[ { "id": 223584, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6]", "page_number": 546, "title": "CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6]", "content_text": "June 20\n\n1846\n\nSir J Davis continued 201\n\nEND 1846 542 2/ Sir J Davis Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure. June 23 83 Land Revenue. Acting Despatch 3835 For the year ending March 31 1847. Revenue £25000 Expenditure £42815 being an excess of £14015.\n\nMarch 30. Encloses the Colonial Rent Roll of Land Revenue £13166.2.7.\n\nJune 21 80 Mr F. Bruce. Regers 28 his Despatch June 26 84 Rev. Mr Stanton. Emoluments $105 July 19. 1845. Reports having granted sixteen Months leave of Absence to Mr Bruce. The following arrangements in consequence, - Major Caine to act as Secretary, Mr Hillier & Mr Morgan to act as Assistant Magistrate.\n\nApplication from the Rev Mr. Stanton for an allowance of $25 per month on account of conveyance in the discharge of his duties, — recommends it.\n\nMAR Johnston. Reports his arrangements.\n\nJune 26 85 Mr AR Johnston. \"Appointments: Mr Hillier to act as Assistant Magistrate and Mr Morgan to act as Clerk in Magistrate's Office.\n\nJune 22 81 Schools. Aiken, Despatch 36. April 17 in reference to his 484 Jan 7 20. Reports on the nature of the European School proposed by the Rev Mr Stanton and the Native Schools as proposed by Mr Gutzlaff also the probable expenditure they are likely to entail.\n\nJune 25 82 Sir J Davis. Reports his intended absence on leave. General D'Aguilar & the Executive Council to administer the Government in his absence, with Major Caine, absent on leave, to act as Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 223598, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-017 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [7-12]", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-017 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [7-12]", "content_text": "Date\n\n22\n\nDraft: Beef:\n\n82\n\n1846.\n\nSubject of Despatch.\n\nof aberries to the Themble: Frederick Bruce to forward to England and consequent change thereon several appointment.\n\nSome 59 Further Report as to assistance\n\nto be given by Government\n\nEuropean and native schools\n\n#\n\n2373\n\nin the story\n\nReporting Sir John Davis's approaching temporary absence from the Colony.\n\nForwarding\n\n8.3\n\nRe: Colonial Rent-\n\nof Hongkong with Reforms\n\nto Despatch P. 35.\n\nNone\n\nSome\n\n35 of 38th March\n\n1846.\n\nOne.\n\n84\n\n26th Relative to an\n\nallowance of\n\n85\n\n25 Dollars per month to the\n\nReverend Mr. Stanton, for\n\nkeep of a conveyance\n\nthe\n\nReporting appointment of Mr Johnston, Secretary to Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, to be a member of the Executive\n\nCouncil\n\nOne\n\nDate\n\n13\n\nJune\n\nSubject of Despatch.\n\nCouncil\n\nof Hongkong, vacated by\n\nthe absence of the Hon: Frederick Bruce, on\n\nsick leave.\n\nMain\n\nOfficiating Colonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-017 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [7-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224746, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-019 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [1-4]", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-019 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [1-4]", "content_text": "Nr of Dare - Deep: Desp \n\n7 \n\nSubject of Despatch. \n\n80. \n\nPR \n\n84. \n\n85. \n\nJune. 20th Transmitting. Estimates of the Expenditure \n\nand. Revenue of Hongkong, for the \n\n1826-47. \n\n25th reporting 16 month's leave of absence sto the Honble Frederick Bruce, to proceed to \n\nEngland, and consequent changes \n\nof End: \n\nNo. of Date of Subject of Despatch. \n\nDesp: Desp: \n\nInly \n\nof Her Majesty's Government; and \n\nrecommending that it be sanctioned \n\n85. July 15th Transmitting Quarterly Returns for the \n\nyou \n\n4. \n\n89. \n\n4. \n\n60. \n\n\" \n\nThe reen in several appointments. 22 Further Report as to assistance to be given by Government to a European \n\nNative Schools in the Colony. None : 23rd Reporting her John Davis's approaching \n\nand \n\nTemporary absence from the Colony. None. Fransmitting Colonial, Rent roll of Hongkong, with reference to Despatch N. 35, of 30th March, 1846. \n\n26th Relative to an allowance of 25 Dollars per \n\n- \n\nmonth, to the Root Mr. Stanton, for \n\nthe keep of a conveyance \n\n26 Reporting appointments of Md Schnitzler, \n\ntheretary to H. M's. Henipotentiary ve to be a member of the Executive Council of Hongkong, vacated. \n\nvacated by the absence of thie \n\nHow: Frederick Bruce, on leave \n\nQuarter ending 36th June, 1846. 15th Acknowledging receipt of despatches \n\n15th \n\nput the. \n\nGA. 18th. \n\n42. \n\n20th \n\nOne! \n\nG1s. \n\n94. \n\n} \n\nlie \n\nsick leave. None \n\n86. July 1st Transmitting half yearly Schedule of \n\nRef. 6th \n\n1846 \n\nDespatches, ending 30 \n\nsoth June, Reporting refund to Lieut : Pedder of his last Quarter's house rent, he being allowed to reside in his office rent free, subject to the apprecat \n\nof \n\nEnci \n\n2570 \n\nto N. 57, of 25 May, 1826. \n\nth \n\nReplying to Despatch Dr 44 of 6th May, \n\nr of Encl. \n\n12 \n\n3. \n\n4. \n\nNone: \n\nreporting death of Mr. James Hatchell Tone. \n\nInnsmitting copy of the Roting Treasurer's Paiterly Account for the Quarter ending \n\n30th June, 1846, 4: \n\nFransmitting copies of Minutes, \n\nis of Minutes of the \n\nExetitive and Legislative Councils of Hongkong for the half year ending \n\ngoth have, 1846. \n\nt \n\n2. \n\n2. \n\nReporting state of affairs up to this date. Tone. \n\n244th Fransmitting replies to Queries from the \n\nAudit Board on the Accounts of the \n\nven't from 1 April \n\nHongkong Government 1844, to 30th June, 1845: \n\nG5.31 Transmitting copy, of Ordinance N. 4 4 of \n\nか \n\n1846, to explain and extend the from \n\nprovisions \n\n\"of the Ordinance to establish a licensed \n\n\"Thaut Brang six the Colony of Hongkong, \n\nand for \n\nthe better regulations of Lascars \n\nresorting thereto. \n\n96. August 18th. Acknowledging \n\n\" \n\n* Acknowledging receipt of Despatch 2.31 \n\nof 25th May, and reporting on the \n\nprand \n\nOne: \n\nOne!", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-019 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224956, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-019 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [1-4]", "page_number": 227, "title": "CO129-019 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [1-4]", "content_text": "12\n\nof the Europeans - One of them is under the charge of the Colonial Chaplain, and teaches the children of the inferior English population. One is for the instruction of both Europeans and Chinese in the Roman Catholic religion, and under the direction of the Propaganda Society of Italy. Two are for the exclusive education of Chinese in European Knowledge and the Protestant faith, and entirely of Missionary character...\n\nThere are four Society Chinese schools in Victoria, and about nine others in the different parts of the Island. I have before observed that some slight contribution from Government to these native seminaries would be attended with a good effect. They teach only the elements of reading, writing, and accounts, and there is nothing exceptionable on the ground of idolatrous instruction. Neither would they be of a purely eleemosynary character, the greater portion of the expense being borne by the pupils. If these schools were eventually placed in charge of native Christian teachers, bred up by the Protestant Missionaries, it would afford the most rational prospect of converting the native population of the Island.\n\nUnder the head of Christian Places of Worship, I have to enumerate One English Episcopal Church, One Roman Catholic Church, and four Protestant Chapels in Victoria. There is also a Protestant Chapel in the English Cemetery, of a neat and suitable construction for the performance of the burial service. Of Pagan places of worship, there are four - One being a Mohammedan Mosque, and three Chinese temples.\n\nIn addition to the Danish and American Consuls reported in my last, an American Vice-Consul has been appointed to act at Victoria - The\n\n222\n\nPlaces of Worship\n\n5.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-019 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 226142, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-022 - Public Offices - 1847", "page_number": 271, "title": "CO129-022 - Public Offices - 1847", "content_text": "policy towards our \n\nChinese fellow subjects of the Island of Hongkong \n\nmore promising subjects for \n\nwith the view of encouraging Christian instruction. My \n\nown observation leads me to fear that \n\nthe present system of Police injuriously affects the immigration of respectable Chinese and the consequent improvement of the Colony. \n\nFor instance, \n\nno Chinese is permitted to move abroad in the streets or public roads after a certain hour in the evening without bearing a lantern and a written note from his employer. Respectable Chinese coming to Hongkong and venturing in the public streets without such protection would be in danger of being apprehended by the Police, kept in custody during the night, and rendered liable to the humiliating disgrace of corporal punishment.\n\nIt may be pleaded that such a precaution may be necessary in the present social state of the Native population; but I cannot forbear to state to your Lordship that such a regime, as long as it is permitted to continue, will seriously affect the well-being of the Colony and preclude every hope of securing any better class of immigrants. Needy adventurers who have little of character or of pecuniary means will be bribed to submit for a few months to this regime by high wages. But to the wealthy Native merchants, to the well-educated Native scholars, to the Chinese gentry, money will be an ineffectual inducement in leading them to submit to such regulations.\n\nIt would be easy to particularize other instances by which a race of people, the most alive to kind treatment, instead of becoming friends to the British connexion, are converted into enemies, returning with heartburnings and hatred to the mainland, to spread abroad disaffection to Hongkong and detestation of the Western barbarians. Till a more liberal policy towards the Native population of Hongkong can be substituted for the present system, I cannot but express to your Lordship that there exists but a very faint hope of being able to encourage the immigration of a better class of commercial traders; or, what in my view is of still higher importance, of more hopeful subjects for Christian instruction.\n\n2. The second measure which I venture to propose to your Lordships refers to the desirableness of Christian Schools established and supported by Government for the intellectual, moral, and religious education of Chinese youths. It might at first view appear desirable that educational measures might be undertaken by some of the Missionary Societies in existence, assisted by pecuniary grants from the Colonial Legislature of Hongkong. Such a plan would, I apprehend, be open to objections and many practical inconveniences. Missionary Societies will always have a primary, if not exclusive, reference to the object of raising up a body of Native Teachers and Catechists, who may, by degrees, become the instructors of their fellow-countrymen.\n\nOn the other hand, the Government must look on the Natives educated by their friends as the nucleus of a body of Native Interpreters, writers, and subordinate Officers. In China, where the language is so difficult, and when interpreters are consequently as much in request, the demand will for a long time considerably exceed the supply.\n\nPage 276", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-022 - Public Offices - 1847.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 226151, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-022 - Public Offices - 1847", "page_number": 280, "title": "CO129-022 - Public Offices - 1847", "content_text": "by a European Principal\n\nunder whose instruction\n\na body of native\n\nInterpreters - Writers, and\n\nsubordinates:\n\nSuch an\n\ninstitution might\n\nmight be conducted\n\nby the Ecclesiastical\n\n\"representative of the\n\nChurch of England\n\n\" in the Colony under\n\nthe visitational control\n\nof the Governor.\n\nIt is impossible\n\nI deny that as regards the furtherance of\n\nEducation in\n\nNo measures\n\nhave\n\nbeen yet adopted by the Colonial Imperial Government, - by the Missionary Societies of this Country; But it is proper\n\nto state that the Governor\n\nhas suggested in his despatches of 20 July 1845 and 22 June 1846 that Schools, both European and native, placed under the supervision of the Revd Mr. Stanton, Who is the representative\n\nof the Church of England\n\nat Hong Kong, and", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-022 - Public Offices - 1847.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 228563, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3]", "page_number": 291, "title": "CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3]", "content_text": "per cent. It is however necessary to observe \n\nthat the Returns cannot be relied on as furnishing an approximate view of the proportion of mortality in the native population, as the greater number of the Chinese inhabitants when attacked by disease immediately quit the Colony for the purpose of going to their native places, where they either die or remain until their recovery.\n\nYour Lordship will find in Dr. Morrison's Report, which is appended to the Blue Book, copious information regarding the sanitary condition and prospects of the Colony.\n\n9. The three Chinese schools for the education of Native youths, established at Victoria, Stanley, and Aberdeen, as sanctioned by Your Lordship's Despatch No. 109 of 19th August, 1847, have been in operation during the whole of the year 1848. The accompanying Report from the Committee does not show as great an attendance (285) as had been expected, but I trust there will be an improvement as the object and usefulness of the schools become better known to the Chinese.\n\nThe Colonial Chaplain continues to bestow the greatest attention towards a school for European children of parents who are ill-able to support this desirable institution, which, under the able and zealous superintendence of Mr. Stanton, is well-attended, though the means for supporting it are very limited.\n\n10. The number of shipping, exclusive of Chinese vessels, which arrived in Hongkong in 1848, as compared with the preceding year, is as follows:\n\n \n Shipping\n Tonnage\n \n \n 1847\n 1848\n \n \n 694\n 700\n \n \n 229,465\n 228,818\n \n \n of which 163 imported and 193 exported", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 228570, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3]", "page_number": 298, "title": "CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3]", "content_text": "202\n\nHONG KONG.