CO129-538-2 Hong Kong University 23-6-1932 - 15-3-1933 — Page 252

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO ADVISE ON THE TEACHING OF CHINESE.

I.

Introduction.

We, the members of the Special Committee, appointed by the University Court at its 34th meeting held on the 27th April, 1931, have the honour to submit our report.

was :-

2,

The terms of our reference were:-

"To review the arrangements which the University has made and is making for the teaching of Chinese and to advise the Court and Council of the University as to the future provision which should be made for the teaching of this subject, regard being given to Section 13 of the University Ordinance which makes it obligatory on the University to make duc provision in its Arts Faculty for the study of Chinese Language and Literature,"

3. The personnel of the Committee as originally appointed by the Court

4.

The Hon. Mr. W. T. Southorn, c.M.G., Chairman.

Sir William Hornell, c.I.E.

Prof. L. T. Ride, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

Prof. M. H. Roffey, D.s.o., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

Prof. W. Faid, Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

Prof. R. K. M. Simpson, M.C.

The Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow, Kt.

The Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G., LL.D.

The Hon. Mr. Tso Seen Wan, O.B.E., LL.D.

Mr. Fung Ping Shan.

The Hon. Mr. A. E. Wood.

Mr. G. P. de Martin, M.B.E.

Rev. Fr. G. Byrne, s.J.

Mr. N. Thomas Tam.

Mr. Lam Tung.

Mr. W. B. Finnigan (Secretary).

The death on the 2nd August, 1931, of Mr. Fung Ping Shan robbed the Committee of one of its most valuable members. Mr. A. H. Fenwick was

later added to the Committee.

This

5. The Committee has held four meetings at two of which oral evidence was given by witnesses recommended to the Committee as persons who were qualified to help the Committee in its deliberations. Shortly before his death, Mr. Fung Ping Shan had submitted a written statement of his views. statement was one of the first documents circulated to members of the Committee. In order to facilitate the consideration of the nature and complexity of the problem before the Committee the Vice-Chancellor drew up a memorandum on the past history and present position of Chinese teaching in the University. In this memorandum it was pointed out that Section 13 (1) of the University Ordinance enacts that "there shall be faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Arts, and such other Faculties as may be constituted by the Council, subject to the approval of the Court; that in the Arts Faculty due provision shall be made for the study of the Chinese language and literature."

II. History of the Faculty of Arts up to its reorganisation as the

result of the University Commission of 1920.

6. The University was formally opened by His Excellency Sir Frederick Lugard (now Lord Lugard) on the 11th March, 1912. It was at first decided that only two faculties should be created, namely, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Engineering. The foundation of the Faculty of Arts was to have been postponed until more funds were available, but Archdeacon Barnett and the late

I

Terms of

Roference.

Porsonnel,

Procedure.

Medicins and

Engineering originally regarded as having the first claim the University's resources.

On

350