CO129-524-2 Hong Kong University- financial position- Chinese studies- future of the Chinese school and the Annual... 27-1-1930 - 12-8-1930 — Page 102

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11.

I have explained that since the beginning of 1927 there

has been in the University a class for teaching Cantonese, the ex-

penses of which have been entirely met by a grant from Government.

The question is whether in designing our future Chinese School,

this institution should be made to include a class for teaching

Chinese to "foreigners" or not. Personally I hold strongly that

the School should contain a Cantonese Class. I feel that the

University should have such a class and that it should not merely

aim at teaching the rudiments of Cantonese to foreigners but at a

scientific study of the language and of the most scientific methods

of imparting it to "foreigners". If I am told that all those things

lid in the future I reply that one must look ahead. I am also told

that the Government may very well change its policy of sending its

cadets to the University and that then there may be no students in

the Class. The Class was of course nover intended to cater for

cadots only. We have had other students and we hope to attract

moro; but it is true that the cadets are likely to constitute a

loss fluctuating source of supply. But the Government asked thu

University to start this class. It was carried on during last year

and the two now cadets who arc expected in a few days are to be

sent to us. The University is very glad to carry on this work but

I dont think that it can be expected to carry on this work inde-

finitely on the basis of a series of arrangements that simply hold

600d for a year and may be discontinued at the close of every year.

Such a class cannot be satisfactorily organised and indood financial

considerations apart, I am quite convinced that if there is to coll-

tinue to be a Cantonesc class in the University and 2 Chinese School,

it must bccome a part of the Chinese School. It has been suggested

that the Chinese gentlemen who might contribute towards the pro-

vision of a School of Chinese for Chinose Students might gib, if

the same included in the schome any amount however small, for the

maintenance of a class for teaching foreigners Chinesc. I should

not have thought that there was very much in this. In the scheme

set out in the ayllabus or Chinese Studios it was definitely stated