\n\n4\n\nREPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\nMEMORANDUM showing the Number of DEATHS which have occurred in the Garrison of HONG KONG during the year 1848, &c. &c.\n\nNo. 4.\n\n \n Description of Troops.\n 1st Quarter.\n 2nd Quarter.\n 3rd Quarter.\n 4th Quarter.\n Average Strength.\n Deaths.\n Proportion of Deaths to Average Strength.\n Proportion of Deaths to Entire Force.\n \n \n Europeans\n 624\n 731\n 15\n 606\n 100\n 628\n 8\n 748\n 6\n 775\n 10\n 651\n 133\n Per Cent.\n 20.43\n \n \n Natives.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 713\n 9736\n 14\n 739\n 38\n 5.14\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 1,390\n 171\n 12.30\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nThe Chinese population for 1848 amounted to 20,338 souls, and the deaths were 227 in number, or at an average of 1·12 per cent. During the year 1847 the Chinese inhabitants were 22,466, and the number of deaths was 147, or at an average of 0.15 per cent. It is however necessary to observe that these returns cannot be relied on as furnishing an approximate view of the proportion of mortality in the native population, as the greater number of the Chinese inhabitants when attacked by disease, immediately quit the colony for the purpose of going to their families at their native places, where they either die or remain until their recovery.\n\nYour Lordship will find in Dr. Morrison's Report, which is appended to the Blue Book, copious information regarding the sanitary condition and prospects of the colony.\n\nEducation.\n\n9. The three Chinese schools for the education of native youths, established at Victoria, Stanley, and Aberdeen, as sanctioned by Despatch No. 109, of 12th August, 1847, from your Lordship, have been in operation during the whole of the year 1848. The accompanying Report from the Committee does not show so great an attendance as had been expected, but I trust there will be an improvement as the object and usefulness of the schools become better known to the Chinese.\n\nThe colonial chaplain continues to bestow the greatest attention towards a school for European children of parents who are ill able to support this desirable institution, which, under the able and zealous superintendence of Mr. Stanton, is well attended, though the means for supporting the same are very limited.\n\nTrade.\n\n10. The number of shipping exclusive of Chinese vessels which arrived in Hong Kong in 1848, as compared with the preceding year, is as follows:-\n\n \n \n Shipping\n Tonnage\n \n \n 1847.\n 694\n 229,465\n \n \n 1848.\n 700\n 228,818\n \n\nof which 163 imported and 193 exported merchandise into and from the colony. The value of these imports it is altogether impossible to estimate, as there is no establishment of any description to ascertain the extent and value of the trade of the port.\n\nFrom the returns furnished to me by the harbour-master, I find that 6,022,578 dollars, equal in sterling money to 1,254,703. 15s. were exported from hence during the year, being principally no doubt in return for opium received by the merchants from India. This fact alone will tend to show that the colony cannot but be of very considerable importance to the firms engaged in this species of speculation.\n\nThe following table shows in pounds sterling the amount of imports and exports in Chinese vessels during the years 1847 and 1848, drawn up from statements furnished to the Registrar-General by the Chinese traders and dealers:\n\n \n \n 1847.\n 1848.\n Increase.\n Decrease.\n \n \n Imports\n £498,239 0 0\n £169,446 17 5\n \n £328,792 2 6\n \n \n Exports\n £226,130 16 6\n £236,298 19 2\n £10,168 2 6\n \n \n\nThe export of sugar from the colony, which amounted in 1847 to 144,827l., has increased in 1848 to 147,936. 15s., showing an excess over 1847 of 31097. 15s.\n\nNo great dependence can be placed on these statements, for with the view of preventing all interference with the native traders, and of giving every encouragement for them to resort to this port, no regular returns of the imports or exports are ever required; and these returns have therefore been compiled from statements given in by the local traders. But as regards the item of sugar, there is reason to apprehend that the return is correct. The Registrar-General reports the imports in native vessels at 150,000 piculs, while the harbour-master reports the exports in square-rigged vessels as follows:—\n\n \n To\n Piculs.\n \n \n India\n 51,056\n \n \n To New South Wales\n 15,689\n \n \n To Shanghae\n 93,522\n \n \n \n 160,267, or 9427 tons.\n \n\nI have consulted many of the mercantile gentlemen of the colony as to the state of the native trade, as well as others who I considered had the means of being acquainted with, and who had moreover paid attention to, the subject, and by all I have been assured that the trade is gradually extending; from none have I heard any complaints of the native traders being in any way molested, and the only suggestion that has been made to me for its further extension, is the abolition of the opium farm, or rather that part of it by which persons are interdicted from dealing in opium, in quantities less than one chest without a licence.\n\nThis subject was brought to your Lordship's notice in my Despatch No. 18, of the 14th ultimo.\n\nI beg to annex the remarks of Dr. Gutzlaff on the Chinese trade of the colony for the year 1848.\n\nCrown Lands.\n\n11. The fixed revenue derivable from Crown lands on the 31st December, 1848, stands thus:-\n\n \n Lands leased by\n £.\n S.\n d.\n \n \n mercantile firms\n 4,742\n 12\n 5\n \n \n individuals\n 4,562\n 5\n 7½\n \n \n Chinese\n 1,802\n 19\n 9¼\n \n \n \n 11,107\n 17\n 11\n \n\nPolice.\n\n12. The advantage of general police control over the whole island continues to be productive of beneficial results. Indeed, when the locality of this island is borne in mind, the facilities it offers as a refuge for all desperate characters from the main land, and the nests of pirates in the adjacent waters, it is to me a matter of surprise that the amount of crime is not much greater than the returns herewith enclosed exhibit; and I consider much credit is due to Mr. May for the manner in which the arduous duties of the police have been conducted.\n\nI beg to forward a letter from that officer, accompanied by two documents which fully exhibit the number of persons apprehended during the years 1846, 1847, and 1848, and the manner in which they were disposed of before the magistrates and the Supreme Court respectively, during the past year.\n\nBy reference to Enclosure No. 8, your Lordship will see that out of 157 prisoners tried before the Supreme Court last year, only 41 were convicted. This arises partly from the migratory nature of the population, and the hitherto infrequent holding of the criminal sessions, Ordinance No. 1, of 1849, for the \n\nNo. 5.\n\nNo. 6.\n\nNo. 7.\n\nNo. 8.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 228574, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3]", "page_number": 302, "title": "CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3]", "content_text": "296\n\nHONG KONG.\n\n12\n\nREPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\nI may here mention that there are 26 buildings under my charge, the repairs to which, exclusive of storm repairs, amounted to £797. 13s. 7d. during the year; this, together with about £307. which may be said to be the sum for repair of convict tools, makes a large annual amount, which I am confident could be reduced if I had the men I mention, whose united wages would only amount to £50.; even if it were for the convicts alone, I think it would be a saving to point a pick at the proper time, repair a helve or wheelbarrow, the last of which are expensive and liable to much injury. As soon as they are in bad repair, I am obliged to lay them up until a sufficient number are so, to enable me to estimate for the repair, and make a requisition for the authority for payment of the money; this is a great inconvenience, and the tools are injured at the same time.\n\nIn the Land Registry Office, under the charge of the accountant, Mr. Power, the work has been of its usual description, a little augmented by the voluminous return called for by the House of Commons, and other explanations connected with transactions in land.\n\nA very limited number of memorials, of transfers, or mortgages, &c., have been registered during the year—only 68. Of this number 16 have been prepared in the office for Chinese, with the usual translation made by the Chinese secretary. Attached to my office and to that of the above, also for the preparation or copying of these documents, was a Chinese clerk—Keonkitch, who, in addition to this work, was employed in writing out the copies of contracts for work, also in Chinese.\n\nAt the latter end of the year, by direction of his Excellency, his services were dispensed with, together with the second clerk, Mr. Harrison, the office Coolie, and the messenger. The services of the first of the above-named officers I shall be enabled to supply by employing the overseer of Coolies—Assow, who is apparently a good scholar, and can copy out Chinese documents, under the superintendence of Mr. Gutzlaff, the Chinese secretary, sufficiently well for all the purposes of the office. He is a useful and trustworthy servant, and I have always found him attentive to his work, and show an anxiety for the good of the service. As an attendant and interpreter for myself, and clerk of works and road overseer, in visiting the roads or works, he is most useful; for which service his Excellency was pleased to sanction horse allowance for him; but this, together with the horse allowance to the road overseer, has been of course discontinued since the stoppage of the works.\n\nThe two native overseers of convicts, one at £507. per annum, and the other £27. 10s. for allowance, he being in the guard, were also discharged. Both were intelligent and useful men, but the services of one I am happily enabled to avail myself of, as he is appointed sergeant of the guard, and I am nearly equally well served by him in his new capacity, and a saving is effected of £62. 10s. per annum; at the same time it obliges me to keep all the gang together, which is sometimes very inconvenient, particularly when executing repairs in the streets.\n\nReductions to a small amount were also made in the salaries of the road overseer and accountant, forming an aggregate saving in the cost of the department amounting to £297. 10s. per annum.\n\nWith the department, as at present constituted, I shall be fully equal to execute all the demands that can be made upon it, unless any works are proposed at a distance from Victoria. If such were to be necessary, the only addition would be allowance for horses; but if no further expenditure for civil works in the colony is decided upon, a reduction may still be effected in the department.\n\nIn the district comprising the town of Victoria there are several works which I think it would be highly desirable to have effected, such as the completion of the work of surface drainage by stone channels, the protection of the sides of some of the roads and streets, either with parapet walls, raised footpaths, or such other means as for each particular place would be found most applicable; widening the road round the Wongneichung Valley, and the formation of a new carriage-road from the Albany Godowns to the Wongneichung Valley. I formerly advocated the construction of this road when land was much sought after, and estimated the probable revenue that would be derivable from the sale of the adjoining ground; at the present time it is not likely much of that ground, if any, would be purchased, and, in a pecuniary sense, Government would not be directly benefited; but it would be a healthy and pleasant road for the use of inhabitants of the whole town, for in summer both the Queen's-road and the Wongneichung Valley are too confined and hot, and but little benefit is derived from exercise therein. Another carriage-road, not so expensive as this one, might be made round the Sukupu Valley, or Causeway Bay. These two roads, with the widening a part of the Saiwan Road, and the construction of one 30-feet bridge, and three or four small 10-feet ones, would give ample range for exercise, riding, or driving, and that recreation so much desired and necessary in a tropical climate. These roads would be very easily maintained in order; they would be nearly horizontal in every part, and but few portions exposed to the run of the sea.\n\nIn addition to these services, I am induced to advocate the planting of trees along the sides of the roads, and some of the streets and slopes adjoining. Small plantations of China fir might be made in several places, and with the facility of obtaining trees from the Straits by the steamers, some of the valuable large and quickly-growing ones would tend much to the beauty and healthiness of the place.\n\nIn conclusion, I trust my own exertions in the management of the department have met with approval, which it has ever been my wish to merit. I have to regret some circumstances that have occurred, and am sorry I have been unable to supply occasional information, in returns or otherwise, in that space of time in which they were directed to be performed. This has been entirely caused by the change in the holders of appointments, who were necessarily not au fait in effecting the requisite searches regarding land transactions over a series of years (though few), in which so many alterations, of very varied descriptions, had been made.\n\nSTATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n\n13\n\nI have much satisfaction in speaking in the highest terms of the several officers of the department, who have uniformly given the utmost attention to their several duties, and executed them all to the best of their abilities. It is unnecessary to make further allusion to each individually, and I only express a wish that if the probable changes of which I made mention before, viz., the reduction of further civil works, that the civil engineer and clerk of works, the Hon. W. Napier, may obtain other suitable employment under Her Majesty's Government, suited to his professional acquirements; and, further, that His Excellency the Governor may be pleased to take into consideration the proposition made for attaching to the department one or two carpenters and a blacksmith, to enable me to repair in a more effective and satisfactory manner the several buildings under my charge—26 in number, and the preservation and repair of the convict tools.