CO129-549-19 Education Department- system and organisation 11-7-1934 - 6-12-1934 — Page 44

43

post. The most suitable candidate to succeed him out of

the professional staff of the Department was stated to be

Mr. A.R. Sutherland; but it was his intention to retire

as soon as possible, and in these circumstances, since you

regarded it as most desirable that the officer selected

should have before him a long tenure of the post, you were unable to recommend Mr. Sutherland's appointment. Apart

from this reason, however, you preferred Mr. N.L. Smith as the most suitable officer for appointment; and this

recommendation was approved, subject to Mr. Smith's under-

taking a course of study of educational institutions and

methods in this country with a view to his obtaining

information and experience useful to him in his new duties.

The present vacancy arises from the promotion of

Mr. Smith to high administrative office in control of

another Department of the Administration after a compara-

tively short tenure of the appointment of Director of Educa-

tion, and I note your inability to recommend any member of

the professional staff of the Education Department to

succeed him.

4.

5.

I fully appreciate the importance, especially at

the present time, of having the control of the Education

Department in the Colony in the hands of an officer with

knowledge and experience of the Chinese and their manner of

life and thought. But I think it scarcely less important

that the Governor's educational adviser should be an

officer not only familiar with Chinese affairs, but also a

man of experience and proved capacity in the sphere of

educational work.

6.

It is possible that any risk that an unsuitable

policy might be adopted in respect of vernacular education

in Hong Kong could be guarded against by according to the

Secretary for Chinese Affairs a special advisory position

in all matters affecting policy in Chinese vernacular

education;