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 72

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Translator.

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In August, 1926, Dr. Lai and I went on deputation to

alaya. The result of this deputation was the collection of $40,000. It was decided that instead of capitalizing this amount and ereit- ing further contributions we should devote this sum of money to making a start in the direction of improved facilities for Chinese

instruction. With this end in view Drs. Lai and Au were appointed full time Readers and r. Lam Tung was appointed a whole time

These appointments were on a purely temporary bacis and for two years only from the 1st January, 1927. A room was

set apart for a Chinese Library, some additional Chinese books

purchased and a Librarian engaged. All this expenditure was met

out of the money collected in Malaya. A class for the teaching

of Cantonese was also opened in January 1927 but the expense of

this class is being borne solely by Government.

The whole time services of Dr. Lai and Dr. Au and Mr.

Lan Tung were engaged for 1927 and 1928 solely for the Arts Faculty.

In the early days of the University Chinese was, I believe,

subject which could be taken up to the Degree stage.

-

This arrange-

For a con-

ment had, however, been discontinued for some years.

siderable period before the end of 1926 Chinese as a subject in

the Arts Faculty could be taken up to the Intermediate Examination

only. The full time appointment of these three teachers for two

years enabled the Board of the Faculty of Arts to include Chineso

in the Faculty's curriculum as a degree subject for 1927 and 1928.

There are now the following students of the Arts Faculty taking

Chinese 1st year 7 (of the se 3 are external students), 2nd year

4 students, 3rd year 1 student, 4th year no student. This is not

very encouraging response but it must be remembered that the

eubject only rogained its ples in the degree curriculum at the

beginning of last year. The point which I wish to make at this

stogo is that the University is not committed to anything beyond

the provision of instruction in Chinese as a degree subject in

the Faculty of Arts and that this commitment ends with the closc

of 1928.