\n\nThe Honourable Major W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.\n\nSIR,\n\n(True Copy.)\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed)\n\nCHAS. ST. GEO. CLEVERLY, Surveyor-General,\n\nVictoria, Hong Kong, March 3, 1849.\n\nIN making our Report for the half-year ending 31st December, 1848, on the schools in this colony receiving Government aid, we have little to add to that of the last half-year.\n\nNinety-five boys are in course of education at the three schools—forty at Victoria, twenty-five at Stanley, and thirty at Aberdeen. Over the schools at Stanley and Aberdeen we have been unable as yet to exercise any very effectual supervision. The school at Victoria has been visited at least once a-month, and the progress of the scholars is as great as can be reasonably expected.\n\nWe believe the assistance given to these schools to be properly appreciated by the Chinese inhabitants of the place, and to be of substantial benefit to a number of poor people who would be otherwise unable to procure education,\n\nThe Honourable Major W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.\n\n(True Copy.)\n\nWe are, &c.,\n\n(Signed)\n\nC. B. HILLIER.\n\nV. STANTON.\n\nA. L. INGLIS.\n\nREMARKS upon the NATIVE TRADE at HONG KONG during 1848.\n\nIn the absence of regular returns we can only talk in general terms of what comes under immediate observation. The Chinese traders are, moreover, very reluctant to give a true detail of their actual transactions, for fear of provoking competition; their statements are always under the real amount.\n\nMuch business is done here by small traders, who come to Hong Kong from the neighbouring cities, such as Tung-kwan, Nan-tow, Kwei-shen, and other places. They generally bring an investment of sugar or produce for immediate consumption. Their agents attend auctions, and buy up things wherever they find them at reduced prices. In these they invest their proceeds, and sell them in the interior at a more advantageous rate than the small traders at Canton can ever do. This is a very numerous class: the boats ply constantly between this colony and their respective native places. Individually they possess little capital; their dealings are beneath the notice of a British merchant; but could the whole be summed up, it would be something very large through the year. The returns being very profitable, their numbers have considerably increased, and are likely to do so in future; the market supplies have in consequence become as abundant and various as those of the largest cities in the empire. A corresponding increase of large fast-boats, who trade to this port periodically, has also taken place, and the local Government has not as formerly thrown obstacles in the way.\n\nA great drawback upon this small trade is the absence of capitalists. Many men of desperate fortunes arrive here, engage in dangerous speculations in order to obtain credit, and suddenly abscond after having sold the goods intrusted to their care at a ruinous rate. There are others who realize a fair profit, but withdraw from the colony as soon as they have accumulated a few thousand dollars, never to appear again, except to recruit their finances on a new venture. There exists no local attachment, which may be ascribed to the absence of respectable families born on the island with which the adventurers could contract marriages. As long as their relations live elsewhere they will look upon Hong Kong as a mere temporary abode, which they may abandon and revisit at pleasure to suit their convenience. This is a most serious obstacle to the increase of trade, though it cannot be charged to local arrangements made during our occupation of the island. The rent of houses and shops is at present low enough to enable any man who carries on a middling trade to lodge his family, yet very few decent women are to be found here.\n\nHONG KONG.\n\nEncl. 3 in No.\n\nEncl. in No.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 229793, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-031 - Public Offices - 1849", "page_number": 294, "title": "CO129-031 - Public Offices - 1849", "content_text": "(2)\n\nHong Kong is a desirable and convenient locality to be made the fulcrum of this moral lever. Although the spoken dialects are very dissimilar in different districts, the written characters—being the symbolical representatives of ideas, and not alphabetic combinations of sounds—are everywhere the same. The Holy Scriptures and Christian Books, translated into the Chinese character, will therefore be understood everywhere by the educated portion of the Chinese. The ability to read is very general in Chinese cities; and none but the poorest classes neglect the education of their male offspring.\n\nBoth these objects, however, the Christian Press, and oral instruction by living teachers, must, as far as possible, be blended together in their due proportions.\n\nIn the rural districts it is a common circumstance to find the great majority of the villagers sunk in abject poverty, and unable to read. That class of our fellow-heirs of sin and sorrow, to whom the Gospel was designed to be preached as well as to ourselves, are consequently shut out from a most important channel of Religious Instruction. An extract from the writer's published volume on China may here be appropriately introduced to explain his views on this part of the subject:-\n\n\"During the Author's journeyings and residence in the northern ports, the following facts were impressed constantly on his mind:-1. The very partial prevalence of education among the bulk of the lower classes of people in the villages, though in the towns the ability to read was much more general; 2. The consequent importance of direct preaching to the people; and, 3. The expediency of providing means for the systematic preparation of Native Evangelists to accompany and assist European Missionaries in the work of oral instruction. These considerations point out the importance, at some future period, of a good 'Anglo-Chinese Missionary Institution,' in which an able Missionary should devote his principal endeavours to the work of imparting the benefits of a first-rate education to a limited number of youths of promising talent and disposition. At present there is a want of materials for such an Institution, as the first elements of education have to be previously imparted in common Schools, before any Seminary or College can be raised. To reverse the order of these two distinct kinds of Educational Agency, is to confound the natural course of things. Such materials, though not existing at the commencement, may ere long be raised up about the families of Missionaries, and among the children of Converts. A proficiency in the more elementary branches of Education, conveyed to them through the medium of books composed by Missionaries, in the Chinese language, and a lengthened test, under the eye of Missionaries, of the mental powers and moral disposition of individual pupils, will in due time point out proper subjects for receiving the more solid advantages which a thorough education in the science and theology of the West, through the medium of the English language, will confer on Native Youths in their endeavours to diffuse the Gospel among their fellow-countrymen. For this higher course of education it may be expedient to form a Missionary Seminary at a distance from the place of their nativity, where a few pupils of promising piety and ability may be collected together in one place, from the several Stations on the Coast of China, and at the same time be detached from the unfavourable influences of kindred and home. Hong Kong, though replete with dangers from European intercourse and the inconveniences of distance, yet may possibly hereafter afford the greatest facilities for carrying out such a plan.\n\n\"The system of Central Education is generally open to objections; but the circumstances of the China Mission are regarded as being peculiar, and dissimilar from other Missions. A Missionary, occupying the post of Principal of such an Institution, might hold daily Family Services, and occasional Public Services, at his own house, for the benefit of such Chinese as might be induced to attend. The youths thus carefully educated and trained, with a view to personal dedication to the work of evangelizing their countrymen, might, on the completion of the necessary course of instruction, return to the Missionaries on the Continent of China; where, by the Divine Blessing on the means employed in their preparation, they might become valuable and efficient aids to the European Missionaries.\"-Pp. 520-522\n\n(3)\n\nThe Institution, of which, in 1846, the writer gave the afore-mentioned outline in prospect, is now about to be realized, under more favourable circumstances, and on a larger scale, than he then was authorised in contemplating. An Episcopal College, of which the Bishop of Victoria is to be ex-officio Warden, is now about to be established at Hong Kong. The Special Committee of the China Bishopric Fund having succeeded in raising, from voluntary sources, the necessary endowment for the newly-constituted See, have also directed their attention to this important object, and have taken initiatory measures for obtaining Contributions towards the Episcopal College. The commencement of such an Institution already exists, in a School erected under the superintendence of the Rev. Vincent Stanton, the Colonial Chaplain, at an expense of nearly £3000, to which he himself contributed the munificent sum of £1000. Stanton having been informed of the probability of a Bishop being speedily nominated for Hong Kong, has recently written to the Trustees in England, in whom the building is vested, expressing his wish that it might be made the foundation of the proposed Episcopal College. He states that the ground and building are in every respect excellent; that there is abundant room for separate buildings, or an enlargement of the present building; and that the house is well situated for the present residence of the Bishop.\n\nThe opportune transfer of this building is a valuable commencement; but increased funds will be required to enlarge it to the scale contemplated. A debt of £643 is due on the present building; and £3000 more, at least, will be required to erect apartments for the Tutors, and for an increased number of Students. The needful sum, therefore, for originating the Institution, and supporting its current expenditure for the first year or two, cannot be estimated at less than £5000. Independent of this Building Fund, there will be required a permanent Sustentation Fund, in the form of Annual Subscriptions. For a portion of this annual expense the Founders of the College look to the liberality of British Residents in China, who have never shown themselves reluctant to support any charitable object which has commended itself to their approval. It is also deemed no premature nor unreasonable expectation to hope that Her Majesty's Government will assist, with an annual pecuniary grant, an Institution which will have an important influence in improving the tone of international intercourse between the subjects of the two countries. But it is believed that the support of the College will mainly devolve on Christians residing in Great Britain.\n\nThe China Mission is as yet in a state of infancy, and the course of education pursued in the Institution will necessarily, for some little time, be of an elementary kind. For a few years Missionary Labours at Hong Kong will be to a great extent a work of preparation; and the present generation of Labourers may be privileged only to plough the soil, and sow the seed, of which the next generation may reap the harvest. The writer deems it expedient to content himself with this general exposition of his views, and to leave further details to be modified according to circumstances and corrected by future experience.\n\nAs no Public Society is likely at present to undertake a Mission of the Church of England at Hong Kong, the scale of operations in the proposed College must be altogether adapted to the amount of Voluntary Contributions. It is, however, the earnest desire of the Bishop to take with him to China at least two Clerical fellow-labourers in the College, as Sub-warden and Tutor, to be associated with him in the blessed work of preparing the future Native Evangelists of China. He will also gladly attend to the proposals and cherish the offer of any zealous and well-qualified Labourers, who, with their support guaranteed by a Public Society, or by friends at home, may be desirous of consecrating themselves to the service of God abroad, and of being sent forth as Ordained Ministers of our Church, to labour among British Seamen and Soldiers, or among the Heathen in China.\n\n287", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-031 - Public Offices - 1849.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 230033, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-032 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [1-4]", "page_number": 236, "title": "CO129-032 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [1-4]", "content_text": "230\n\nThe villagers of \"Wengnisichoong\" have requested that a school similar to that at Victoria may be opened in their neighbourhood, as there is a growing number of children there. The parents are too poor to make it worth a schoolmaster's while to take up his residence among them. The village is in a very impoverished condition owing to the land by the cultivation of which the inhabitants subsisted having been converted into a race-course; the money paid as compensation for this loss having been long ago expended. We beg to recommend their petition to the favourable consideration of His Excellency the Governor, that the small monthly sum, ten dollars, required for the establishment of the school, may, if expedient, be granted.\n\nFree Copy\n\nWe are, &c.,\n\n(signed) C. B. Hillier, Colonial Secretary.\n\nV. J. Stanton\n\nCommittee for superintending Chinese schools.\n\nVictoria, Hongkong, Chinese Secretary's Office, 14th March, 1850.\n\nMemorandum of the number and Cargoes of Chinese Junks which have visited the Port of Victoria during the year 1849.\n\nMemo :\n\nThe particulars of the following are taken in part from Notes drawn up monthly by Mr Gutzlaff, Chinese Secretary, from the 18th January to the 31st August last. \"The matter of these was collected by a Chinese messenger of this office, a native of an Eastern District of the Kwangtung Province, and consequently the fittest person to obtain the information required from the Junkmen, most of whom, it will be seen, are from the neighbourhood of Lame himself. He has been in the habit of", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-032 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 231390, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "page_number": 175, "title": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "content_text": "153\n\nHONG KONG.