value in dealing with ordinary Chinese commercial documents; and.

Generally,

to cultivate a taste for Chinese studies in the spoken and written languages, by opening up an outlook that contemplates mutually sympathetic and helpful relations with the Chinese through the medium of their language and literature.

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