315
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION IN THE COLONIES
CHINESE STUDIES IN HONG KONG UNIVERSITY.
1.
At their meeting in February, 1931, the Advisory Committee, after expressing their approval of proposals made by the Vice-Chancellor for altering the requirements in Chinese for the entrance examina- tion to Hong Kong University, referred to the desirability of developing the study of Chinese in a manner worthy of the University, but deferred definite recommendations owing to the apparent absence of funds for this purpose. They emphasised the necessity for reconsidering the whole question of Chinese studies in the light of recent development in the Universities of China, and with a view to the study of relations between modern Western thought and Chinese culture. The papers attached to this note show the progress that has subsequently been made in the scheme for the development of Chinese studies in the University.
2.
In the original scheme put before the Senate for the utilisation of the allotment from the Boxer Indemnity Fund no provision was made for the development of Chinese studies. In response to an appeal on their behalf, final consideration of the scheme was deferred pending the report of a Special Committee appointed to consider the question of Chinese in the University. The report of this Committee is among the attached papers.
3.
The Special Committee in their report draw attention to the clause in the University Ordinance which states that due provision shall be made for the study of Chinese language and literature in the Arts Faculty. Such provision has been made from the start, but for a considerable period no provision was made in the courses or on the staff for instruction beyond the Intermediate stage. In 1926 funds raised in British Malaya were used for strengthening the staff and the library, and facilities were afforded for the study of Chinese up to the Degree stage in the Arts Faculty. In spite of this, no candidates have taken it for the B.A. Degree. Only 18 out of 101 students in the Arts Faculty are taking Chinese as an Intermediate subject.
4.
In 1929, largely at the instigation of Sir Cecil Clementi, a Chinese School of Studies was established providing a four-year course leading up to a Diploma. This was not accepted by the University as conferring a degree status owing to the low standard of the English portion of the course and the fact that the admission test to the course was far below Matriculation standard, being in fact for non-Chinese students on the lines of the Junior Local Examination. The School was supported from an endowment fund raised locally and from Government grant. The University accepted no financial responsibility. At the time of the report there were 10 students in the School and 6 teachers, some of whom however, gave part of their time to University Intermediate students.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.