\n\nNo. 4.\n\nNo. 5. No. 6.\n\nNo. 7.\n\nNo. 8.\n\nNo. 9.\n\n2\n\nREPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\nfirst instance to the unpaid magistrates, which I thought was likely to afford more satisfaction to the public, than if they had been merely nominated by myself.\n\nPopulation.\n\n8. The white population has decreased by 61 European males and 10 females. This may be attributed to the return of many Portuguese families to Macao since the panic of 1849, as well as to several Europeans having migrated to California. The native population on the contrary exhibits an increase of 3,690 souls. The following is a comparative abstract of the population in 1849 and 1850.\n\n1849 1850 Increase. Decrease,\n\nEuropeans 656 585 71\n\nGoa and Macao Portuguese Indians and Malays 331 295 36\n\n223 276 53\n\nChinese. 28,297 31,987 3,690\n\nTotal,. 29,507 33,143 3,743 107\n\nThe enclosed returns, furnished by the officiating Registrar-General, will show in detail the population of Hong Kong on the 31st December 1850. The deaths amongst the white population (which embraces English, Americans, and Portuguese), are returned at 89, being at the rate of 10-11 per cent. This per centage must not, however, be taken as a correct estimate of the mortality in this part of the community, the greater number of the deceased being sailors and sojourners, who cannot properly be considered to belong to the fixed population of the colony. The average monthly number of prisoners confined in the gaols during the year was 150, and the deaths amounted to 8, giving an average mortality of 5.33 per cent., as appears by the enclosed return from the sheriff. The average monthly number of European prisoners was 20, among whom no casualty occurred. With regard to the mortality amongst the Chinese population, my Despatches forwarding the Blue Books for former years will have shown your Lordship the impossibility of obtaining accurate information on the subject.\n\nThe Colonial Surgeon's Report, attached to the Blue Book, contains all the information that it is possible to collect with reference to the general state of health, sickness, and mortality during the past year,\n\n9. I beg to append a memorandum, drawn up at my request by the Brigade-Major, showing the number of deaths which have occurred in the garrison during the year 1850. This shows the mortality amongst all branches of the military service to have been 17.89 per cent., being 23 per cent. amongst the European, and 10 per cent. amongst the native part of the force, which averaged during the year 625 and 409 respectively.\n\nEducation.\n\n10. From the return, at page 193 of the Blue Book, it will be seen that there are 12 schools on the island, 7 of which are under the superintendence of Christian tutors. Some of these are supported by the several religious institutions established in Hong Kong, and others maintained by voluntary contributions, and by the parents of the pupils. With regard to the progress of the four Chinese schools at Victoria, Aberdeen, Stanley, and Wongneichung, whose teachers are paid by the local Government, the enclosed Report from the Committee superintending the same will place before your Lordship all necessary information.\n\nTrade.\n\n11. The total number of vessels which arrived in Hong Kong in 1850 was 884, and their tonnage amounted to 299,093 tons, showing a decrease of 12 vessels, but an increase of 5,382 tons, when contrasted with the year 1849. It is also satisfactory to remark, that the number of vessels from Great Britain and the United States of America has greatly increased, as will be seen by a glance at the following table:-\n\n \n STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n \n \n In 1849\n In 1850\n \n \n From Great Britain.\n \n From United States of America.\n \n \n Ships.\n Tons.\n Ships.\n Tons.\n Ships.\n Tons.\n \n \n 39\n 16,938\n 65\n 31,213\n 16\n 9,087\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 37\n 37,809\n \n \n Increase in 1850.\n \n \n \n 26\n 14,275\n 74\n 28,722\n \n\nThe number of vessels from India in 1849 and 1850 was, respectively, 127, measuring 61,747 tons, and 125 of the burthen of 63,128 tons, thereby showing a decrease of two vessels, but an increase of 1,381 tons in 1850.\n\nOf the shipping arrived in Hong Kong during the past year, the Harbour Master's Returns, appended to the Blue Book, under the head of \"Imports and Exports,\" show that 160 vessels imported, and 121 exported, goods into and from the colony. From the same returns it appears, that treasure to the value of 6,071,183 dollars, equivalent to £1,264,829 15s. 10d., has been shipped here for India, the greater part of this amount being, no doubt, in return for opium sold in China.\n\nI may here add, that in 1850 sixteen vessels were registered in the colony measuring 3,399 tons, two of which measuring, conjointly, 225 tons, were built at Hong Kong.\n\nWith respect to the native trade of the colony, I beg to enclose a memorandum prepared by the Assistant Chinese Secretary.\n\nCrown Lands.\n\n12. The fixed revenue derivable from Crown lands for the year ended 31st December 1850, was as follows:-\n\n \n \n £.\n s.\n d.\n \n \n Mercantile firms\n 5,440\n 0\n 0\n \n \n Private individuals\n 4,298\n 18\n 11\n \n \n Chinese\n 1,554\n 13\n 2\n \n \n Total\n £11,293\n 12\n 1\n \n\nWhich amount, when contrasted with the years 1848 and 1849, gives a trifling increase during two years of £51 17s. 6d. I think, therefore, that our annual fixed revenue under this head for years to come may be fairly estimated at about £1,000.\n\nPolice.\n\n13. I consider that our police force is perfectly competent for the prevention of crime within the precincts of Victoria, where its service is mainly required. I attach a Return, drawn up by Mr. Superintendent May, showing the number of felony cases coming under the cognizance of the police from 1847 to 1850 inclusive, from which it will be perceived that felonies have fallen from 856 cases in 1849 to 674 during the last year.\n\nI likewise forward several Returns, showing the criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court, and the causes brought before and decided by the chief magistrate and the Court of Petty Sessions, respectively, during the past year, as well as a Return of the number of civil cases tried by the Chief Justice, and actions commenced within the same period.\n\n14. On the whole, my Lord, I have no hesitation in reporting the state of this colony to be satisfactory. The native population is certainly on the increase, and from the police returns it would seem that crime is on the decrease. This may be attributed to the arrival here during the past year of a number of artisans and tradesmen from Canton, who have been, in a great measure, induced to resort to the colony by reason of the trade which is now carried on between it and California. The Chinese inhabitants have also become more accustomed to our institutions. Hong Kong, as I have already reported in separate Despatches on this subject, will not, in my opinion, ever be the port of trade, which on its first formation it was expected to become; and I think it not impossible that three or four of our larger British commercial establishments will be at no distant period broken up, as from competition and\n\n3 A 2\n\nHONG KONG.\n\nNo. 10.\n\nNo. 11.\n\nNo. 12. No. 13.\n\nNo. 14.\n\nNo. 15.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 231394, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "page_number": 179, "title": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "content_text": "REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\nReturn of the Number and Description of Chinese Vessels-continued.\n\nSAIWAN and SHOWKEWAN.\n\nTOTAL.\n\n \n Description of Boat\n No. of Boats\n Males\n Fem.\n No. of Children\n \n \n Junks\n 4\n 2\n \n 13\n \n \n Trading Boats\n 4\n 10\n \n 97\n 71\n 549\n \n \n Passage Boats\n 3\n 17\n 102\n \n 3\n 51\n 651\n \n \n Salt Boats\n 4\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stone Boats\n 3\n \n 7\n 65\n \n \n \n \n \n Fishing Boats\n 78\n 34\n 23\n 18\n 194\n 1,287\n 624\n \n \n Cargo Boats\n 20\n 112\n 60\n 9\n 40\n 6\n \n \n \n Wood Boats\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Fast Boats and Hakows\n 3\n \n 122\n 363\n 181\n 174\n \n \n \n Cooking Boats\n 5\n 9\n 1\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Sampans*\n 8\n 15\n 41\n 854\n 2,075\n 1,079\n 782\n 480\n \n \n Lorchas\n 4\n \n 41\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Water Boats\n 3\n \n 18\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Total\n \n 140\n 39\n 31\n 22\n 18\n 54\n \n \n \n 1,361\n 5,409\n 2,081\n 1,772\n 1,117\n \n \n \n\n* Upwards of 200 employed in fishing.\n\n(Signed)\n\nCHARLES MAY,\n\nOfficiating Registrar-General.\n\n(True Copy,)\n\nW. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.\n\nEnclosure 7 in No. 723\n\nRETURN of the average Number of Prisoners confined in Victoria Gaol during every Day of each Month of the Year 1850.\n\n \n Months\n Europeans\n Chinese and Coloured Prisoners\n Total\n Number of Deaths\n \n \n January\n 24\n 140\n \n \n \n \n February\n 26\n 131\n \n \n \n \n March\n 25\n 155\n \n \n \n \n April\n 14\n 87\n \n \n \n \n May\n 17\n 112\n \n \n \n \n June\n 17\n 122\n \n \n \n \n July\n 19\n 110\n \n \n \n \n August\n 26\n 119\n 3\n \n \n \n September\n 25\n 165\n \n \n \n \n October\n 19\n 145\n \n \n \n \n November\n 17\n 138\n \n \n \n \n December\n 13\n 144\n \n \n \n \n Total\n 242\n 1,567\n 1,809\n 8\n \n \n Average Number in each Month\n 150\n \n 8\n \n \n \n Mortality\n 5.33 per cent.\n \n \n \n \n\nRemarks.\n\nOne Indian died of dysentery.\n\nOne Chinese died of dysentery.\n\nOne Indian died of suppuration of lungs.\n\nOne Chinese died of cholera.\n\nOne Chinese died of congestion of lungs. One Chinese died of natural causes.\n\nOne Chinese died of hospital gangrene. One Chinese died of dysentery.\n\n(Signed)\n\nW. H. MITCHELL, Sheriff.\n\n(True Copy,)\n\nW. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.\n\nEnclosure 8 in No.\n\nMEMORANDUM showing the Number of Deaths which have occurred in the Garrison of Hong Kong during the Year ended 31st December, 1850.\n\n \n PERIOD\n Description\n Average Strength during the Year\n Number of Deaths during the Year\n Proportion of Deaths to average Strength\n \n \n Quarter ending 31st March\n Europeans\n 710\n 22\n \n \n \n \n Malays and Natives of India\n 412\n 2\n \n \n \n Quarter ending 30th June\n Europeans\n 694\n 19\n \n \n \n \n Malays and Natives of India\n 608\n 84\n \n \n \n Quarter ending 30th September\n Europeans\n 499\n 30\n \n \n \n \n Malays and Natives of India\n 625\n 144\n 23.04\n \n \n Quarter ending 31st December\n Europeans\n 422\n 15\n \n \n \n \n Malays and Natives of India\n 410\n 7\n \n \n \n \n \n 392\n 17\n \n \n \n \n \n 409\n 41\n 10.02\n \n \n \n Europeans\n 1,034\n 185\n 17.89\n \n\nSIR,\n\nSTATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n\nEnclosure 9 in No.\n\nVictoria, Hong Kong, April 5, 1851.\n\nWe have the honour to reply to your letter of 1st April 1851, by the following Report on the Government Chinese schools for the past year.\n\n2. The average number of scholars under instruction has been 93; 30 at Victoria, 18 at Stanley, 20 at Aberdeen, and 25 at Wongneichoong.\n\n3. The teacher at Aberdeen having been dismissed for gross misconduct was replaced by another, with whose success in the instruction of his pupils we have reason to be satisfied. The teacher appointed to the school at Wongneichoong, opened during the year, is an elderly man, a native of the village, a schoolmaster by profession, and a Christian convert. He had for many years taught in that neighbourhood, and was recommended by the villagers themselves as a fit person.\n\n4. The system pursued in the Victoria school not meeting with our approbation, Mr. Moncrieff proposed to the teacher to remove to St. Paul's College and there receive instruction, as well in the arts of teaching generally as in the truths of the Christian religion. The offer was accepted, and the school served for the time by a teacher from the establishment of the College. After a fair trial, however, it was considered improbable that the original teacher would soon be able to conduct the school in a mode of which we could approve, and as the Bishop of Victoria had a vacancy for a teacher in the College, and kindly agreed to take this man permanently into connexion with him, we thought it better that his relation to the Government should cease, and that the teacher who supplied his place should be continued in charge of the school. We regret that in consequence of this change the number of scholars decreased for a time. The former teacher received the 10 dollars a-month only in aid of his school, which before any Government assistance was granted consisted of more than 30 scholars, but the present teacher stood upon a different footing. Latterly the number has again increased, and it now corresponds with that which by the effect of the Government grant was added to the original school.\n\n5. The teachers of the four schools are now, therefore, all nominees of the Government, not receiving, as far as we are aware, any compensation from their pupils, and they are all professed Christians.\n\n6. Christian books have been introduced into all the schools, but it is not compulsory on the scholars to learn them. If the parents object, the course of study is confined to native reading.\n\n7. The following are the principal books now used:\n\nNative Works.\n\nThe three character Classic.\n\nThe one thousand character Classic. The four books and five Classics.\n\nChristian Works.\n\nMedhurst's three character Classic. Bishop Boone's Catechism. The Bible.\n\n8. The progress of the scholars has been, on the whole, tolerably satisfactory; we hope, however, by a more effectual supervision, and by the introduction of a few elementary works on various branches of useful knowledge, as soon as Chinese literature shall have been enriched by these, to work some improvement. The great distance of three, or at least two, of the four schools, coupled with our imperfect knowledge of the language, renders the supervision difficult and unsatisfactory. We can, however, only suggest one remedy that lies beyond ourselves, and this is, that the school Committee should be remodelled, and that to the Bishop of Victoria should be accorded the entire superintendence of the schools, or at least a joint superintendence.