CO129-548-2 Vacancy for Director of Education 19-2-1934 - 11-10-1934 — Page 17

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appointed in defiance of these views would start at

a disadvantage.

6. I agree that the peculiar and restricted

circumstances of Hong Kong make it difficult to bring

into this post an outsider either from home or from

another Colonial Educational Department. If the

Malayan Education Department were properly organised

so as to cover systematic Chinese education it might

be possible later on to bring in a man from Malaya.

At present we are apparently limited in choice to

officers serving in Hong Kong. On the need for

outside advice see paragraph 14 below.

7. I cannot therefore oppose Mr. Sayers

appointment and it is apparently useless to insist

on his being compelled to hold it for a period which

will cover not only his time of learning something

about education but also a period of applying what he

has learned. No Government it appears will stand in

the way of an officer's promotion particularly when

he is the best available man for a higher post.

8.

Nor, in the light of recent experience, do

I attach much importance to Mr. Sayers getting edu-

cational experience and ideas when he is next home on

leave, though I am prepared to do what I can to pro-

vide him with facilities as I did for Mr. Smith.

But the probability of his going on higher before he

has had time to unload what he learns during his

time in England makes the provision of facilities

for him rather depressing work.

9. I suggest that we must look ahead to pro-

vide means whereby educational officers can be given

a chance of qualifying themselves for this post.

In the first place the present position,

namely that a Director's post is listed among Class

10.