363
We realize that the delay has held up many urgent developments in the Faculties.
regret
this but the delay was unavoidable.
We
66. Mr. W. B. Finnigan has acted as the Committee's Secretary. We desire to record our gratitude for the excellent way in which he has handled the work which meant a serious addition to his already heavy duties.
We also desire to record our indebtedness to our stenographer, Miss V. R. Harrison.
11th March, 1932.
(Signed) W. T. SOUTHORN, Chairman.
W. W. HORNELL.
SHOUSON CHOW (subject to rider below).
R. H. KOTEWALL (subject to rider below).
S. W. Tso.
L. T. RIDE.
M. H. ROFFEY.
W, FAID.
R. K. M. SIMPSON."
G. P. DE MARTIN
A. E. Woop.
N. T. TAM.
G. BYRNE.
A. H. FENWICK (subject to rider below). LAN TUNG.
!
Mr. Chairman,
Rider by Mr. A. H. Fenwick,
L
•
The conclusion summarised in paragraph 64 (6) that "the ultimate aim and that the of the University should be to adopt Kwok Yu government of Hong Kong should be asked to take such steps as will encourage the study of Kwok Yu in the educational institutions of the Colony."
Unless the Educational Department is willing to introduce Kwok Yu into the government schools at once it seems to me doubtful whether the University will find it easier to adopt Kwok Yu in ten or twenty years time than it will at present. I think therefore that the University should declare at once that Kwok Yu is the official language of its Chinese Department. There may be a transi- tional period during which some lectures in Cantonese are necessary but lectures in Cantonese should only be delivered by special permission of the Senate.
I urge this on the grounds that:-
(1) Chinese as spoken in Nanking or Peiping has been for many
centuries the official language of China.
(2) That unification of the language is an urgent need in education,
as well as politically desirable.
(3) That a considerable number, probably at least 40% of the
students of the University do not speak Cantonese.
By the use of a local dialect, the University makes the appeal of its Chinese Department purely local; and, moreover, limits the field from which it can draw its lecturers.
(4) That a modern Chinese school cannot neglect the only form of the colloquial that has any literature and is the only form that
is ever written or indeed, can be written.
I do not think the statement that the introduction of Kwok Yu in the schools of Canton has not made much progress, should be held even if true to free the University of Hong Kong from a moral obligation to undertake this urgent reform.
I recommend that the University should engage the services of a qualified teacher from the Peiping language school, who will hold classes to teach Kwok Yu. I do not believe that Southern Chinese, who are already familiar (as all educated Chinese are) with Kwok Yu as a written language will need more than a few months to familiarise them with the spoken sounds.
I would urge this on the further grounds that it is regrettable that so many, perhaps 70%, of the graduates of the University are, by their inability to speak Kwok Yu, excluded from positions, official or otherwise, in any districts of China except their own. Well organised classes in Kwok Yu, which students, not otherwise taking Chinese, were encouraged to attend would help to remove this signal disability from which graduates of this University suffer, and it would enlarge the sphere of influence of the University of Hong Kong,
18th February, 1932.
14
A. H. FENWICK.
!
Rider by Dr. R. H. Kotewall.
Mr. A. H. Fenwick has been good enough to show me his Reservation." While I am not prepared to suppport his recommendation that the University should declare at once that Kuo Yu is the official language of its Chinese Depart- ment, I am in entire agreement with the reasons he has adduced in support of his recommendation. The necessity for this adoption at as early a date as practicable, has not been given sufficient emphasis in paragraph 46 of this Report.
15
364
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.