\n\n9. The most serious impediment to progress is the fluctuation of the scholars in each school, owing to the caprice, but principally to the avarice or the necessities of the parents, who are unwilling to allow children to remain at school who may be employed elsewhere, with a, to them, more tangible prospect of pecuniary gain, for the importance attached by Chinese to the acquisition of knowledge, though great, is, we fear, secondary to that attached to the acquisition of money.\n\nWe are, &c.,\n\n(Signed)\n\nC. B. HILLIER,\n\nE. T. R. MONCRIEFF, LL.D.,\n\nCommittee for superintending Chinese Schools.\n\n(True Copy.)\n\nW. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.\n\nBrigade Office, Hong Kong, 6th April, 1851.\n\n(True Copy,)\n\nW. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.\n\nA. E. BURMESTER, Captain,\n\nBrigade Major.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 231420, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "page_number": 205, "title": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "content_text": "Sir,\n\nIn 6241/57\n\nVictoria, Hongkong.\n\nانا\n\n133\n\nThe 5th Dept. 1881-\n\nWe have the honour to reply to your letter of 10th April, 1887, by the following report on the Government Chinese Schools for the past year.\n\n2.\n\nThe average number of scholars under instruction has been eighty-three, thirty at Victoria, eighteen at Stanley, twenty at Aberdeen, and twenty-five at Wong-nei-chong.\n\n3.\n\nThe teacher at Aberdeen having been dismissed for gross misconduct was replaced by another with whose success in the instruction of his pupils we have reason to be satisfied. The teacher appointed to the school at Wong-nei-chong, which was opened during the year, is an elderly man, a native of the village, a schoolmaster by profession.\n\nThe Honourable Major Cane\n\nColonial Secretary:\n\nPage 133\n\n \n\nwas rewritten to \n\nSir,\n\nIn 6241/57\n\nVictoria, Hongkong.\n\n133\n\nThe 5th Dept. 1881-\n\nWe have the honour to reply to your letter of 10th April, 1887, by the following report on the Government Chinese Schools for the past year.\n\n2. The average number of scholars under instruction has been eighty-three, thirty at Victoria, eighteen at Stanley, twenty at Aberdeen, and twenty-five at Wong-nei-chong.\n\n3. The teacher at Aberdeen having been dismissed for gross misconduct was replaced by another with whose success in the instruction of his pupils we have reason to be satisfied. The teacher appointed to the school at Wong-nei-chong, which was opened during the year, is an elderly man, a native of the village, a schoolmaster by profession.\n\nThe Honourable Major Cane\nColonial Secretary:\n\nPage 133\n\nHowever, to follow the exact format required:\n\nSir,\n\nIn 6241/57\n\nVictoria, Hongkong.\n\n133\n\nThe 5th Dept. 1881-\n\nWe have the honour to reply to your letter of 10th April, 1887, by the following report on the Government Chinese Schools for the past year.\n\n2. The average number of scholars under instruction has been eighty-three, thirty at Victoria, eighteen at Stanley, twenty at Aberdeen, and twenty-five at Wong-nei-chong.\n\n3. The teacher at Aberdeen having been dismissed for gross misconduct was replaced by another with whose success in the instruction of his pupils we have reason to be satisfied. The teacher appointed to the school at Wong-nei-chong, which was opened during the year, is an elderly man, a native of the village, a schoolmaster by profession.\n\nThe Honourable Major Cane\nColonial Secretary:\n\nPage 133", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 232266, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "page_number": 127, "title": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "content_text": "HONG KONG.\n\nNo. 9.\n\nNo. 10.\n\nNo. 11.\n\nNo. 12.\n\nNo. 13.\n\n2\n\nREPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\nThe general state of health, sickness, and mortality during the past year is shown by the report of the colonial surgeon appended to the Blue Book. Dr. Morrison has annexed thereto a comparative statement of the health of the troops during 1850 and 1851, from which it will be perceived that there has been a considerable abatement of sickness in the garrison during the past year. For easy reference, I transmit herewith a memorandum showing that the proportion of deaths to average strength has been as follows:\n\nAmongst Europeans - 7.5 per cent.\n\nAmongst Malays and natives of India - 7.6 per cent.\n\nIn 1850 the deaths averaged 23.04 and 10.02 per cent. respectively.\n\nEducation.\n\n7. There are six schools in Victoria superintended by European tutors; and the number of Chinese schools throughout the island, conducted by native teachers, is also six. These latter, except one, are supported by the local Government, and are under the supervision of a committee, whose report on the state of these schools during the past year I annex for your Lordship's information.\n\nTrade.\n\n8. The return at page 191 of the Blue Book exhibits the total number of vessels arrived at Hong Kong to have been 1,082, of an aggregate burden of 377,084 tons, being an increase over the year 1850 of 198 vessels and 77,991 tons. The returns appended under the head of \"Imports and Exports\" show that 117 vessels imported and 123 exported goods to and from the colony. They also prove that treasure to the value of $7,588,993, equivalent to £1,581,040. 4s. 2d., has been shipped to India, the greater portion being in return for opium sold in China. The annexed statements undoubtedly give the export of treasure and the import of opium from 1845 to 1851 inclusive, by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers alone. With regard to the trade carried on between Hong Kong and California, I am informed that 44 vessels have left for that place during the past year.\n\nThe number of vessels registered at this port during 1851 was 10, measuring 2,400 tons. One of these, of 206 tons, was built in the colony.\n\nThe accompanying memorandum, by the assistant Chinese secretary, bears upon the native trade of Hong Kong, and shows that in 1851 the harbour of Victoria was visited by 1,004 sea-going junks, being an increase of nearly 20 per cent. upon the monthly average of 1850.\n\nWith regard to the whaling trade, upon which I offered some observations in my last report, I may state that it has, as anticipated, increased considerably during the present season. Between the 2nd December 1851 and the 21st February last, 37 vessels of this description arrived at Hong Kong. Their cargoes, as appears from the enclosed printed statement furnished by the consignees (an American firm), consisted of:\n\nSperm oil, 140,017 gallons.\n\nWhale oil, 476,185 gallons.\n\nWhale bone, 74,174 lbs.\n\nOf the above, it seems by the Harbour Master's returns (page 206 of the Blue Book), that only 17,675 gallons of sperm, 20,080 of whale oil, and 8,399 lbs. of bone, were exported from hence to England.\n\nCrown Lands.\n\n9. The fixed revenue under this head, abstracted from the rent-roll for the year ending 25th December 1851, was as follows:\n\n \n Mercantile firms\n £4,906 8s 5d\n \n \n Private individuals\n £4,277 9s 1d\n \n \n Chinese\n £1,512 7s 9d\n \n \n Total\n £10,696 5s 3d\n \n\n3\n\nSTATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n\nThe decrease in this item of the colonial revenue, as compared with that for the year 1850, is £597. 7s. 2d.; but this difference arises from certain reductions in the land rent and the resumption of sundry lots, already reported upon, and sanctioned by your Lordship.\n\nPolice.\n\n10. From the enclosed return, furnished by the Superintendent of Police, it will be seen that the number of felony cases coming under the cognizance of his department was 488, whilst in 1850 they amounted to 674.\n\nOn the subject of administration of justice, I beg to refer your Lordship to the under-mentioned returns, showing the business performed during the past year by the Supreme Court and the Police Courts; namely:-\n\nCriminal cases tried in the Supreme Court.\n\nNumber of civil cases tried by the Chief Justice, and actions commenced.\n\nCauses brought before and decided by the Chief Magistrate of Police and the Court of Petty Sessions.\n\nGeneral Observations.\n\n11. In conclusion, my Lord, I would observe that I am satisfied the true interests of the colony are progressing as favourably as could be anticipated. During the year no less than 1,082 square-rigged vessels anchored in the harbour, being an increase of 198 over the preceding one; of these 167 proceeded with cargoes to the ports of Shanghae and Amoy; and by the Harbour Master's report it seems that 207 entries have been made by steamers alone from the Canton River, a service conducted by five steamers of from 50 to 175 horse-power. A regular monthly communication between Hong Kong and Calcutta is announced by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, by which the colony will have the advantage of a bi-monthly communication with England. A monthly steam communication is now carried on with Shanghae, and a bi-monthly one with Amoy, by vessels belonging to the same company. These facts are convincing evidence of the advantage and benefit that this colony is to Canton, and to the trade of China in general. I would add, moreover, that Hong Kong affords a subsistence to three newspapers and two advertisers, one published daily, and the other three times a week; a tolerably significant proof, were others wanting, that the colony is not in a very languishing condition.\n\nThe Right Hon. Earl Grey,\n\n&c. &c.\n\nSIR,\n\n&c.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. G. BONHAM.\n\nEnclosure 2,\n\nSurveyor General's Office, Victoria, February 7, 1852.\n\nI HAVE the honour to submit my annual report upon the works which have been undertaken during the year, and upon the general state of repair of the civil roads and works, &c. upon the island.\n\nRoads.\n\nAberdeen to Stanley. Upon this line an expenditure of £251 was made, being the balance of an uncompleted contract for two drains near Deepwater Bay.\n\nThe new roads finished comprise that from the Albany Godowns to Wongneichung, at an expenditure of £3231. 3s. 8d., and the road by the Plaza, including the work in levelling adjoining, at an expenditure of £1814. 3s. 3d. + £6l. 18s. 3d.\n\nA new road twelve feet wide, 1 mile and 117 yards from Aberdeen Street, to join the Aberdeen Road (100%), is also in course of construction, and upon which an expenditure of £50% has been made. At the present date it is nearly completed; but as it has not received one single shower of rain I apprehend considerable settlement and damage thereto before it is perfectly consolidated.\n\nThe new road for the extension of the carriage drive from North Point to Quarry Bay on the Saiwan Road, 1,080 yards, was authorized during the latter end of the year, and is in course of execution, under contract for £1231. 19s. 2d. Upon this line also there will be considerable settlement during the next rains; and before the summer I hope a sufficient bank of sand will be thrown up against the rough stone wall, which will be planted with grass or seaweed to protect it against the wash of the sea.\n\nA small arch and three drains were made on the Saiwan Road, estimated at £67l. 0s. 10d., in lieu of the old platform wooden bridges.\n\n2\n\n123\n\nHONG KONG.\n\nNo 14.\n\nNo. 15.\n\nNo. 16.\n\nNo. 17.\n\nNo. 18.\n\nEnclosure 2.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 232271, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "page_number": 132, "title": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "content_text": "# HONG KONG\n\n# REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\n## Enclosure 7.\n\n## STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n\n### 127\n\n### 11\n\n## RETURN OF MORTALITY amongst the CHINESE during the Year 1851.\n\nSIR,\n\n| Population of each Place. | Died in the Colony. | Died out of the Colony. | Total. |\n\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\n| City of Victoria | 10,656 | 165 | - | 165 |\n\n| Dead bodies of Chinese found exposed by the Police in Victoria and buried | | 32 | | 32 |\n\n| Number of Chinese died in Government Civil Hospital and Gaol | 209 | 22 | | 219 (should be 231) |\n\n| Total in Victoria | | | | 219 (should be 231) |\n\n| Aberdeen | 926 | 6 | | 939 (OCR error, actual number not verified) |\n\n| Stanley and Vicinity | 2 | | 270 | 3 |\n\n| Sheak 'O | 3 | | 234 | 4 |\n\n| Saiwan | | | 1,337 | 1,084 |\n\n| Showkewan and Vicinity | 8 | | 444 | 2 |\n\n| Sook unpoo | 2 | | 36 | 36 |\n\n| Wongneichung | | | 765 | 765 |\n\n| Total Villages | | | 1,020 | 255 |\n\n| Estimated Mortality out of Colony* | | | 765 | |\n\n| Grand Total | | | | |\n\n*It may be reasonably estimated that three-fourths of Chinese seized with serious diseases in this Colony remove to their native places, two-thirds of whom die; I believe that the deaths of the Colony may be properly stated at 765.\n\n(Signed) C. MAY, Officiating Registrar General.\n\n## Enclosure 8.\n\n## RETURN of the AVERAGE NUMBER OF PRISONERS confined in the VICTORIA GAOL, during every Day of each Month of the Year 1851.\n\n## Enclosure 10.\n\nVictoria, Hong Kong, December 24, 1851.\n\nWE have the honour to make the following report of Government Schools for the past year,\n\nAn additional school was established at the village of Hong Kong in July, which now contains more pupils than any of the other schools, excepting that at Victoria. Since June the total number of pupils under instruction has averaged 113; 28 of these being at Victoria, 14 at Stanley, 24 at Aberdeen, 20 at Wongneichung, and 27 at Hong Kong.\n\nAt Aberdeen and Stanley the schools, owing to the commencement of the fishing season, are almost deserted, At the latter place on the last occasion on which the school was visited, supposing that the small number of scholars might arise from the remissness of the teacher, one of us visited all the private schools established there, and found only one (a missionary school) better attended, one or two being about to shut up till the close of the fishing season.\n\nWe have used our discretion in conformity with the plan recommended in deducting from the salary of the teachers, where we deemed it necessary, a certain sum for each scholar less than 30 that the school has contained; by this means some money has been saved and partly expended in the purchase of books and maps; a good map of China having the places noted in the Chinese character has been furnished to each school, and a work on Astronomy has been introduced (we are afraid, however, with very little benefit), to be followed by one on geography and another elementary work on physics.\n\nWe should expect much more benefit from these schools if they were placed under more effectual supervision than we are able to afford, and if suitable schoolhouses were erected by Government, the present schoolrooms hired by the teachers themselves being very confined and very dirty.\n\nThe Hon. Major W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.\n\nWe are, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nC. B. HILLIER,\n\nE. P. R. MONCRIEFF, LLD, Committee for Superintending Chinese Schools.\n\n## HONG KONG.\n\n| Months. | Chinese and Europeans. | Coloured Prisoners. | Total. | Number of Deaths. | REMARKS. |\n\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\n| January | 16 | 148 | 164 | 1 | One Chinese of dysentery. |\n\n| February | 22 | 145 | 167 | | |\n\n| March | 28 | 147 | 175 | | |\n\n| April | 27 | 149 | 170 | | |\n\n| May | 19 | 144 | 163 | | 1845. |\n\n| June | 20 | 151 | 180 | | Do. |\n\n| July | 40 | 149 | 189 | | - |\n\n| August | 42 | 134 | 176 | | Do. |\n\n| September | 61 | 149 | 210 | 3 | One Chinese of mortified leg, one Chinese of paralysis, one Chinese committed suicide by hanging. |\n\n| October | 48 | 152 | 200 | 1 | One Chinese of hospital gangrene. |\n\n| November | 38 | 143 | 181 | 2 | One European of apoplexy. |\n\n| December | 31 | 147 | 178 | 2 | Two Chinese of dysentery. |\n\n| Total | 401 | 1,758 | 2,159 | 11 | |\n\n| Average number in each month | 190 | | | | |\n\n| Total Deaths | 11 | | | | |\n\n| Mortality, say per cent. | | | | | |\n\n(Signed)\n\nW. H. MITCHELL, Sheriff.\n\n## Enclosure 9.\n\n## MEMORANDUM showing the NUMBER of DEATHS which have occurred in the GARRISON Of HONG KONG, during the Year ended 31st December 1851.\n\n| PERIOD. | Description of Troops. | Average Strength. | Deaths. | Average Strength. | Deaths. | Average Strength. | Deaths. | Average Strength. | Deaths. | Average Strength during the Year. | Number of Deaths during the Year. | Proportion of Deaths to average Strength. | Proportion of Deaths to entire Force. |\n\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\n| Quarter ending 31st March. | Europeans | 526 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |\n\n| | Malays and Natives of India | 510 | 22 | | | | | | | | | | |\n\n| Quarter ending 30th June. | Europeans | 648 | 9 | 626 | 7 | | | | | | | | |\n\n| | Malays and Natives of India | | | 577 | 44 | | | | | | | | |\n\n| Quarter ending 30th Sept. | Europeans | 382 | 7 | 390 | 8 | 403 | 5 | | | | | | |\n\n| | Malays and Natives of India | | | 400 | 10 | 394 | 2 | | | | | | |\n\n| Quarter ending 31st Dec. | Europeans | | | | | 30 | 971 | 74 | | | | | |\n\n| | Malays and Natives of India | | | | | | | | 3942 | 30 | | | | |\n\nBrigade Office, Hong Kong, January 6, 1852,\n\n## IMPORTS of OPIUM by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Steamers, during the Years 1845 to 1851 both inclusive.\n\n| Year | No. of Chests. | No. of Chests. | No. of Chests. | No. of Chests. | No. of Chests. | No. of Chests. | No. of Half Chests. | No. of Cases. |\n\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\n| 1845 | 325 | | | | | | | |\n\n| 1846 | 1,284 | | | | | | | |\n\n| 1847 | 2,622 | | | | | | | |\n\n| 1848 | 10,163 | | | | | | | |\n\n| 1849 | 11,175 | | | | | | | |\n\n| 1850 | 11,530 | | | | | | | |\n\n| 1851 | 19,061 | | | | | | | |\n\n(Signed)\n\nA. E. BURMESTER, Captain,\n\nBrigade Major.\n\nVictoria, Hong Kong,\n\n30th January 1852.\n\n## EXPORT of TREASURE by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Steamers, during the Years 1845 to 1851 both inclusive.\n\n| Year | Value in Dollars. | Value in Dollars. | Value in Dollars. | Value in Dollars. | Value in Dollars. | Value in Dollars. |\n\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\n| 1845 | 44,173 | | | | | |\n\n| 1846 | 951,807 | | | | | |\n\n| 1847 | 786,602 | | | | | |\n\n| 1848 | 5,652,827 | | | | | |\n\n| 1849 | 8,823,753 | | | | | |\n\n| 1850 | 5,793,446 | | | | | |\n\n| 1851 | 7,381,238 | | | | | |\n\n(Signed)\n\nC. R. MICHELL,\n\nActing Harbour Master.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 234453, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4]", "page_number": 226, "title": "CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4]", "content_text": "No. 11.\n\nHONG KONG\n\nNo. 6. No. 7.\n\nNo. 8.\n\nNo. 9.\n\nNo. 10.\n\n2\n\nREPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\n39,017 persons, exclusive of troops. As to the climate, the report of Dr. Harland, the acting colonial surgeon, appended to the Blue Book, contains very accurate statistical information connected with this subject. The sanitary condition of the colonial gaol is given in the enclosed return from the acting sheriff, which shows that amongst its inmates, averaging 138 throughout the year, only three deaths occurred, and all in January. According to the enclosed memorandum, the mortality amongst the European troops was 5.7 per cent., being an increase over that of 1852, when it was 3.6 per cent. The number of deaths amongst the native troops (Malays and natives of India) was at the rate of 5.3 per cent., being a decrease of nearly 50 per cent. on the mortality during 1852, when it amounted to 10.02 per cent.\n\nEducation.\n\n7. No remarkable change has taken place in the number of the local schools; and as to the progress of the five native ones receiving Government aid, I would refer your Grace to the annexed report of the education committee entering fully into the subject.\n\nTrade.\n\n8. The information under this head, from the unwillingness of the parties concerned to afford it (Hong Kong being a free port), may still be said to be as defective as in former years; but from the acting harbour master's returns annexed to the Blue Book, it will be perceived that 1,103 square-rigged vessels, carrying altogether 447,053 tons, arrived in Victoria harbour during the year 1853. Of these vessels, 201 imported and 154 exported goods into and from the colony, being a very considerable increase over the numbers returned for 1852, when they amounted to 74 and 79 vessels respectively. The total tonnage of vessels arrived, as compared with that of the preceding year, is also on the increase, and shows an excess of 13,670 tons in 1853. The enclosed return of imports and exports for the year 1853, by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers alone, gives the following result when compared with the previous year:\n\n11.\n\nSTATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n\nI beg to transmit herewith two statements for the year 1853, showing respectively, the causes under cognizance at the chief magistrate's office and the Court of Petty Sessions, and the criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court; also, a return of the number of civil cases tried and actions commenced in the Supreme and Vice Admiralty Courts, during the same period.\n\nGeneral Observations.\n\n12. As I am about to quit the colony in a few days, after having administered its government for upwards of six years, I beg to annex some statistical tables showing its rise and progress from 1848, the date of my taking charge of it. From these, your Grace will observe that the call on the home Government for parliamentary grant has been reduced from 25,000l. to 8,500l. for the current year; that the expenditure has been reduced from 62,658l. to 36,418l.; that the number of square-rigged vessels frequenting the port has increased from 700 to 1,103, while their tonnage is nearly double; and that the population has in like manner advanced 82 per cent. during the past six years. In conclusion, I have no hesitation in saying, that were this colony taxed in the same way as are the settlements in the straits under the government of the East India Company, it could in a year or two be made to pay its own expenses, without the efficiency of the government being impaired; but I have considered myself bound by the opinions expressed by the committee of the House of Commons, in the session of 1847, upon our commercial relations with China, and in consequence refrained from the imposition of any new taxes. I must, however, with great deference say, after an experience of twenty-two years in the settlements of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore, and Malacca, and six at Hong Kong, I am by no means satisfied with the conclusions which the committee appears to have arrived at in this respect.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nS. G. BONHAM.\n\nThe Duke of Newcastle, &c. &c. &c.\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n222\n\nHONG KONG.\n\nNo. 12.\n\nNo. 13.\n\nNo. 14.\n\nNo. 15.\n\nEncl. 2 in No. 7.\n\n1\n\n \n Imports.\n 36,499;\n Increase\n $10,776,085;\n \n \n Chests of opium\n 20,752\n $10,659,774\n \n \n \n Exports.\n \n \n $3,742,914\n \n \n Treasure\n \n $2,331,931;\n Decrease\n \n\nWith regard to the native trade of the colony, I am satisfied it has increased in an equal ratio with the population; but, unfortunately, no reliable statistics on the subject can be given, owing to the absence of any means of obtaining regular returns.\n\nThe trade with California has continued undiminished, no less than 32 vessels having left for that port during the past year, conveying in them 4,949 Chinese; three vessels have likewise left for the colonies, carrying 268 emigrants.\n\nCrown Lands.\n\n9. The following statement is an abstract of the rent roll for 1853, and exhibits the fixed revenue under this head:\n\n \n Lands leased by mercantile firms\n £4,721\n 12\n 4\n \n \n Private individuals\n £4,439\n 8\n 10\n \n \n Chinese\n £1,586\n 10\n 9\n \n \n \n £10,747\n 12\n 0\n \n\nPolice.\n\n10. The enclosed return of felony cases coming under the cognizance of the police, shows a decrease of fifty-two cases in 1853.\n\nSIR,\n\nSurveyor General's Department, Victoria, Hong Kong, March 27, 1854.\n\nI HAVE the honour to submit my annual report upon the public works undertaken during the last year.\n\nBuildings.\n\nNew Government House progressed very slowly indeed, in consequence of the partial failure of the contractor, and a strike amongst the masons to whom a considerable sum of money being due, I was obliged to make arrangements myself for payment, and enter into agreements for the completion of certain unfinished portions, both of the stonework and brickwork, in accordance with the terms of the contract, which empowered me to do so, charging the cost of the several portions against the amount of contract. By these means I have been enabled to expedite the work in some degree, and force the contractor to attend to his own interest, by a closer attendance to his duties and the regular payment of the men. With regard to the workmanship, I have the greatest satisfaction in stating that it is of the very best description, and would do credit to European artisans. I have adopted every expedient I could devise for the preservation of the timber, by giving to it ample ventilation, by saturation in a solution of arsenic, and coating it with coal tar according to circumstances, which my experience in buildings here has taught me to be essentially necessary for the prevention of dry rot, and the destructive effects of white ants.\n\nContracts have been entered into for the erection of the stables, kitchen and servants' quarters, as well as for the guardhouse or lodge, considerably within the estimate. The whole of the works required for the completion of the service will be completed and the premises fit for occupation about the end of the present year. Expenditure during the year, £3,843. 3s. 6d.\n\nDebtors' gaol, guardhouse and gaoler's house (Report and estimate, No. 5 of 1851). The two last-named buildings were commenced at the latter end of the year 1852, and the service is now fast approaching completion. The site for the debtors' gaol being occupied, this building was not commenced until the month of August last. Expenditure during the year, £1,153l. 8s. 4d.\n\nA new police station for Wong-nei-chung, upon the site of Leighton's Godown, was authorized under Report and estimate No. 19 of 1853, and commenced in the month of August.\n\nSite (and road to) Government House (Report and estimate No. 11 of 1853). A", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 252150, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-082 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [8-12]", "page_number": 587, "title": "CO129-082 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [8-12]", "content_text": "## Letter from Wm. Robinson, Esq., Honorary Secretary to the Board of Education, Hongkong, to the Registrar of the University of London.\n\nSIR,\n\nHongkong, 10th April, 1861.\n\nI have been requested by the Board of Education of this Colony to write to you, and request your assistance in the following matter:\n\nThe Government of Hongkong has for many years maintained Schools for the instruction of Chinese boys. The Education has been entirely Chinese in some of them, conducted by Native masters; but in others the rudiments of English have also been taught by assistant-masters, Chinese who had acquired some knowledge of our language. They are not religious schools; but the sacred Scriptures in Chinese are used as a class-book. They have been under the superintendence of an Inspector—a European gentleman, whose business it has been to visit the Schools, and see that the Teachers did their duty.\n\nThe office of Inspector became vacant last year, and the Board of Education took the opportunity to recommend to His Excellency the Governor a change in the plan of conducting the Schools. They proposed (1) that several of the Schools should be collected in one large Central Institution, where there should be school-room for 400 pupils, who should be taught their own language and the rudiments of English as hitherto; (2) that, instead of an Inspector, the Institution should be under the charge of a Head-master, who should reside in it, and have all the Native masters immediately under his eye; (3) that from the pupils who were taught English the Head-master should form classes, to receive a thorough English training from himself; (4) that other Chinese youths, who had not been in any of the Government schools, but wished to learn English, should be admissible on the payment of fees to the Head-master's classes; and (5) that the superintendence of the other Schools, not concentrated in the proposed Institution, be continued as heretofore, the Head-master to be assisted in it by the Board of Education.\n\nHis Excellency has approved of the plan, and asked the Board to find a gentleman whom he can appoint as Master. A residence, as mentioned in the plan, will be provided for him in the Institution, and he will receive a Salary of £500 per annum. He will be expected to acquire the Chinese language, without a knowledge of which he cannot fill the situation efficiently. The position is a highly honourable one, affording a sphere of great usefulness. Under the right man the Institution will not only benefit the Chinese population of this Colony, but tell powerfully on the enlightenment and progress of the adjoining continent. The Board of Education have thought it a likely way to obtain the services of a suitable individual to write to you, and the Principals of the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and to beg that you will bring the matter before any young man who may appear to you suitable for the situation.\n\nPage 583\n\n## Preceding Letter\n\nin question. He was to leave Hampton by the steamer of the 20th inst for Songhong.\n\nI remain,\n(Signed) G. Victoria,\nChairman of the Board of Education.\n\n(True Copy)\nMadlexander,\nActing Colonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-082 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 253624, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "page_number": 252, "title": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "content_text": "## The China Mail, 2125 November 1861\n\n[No. ...\n\nMr. Forth, as our contemporary is! \nHMS. Encounter, which arrived here from Yokohama, Japan, on the 5th instant, sailed for Survey on the 15th, intending to make periodical visits for the transaction of business with the Japanese Ministers.\n\nThe Japanese Ambassadors, with their suites of forty persons, will embark for Suez in H.M.S. Odin, Commodore Lord John Hay, C.B., in the early part of January next.\n\nThe ships of war at Yokohama on the 5th November were, the Odin and Centaur, British, and Le Dordogne, French; with about a dozen Merchant vessels. The Naval Brigade had cleared for London, with flags, on the 1st November.\n\nThe Local event of the week has been the resignation of the Chief Justice as a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, and, as might have been expected, the circumstance has been the signal for a good deal of speculation and comment.\n\nThe cause of this resignation is understood to have been the strong disapproval on the part of His Honour of Mr. Alexander's appointment as Acting Colonial Secretary.\n\nWith regard to Mr. Alexander's ability for such a situation, we suppose no man entertains a doubt; and whatever may be said or felt in the matter, it is something to know that that gentleman's feelings of honour cannot possibly run the risk of being wounded.\n\nThe Rev. S.W. Bosnry, Canton, under date 27th February, 1861, thus reports: \n\"The free day-school for Chinese Girls which has been under my care during the past year has been aided by your society in the sum of $40. There has been an average of 25 scholars. The instruction given has been wholly in the Chinese language. Half of each week has been occupied with Christian books; the other half with the Chinese book usually taught in native schools. The lessons on the Sabbath have been entirely from the Scriptures. Two-thirds of the pupils had never attended any schools until admitted to this free day-school. They have been also taught the first principles of geography, from a large map of the world; and to sing little songs translated into Chinese, and set to foreign music. With the new branch of instruction they were much pleased. Once a month, there was an examination as to their progress in the books they studied and their skill in penmanship. About half of the pupils were everything that could be desired in behavior, and made commendable progress in their studies.\n\nMr. Bosnry continues, \"One of the girls is supported by a few kind-hearted English gentlemen, who found him sitting by the wayside begging his food. He was one of the crowd driven from the 32-nd District, fifty miles west of the city, in March last, when the place was attacked by bands of robbers.\"\n\nMrs. Bonney, under the 27th February, 1861, thus reports: \n\"All have been preserved in perfect health. To great satisfaction, an intelligent girl, 10 years of age, with the free consent of her mother, has had her small feet unbound. The scholars are taught entirely in Chinese, with the exception of singing in English. The sacred Scriptures, and other books prepared by Missionaries, have been their daily studies. The parents, as well as ourselves, are much gratified with the advancement and needle-work, with excursions given them once a month, conjointly make them happy, useful, and intelligent.\"\n\nThe application for a grant in aid of Miss Legge's school contained the following statement: \n\"The number of girls attending the school has varied from eight to fifteen, and may be put down as an average of twelve. They are mostly the children of Christian parents. They are taught both English and Chinese, and several of them have made considerable progress in reading and writing in both languages. They are taught singing both in Chinese and English, as well as sewing and other things appropriate to a girls' school.\"\n\nA correspondent, \"Castigo-mores,\" writes to express his disapproval of certain recent acts of the Governor, and blames the Governor for driving the Judge from the Councils. He also states that the present government was supported by the Press ab initio.\n\nWe do not understand what he means by such a large statement. We only support what we suppose to be right, and have no indiscriminate support to offer any one; as a rule, we always try to give a fair interpretation to the acts of those in authority.\n\n\"Castigo-mores\" next falls into a very vulgar mistake, viz: that of feeling that the practice of sudden resignation on the part of any Member of the Legislative Council, whenever his advice is neglected, is a practice in the highest degree childish and we will not say dishonourable, but inconsiderate.\n\nThe Rev. James Legge, D.D., Secretary of Morrison Education Society, writes to the Editor: \n\"I was quite unprepared for the assurance contained in your letter, viz., 'that you were quite open to me to renew my application for a grant.' ... \nAt the Annual Meeting to inform him that the deep regret I felt on account of the Society at its previous Meeting, because it was calculated to hinder the efficiency of the Society at a time when a wider and more inviting field of usefulness was open before it than ever before.\n\nIn proportion to my previous solicitude is my present satisfaction in reading the result to which the wisdom of the Meeting arrived at its last Meeting, as expressed in the Resolution above referred to. This declaration is my judgment, as you have expressed it, quite ample, and to me it is eminently satisfactory.\n\nThe Governor, we are happy to hear, has not forgotten the example which the Duke of Wellington so splendidly set to him in courtesy to the Press. 'Courtesy to the Press' simply means - admission for reporters at all meetings of public interest, a special seat for them in the courts of law, an early copy of all documents of public interest, and access generally to all information that it is fitting the community should obtain with speed and accuracy.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 256684, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-093 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [7-10]", "page_number": 42, "title": "CO129-093 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [7-10]", "content_text": "38.\n\n11.-TABLE shewing the ANNUAL MEAN STATE of the ATMOSPHERE during the Year 1862 as recorded at the CIVIL HOSPITAL.\n\nMONTH\nBAROMETER\nFAHRENHEIT THERMOMETER\nHYGROMETER\nSTATE OF THE WEATHER\nRain in Inches\n\n9 A.M. 3 P.M.\nMax. Min.\n9 A.M. 3 P.M.\n9 A.M. 3 P.M.\n\nJanuary,\n30.41\n64\n56\n53\n0.55\n\nFebruary,\n30.31 30.11\n\n57\n40\n0.72\n\nMarch,\n30.29 29.89\n\n58\n40\n7.33\n\nApril,\n30.16 30.10 29.87 29.79\n\n52\n62\n0.67\n\nMay,\n30.30 30.01 29.77 29.71\n85\n\n0.68\n\nJune,\n29.94 29.94 29.11 20.09\n85\n73\n78%\n9.73\n\nJuly,\n29.92\n79\n78\n73\n11.63\n\nAugust,\n29.96\n95\n82\n78\n30.89\n\nSeptember,\n\n85\n78\n77\n23.01\n\nOctober,\n30.10 30.00 29.71 20.31 29.85\n81\n73\n68\n6.00\n\nNovember,\n29.90 29.58 29.54 29.58 | 29.50\n73\n68\n60\n2.85\n\nDecember,\n30.13 30.20 30.08 80.26 29.91\n70\n63\n72\n5.55\n\nAnnual Mean,\n30.16 30.32 29.75 | 29.65\n75\n68\n$16\n\nAverage during the Month. Fine, overcast, drizzling rains, and misty. Fine and clear. Fine, overcast, cloudy, and misty. hazy. do. rain and misty. do. overcast and rain.\n\nNo. 31.\n\nGOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.\n\nThe following Report of the Board of Education for 1862, is published for general information.\n\nW. H. ALEXANDER,\n\nBy Order,\n\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th March, 1863.\n\nActing Colonial Secretary.\n\nHONGKONG, 11th February, 1863.\n\n1. The Board of Education beg leave to present to Your Excellency the following Annual Report of the state of the Government Free Day Schools in the Island of Hongkong.\n\n2. The opportune arrival of Frederick Stewart, Esquire, M.A., immediately after the presentation of their last Annual Report enabled the Board to take early measures for carrying out the scheme recommended by them in the year 1861, That scheme, in addition to the previously existing general superintendence of all the Schools by an English Inspector, embraced also the twofold object of establishing a Central School in Victoria under an English Head Master in place of some three or four smaller Schools in its neighbourhood; and of introducing into the Central School thus constituted a higher order of instruction in the English language.\n\n3. Mr. Stewart's attention has been mainly directed to English instruction in the Central School, and to visits of Superintendence to the other Schools in the City and the outlying Villages. He has also given a large portion of his time to the study of the Chinese language as a necessary pre-requisite to the due fulfilment of his office. The manner in which he has discharged his duties has given great satisfaction to the Board, and has fully justified the favorable judgment of their Right Reverend Chairman in selecting him for the appointment.\n\n4. The number of Schools under the supervision of the Board amounted in the beginning of 1862 to twenty; which number has been reduced to sixteen by the absorption of the Taipingshan, Sheong-wan and Chungwan Schools into the Central School, and the abolition of a School in the Village of Tytam-took.\n\n5. The number of Scholars enrolled in the School-registers amounts to a total of 889, including 34 female Scholars in the Girls' School in Sheong-wan. From this total a considerable deduction must be made as to the number of actual attendants in the Schools through the irregularity of the Scholars.\n\n6. With respect to the generality of Village Schools, the Board regret that it is not in their power to report any just and adequate appreciation by the people of the benevolent efforts of the local Government in placing the means of an ordinary Chinese education within their reach. The prevailing poverty of the parents, chiefly engaged in fishing and agricultural pursuits, and the consequent necessity of employing their children at an early age in labour for their subsistence, operate as a serious difficulty against securing a regular attendance. The low moral principle and careless indolence perceptible in most of the native School-masters, the existence of local intrigues and jealousies, and the difficulty of Mr. Stewart amid his other duties in the Central School exercising an effective superintendence over the Schools in the more remote parts of the island,-- have also formed a great disadvantage in giving due effect to the measures of the Board.\n\n7. The highly efficient condition of the Schools at West Point and Tanglungchow is sufficient to show the large number of Scholars and the satisfactory educational results which may be expected from the employment of competent Chinese School-masters and a regular system of visits from the English Superintendent.\n\n8. These various considerations have therefore convinced the Board of the expediency of discontinuing for the present the Government Schools in the Villages of Saiwan, Showkewan, Shek-'O and Little Hongkong; and of employing the pecuniary means thus placed at their disposal in giving increased efficiency to the Schools in Victoria and its immediate vicinity, thus leaving only the two large and populous Villages of Stanley and Aberdeen among the distant stations with their present School-establishment untouched.\n\n9. With this object in view they would consider it a desirable arrangement that the existing School-houses in the four above-named smaller Villages be handed over, under certain conditions, free of rent to the inhabitants, and that the Villagers themselves be left at liberty (if so disposed) to elect and support their own School-masters. They are led to suppose that the villagers may learn to set a higher value on the advantages of an education for which they have to make a payment; and that a greater dependence of the master upon the favourable estimate of the people may excite greater exertions to promote the improvement of his pupils.\n\n10. The existence of three Hakka and two Punte Schools supported by the payments of pupils and apparently in a tolerably thriving condition, in close vicinity to the Government School in Showkewan, which, although free of all charge, is nearly destitute of Scholars, suggests grounds of expectation that the principle of self-support may in some Villages be made the subject of hopeful experiment.\n\n11. A measure upon which the Board would lay great stress is that of rendering the situation of Government School-masters one of greater attraction to competent Chinese Scholars. With this view they would be glad to possess the means of giving increased stipends and holding out the prospect of further advancement to well-conducted and efficient native teachers.\n\n12. The Board anticipate advantage in this point of view from their recently-adopted special minute establishing a gradation of rank and pay among the Chinese School-masters. Their minute comprised also the introduction of a system of primary and secondary examinations in Chinese regulating the admission of pupils into the Chinese and English departments respectively of the Central School.\n\n13. In the prospect of enlarging the means of education in the Central School and extending to a larger proportion of Chinese youths the eagerly-sought advantages of English instruction, the Board would again beg to call the attention of Your Excellency to the overtasked energies of the Headmaster, and the necessity of engaging as soon as possible the services of an Assistant-master from England. Native teachers labour under great disadvantages through their defective pronunciation of English words and their universal ignorance of method or system in the management of classes. By relieving Mr. Stewart of the unfruitful work of distant visits to the Village Schools now proposed to be discontinued, they hope not only to leave him more at liberty for superintending the Schools within easy reach, but also to enable him to give a more undivided amount of his valuable labour and time to the duties of the Central School.\n\nIn order to secure a greater efficiency in the working of the English department of the Central School the Board have to rely mainly on the adoption of their recommendation for securing the services of a second English master.\n\nOn behalf of the Board,\n\nG. VICTORIA,\n\nTo His Excellency W. T. MERCER, Esquire,\n\nActing Governor of Hongkong.\n\nChairman.\n\n41", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-093 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 257117, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "page_number": 53, "title": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "content_text": "No 204 Miscellaneous.\n\nHay 18 of\n\nOrig\n\nCopy to Miss Nightingale with End? in\n\nRECEIV\n\n18 JAN 1864\n\nMby\n\nGreula..\n\nHongkong,\n\n23rd November, 1863.\n\nLord Duke,\n\nI have the honor to\n\nacknowledge receipt of your Grace's Circular Despatch of 26 August last, transmitting a Paper drawn by Miss Nightingale, on Sanitary Statistics of Colonial Native Schools and Hospitals.\n\n2. This Despatch I placed in the hands of the Colonial Surgeon, whose...\n\nThe Duke of Newcastle\n\nInclosure.\n\nM203.\n\nReceived Circular of 7th August, and Acknowledging His Grace's forwarding Enquiries from the Aclimatization Society - Answers to\n\nHis Grace The Duke of Newcastle, K.G.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 257119, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "content_text": "(Copy) N=22.\n\nMr Innes to The Duke of Newcastle.\n\n1 Inclosure Received 26th August, Acknowledging His Grace's Circular on Sanitary Statistics of Colonial Native Schools and Hospitals. – reply to Miss Nightingale's Paper and forwarding Colonial Surgeon's report.\n\n[...]\n\nSir F. Rogers to Miss Nightingale with other advices.\n\nCircular to the same.\n\nR 22 Jan!\n\nVictoria Hongkong. 23rd November, 1860. 52\n\nIn reply to your despatch No. 1290 of 23rd October last covering Circular despatch from the Duke of Newcastle transmitting a paper prepared by Miss Nightingale \"Sanitary Statistics of Colonial Native Schools and Hospitals\" and requiring me to furnish for submission to His Grace a Return embodying the information required as fully as possible.\n\nHonorable W. St. Alexander, Acting Colonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 257120, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "page_number": 56, "title": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "content_text": "53\n\nIt will be in my power to afford, I have the honor to state, that the Colonial Native schools do not come under my cognizance in any way and therefore I regret my inability to afford information on this branch of the subject.\n\n2ndly There is no Native Hospital in this Colony. The only establishment into which sick Chinese are admitted is the Government Civil Hospital. The total number of admissions during the last five years having amounted to only 452. I have prepared and inclose a table of the result of the treatment of these cases. It must not however be supposed that this table represents fully either the diseases to which the Chinese are liable, the proportions in which they suffer from each disease, or even the usual rate of mortality. This will be at once understood when I state the conditions under which the patients are admitted.\n\nThey are for the most part found, nearly moribund, in the streets and brought to Hospital by the Police - destitute paupers, or wounded in disturbances. A large proportion is contributed by the limited Chinese Police force maintained by the Colony.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 257441, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "page_number": 377, "title": "CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10]", "content_text": "373-2\n\nSCHEDULE of DESPATCHES transmitted by The Governor of Hongkong to The Secretary of State for the Colonies by the Mail Steamer \"Orissa\" via Southampton, on the 15th December 1863.\n\n \n No. OF DESPATCH.\n DATE OF DESPATCH.\n SUBJECT OF DESPATCH.\n No. OF INCLOSURES.\n \n \n 202\n 20th November 1863\n Acknowledging His Grace's Despatch No 122 22nd September and remarking on chief Justice Adams Report of an address and gift received from the Chinese Community of Hongkong by him from,\n None\n \n \n 203/204\n 23rd November\n Acknowledging His Grace's Circular of 7th August and forwarding Answers to Enquiries from the Acclimatization Society.\n \n \n \n 205\n 24th November\n Acknowledging His Grace's Circular of 26th August, and forwarding Colonial Surgeon's Reply to Miss Nightingale's paper on Sanitary statistics of Colonial Native Schools and Hospitals.\n \n \n \n 206\n 24th November\n Replying to His Grace's Despatch No 123 of 26th September, on the subject of Mr Thornton's complaint that his son had been stopped in the Colony from the 31st July last.\n \n \n \n 207\n 26th November\n Reporting that Mr Bowen, Clerk of Victoria Gaol, has been appointed to perform the duties of Warden of the Gaol, conjointly with his own as a temporary measure.\n \n \n \n 208\n 26th November\n Acknowledging receipt of His Grace's Despatch No 123 of 26th September 1863.\n \n \n \n 209/210\n 27th & 28th November\n Reporting appointment of Mr dos Santos as Police and Shipping Sub-Collector vice de Souza deceased. Reporting appointment of Police Constable Bradshaw to be the Barrack and Store Sergeant.\n \n \n \n 211\n 28th November\n With reference to His Grace's Despatches of the 26th August and 30th October last, reporting that the Carbines called in from the Hongkong Volunteers have been returned to them from Shanghai.\n \n \n \n \n \n Forwarding Requisition from the Surveyor General for 12½ tons of Coal.\n \n \n\nRECEIVED 27 JAN 1864", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 262467, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9]", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9]", "content_text": "# Stoughtong, 3rd August, 1865.\n\nTHE solemn distribution, by His Excellency the Acting Governor, of the prizes awarded to the successful competitors in the examinations of the two previous days, the progress of which we have recorded, took place at St Saviour's College, at three o'clock yesterday afternoon in the presence of a number of distinguished visitors, among whom we noticed the Honorable the Acting Chief Justice, and Mrs BALL, the Honorable Mr WHYTE, the Honorable T. SUTHERLAND, JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE, Esq., C. C. SMITH, Esq., the Acting Spanish Consal, Dr RODRIGUEZ, Mr and Mrs SCOTT, Mr D'ALMADA, of the Colonial Office, &c.\n\nThe day's proceedings commenced with the delivery, by the Rev. T. RAIMONDI, of an introductory address, descriptive of the rise and progress of the Institution within whose walls they were then assembled, and a brief explanatory statement of the course of study adopted and pursued therein. The Reverend Gentleman read this address, a copy of which we have been fortunate enough to secure. We therefore give it entire. It was as follows:--\n\n**YOUR EXCELLENCY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,**\n\nSaint Saviour's College, which you have this day honoured with your presence, is not of very ancient date. Five years ago, we opened our first school for European children in a small house hired for the purpose. We began with 20 pupils and two teachers, one English, the other Portuguese. Two years later, the number of pupils having very considerably increased, we built two additional rooms for their accommodation, and, in the third year, we added another room for the Chinese children who wished to learn English.\n\nIt was only last year that we took possession of this new and handsome building specially designed for educational purposes, and named Saint Saviour's School. During the past year many pupils have been sent to us from the different ports in China, and the name has, consequently, been changed to Saint Saviour's College, which numbers now nearly 140 pupils, 27 boarders, upwards of fifty European, and about sixty Chinese day scholars. It is now two years since we first ventured to call public attention to our doings by instituting a public examination of the pupils and a solemn distribution of the prizes. On that occasion the Honourable the Acting Chief Justice did us the honour to preside, inspiring and delighting the boys by his kindness and affability. It is most gratifying to us who are doing our best to carry on these schools successfully, to see your Excellency and so many ladies and gentlemen assembled here to-day to do us honour. I thank you most heartily in the name of these children for your kindness, and I have no doubt, that they will derive new strength and courage from your visit, and be urged on and encouraged to pursue their studies with more ardour than before.\n\nFive languages are taught here, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese, Arithmetic in all its branches, Algebra, Mensuration, Book-keeping, Geography, History, Music, vocal and instrumental, and Drawing are also taught. The staff of teachers comprises eight individuals of different nations.\n\nSaint Saviour's is essentially a Commercial School. In an English colony, supported entirely by commerce, with a European population who must earn their bread by trade, it would be a manifest folly to instruct the youth in any branches of human knowledge not directly or indirectly required in the daily business of their lives.\n\nBut neither have we so strictly limited ourselves in laying down our plan of study as to cramp the intellect, or to render our pupils unfit for other and more purely intellectual employments. A sound knowledge of mathematics, of geography, of history, and of modern languages is a preparation for any position or employment however high. A youth thoroughly grounded in those branches has had his powers of reasoning fully and fairly developed, and the way laid open before him for the cultivation of all his mental powers.\n\nNeither have we neglected, in the pursuit of more solid accomplishments, those branches which in every sphere of life render men acceptable in society, and keep their hearts fresh and untainted by the selfish passions of maturer years. Music and drawing relieve and diversify the severer studies which, while they strengthen the reason, tend very often, to wither and dry up the heart and the affections. Living with our pupils not only during school-hours, but throughout the day, we give our whole hearts to the work. We endeavour, by precept and example, to strengthen their minds, to elevate their hearts, to render them gentlemen in every sense of the word, fit to take their places in the world and in society, good men and useful citizens. Such has been our aim; how far we have succeeded you will now have an opportunity of judging. You must not expect to find our pupils finished scholars. They are still only boys, although well disposed and not unworthy of the honour you have done them in coming here to-day. In conclusion, permit me to express our pleasure that in our school established under the protection of the British flag are to be found students from every port in China and in the East; Hongkong is the commercial centre and capital of these Eastern lands, We hope to see it the capital of science and of literature.\n\nThe Rev. Gentleman was listened to throughout with attention, and more than once vigorously applauded. Those who had been present at the examinations on the two previous days gave willing testimony to the truth of his assertions and to the progress that had been made by the boys in their studies.\n\nOn the Rector resuming his seat, a number of the little fellows stood forward and sung, to the accompaniment of the piano, with no small skill and taste. The Pianist, a youth of fifteen and a native of Manila, reflected the greatest credit on his instructors, by the ease and correctness with which he executed, during the course of the day more than one very difficult piece. In addition to being well taught, the boy must be gifted by nature with a very correct ear and a very considerable degree of talent for music. His performance was really wonderful.\n\nAt the conclusion of the song, declamations, recitations and musical exercises followed one another alternately. A scene from Shakespeare, a French poem, a Spanish ballad, an extract from some Portuguese poet, and a Chinese piece, were effectively rendered amid the applause of the audience. The youngsters fully deserved the cordial reception they received at the hands of their visitors. Then followed the distribution of the prizes, books carefully and well selected, which were handed to the victors in the several classes by His Excellency Mr MERCER with a few words of advice and encouragement. We give the list of prizes below. Each of the little fellows as he retired with his premium received the plaudits of his school-fellows and friends, but we missed the enthusiasm that would have prevailed among English boys on such an occasion. How well we remember the prolonged and noisy exclamations that used to greet, in our distant school-days, the success of some favourite of his school-fellows, and how difficult it sometimes was to preserve the necessary degree of silence and attention after the first three or four names had been read out.\n\nWhen the last book had been placed in the hands of the little Chinese boy whose prize it was, Mr MERCER rose, and addressing himself to the Rev. the Rector of the College, to the Vicar Apostolic Father Luis AMBROSI, and to the Gentlemen around him, expressed his gratitude to the Superiors of Saint Saviour's College for their kindness in inviting him to be present on that occasion. He had been very much pleased with everything that he had seen. He was happy to know that there was so good a School in the Colony, one so likely to be useful. He congratulated the Rev. Rector and the Officers of the Institution on the successful results of their labours. He had experienced a very great degree of pleasure in distributing the prizes among the pupils. He sincerely hoped that those who had that day been rewarded would be thereby encouraged to persevere in the honourable course on which they had entered, that those who had not received premiums would be incited to further exertions in the hope of obtaining similar rewards on a future occasion. In conclusion, he begged to return his very sincere thanks to the Rev. Father RAIMONDI for his kind invitation, and to the Gentlemen around him for their presence and support.\n\nThe Rev. Gentleman replied in a few well-chosen words, acknowledging His Excellency's kindness in presiding, and hoping to be able, on some future occasion, to exhibit a very marked improvement.\n\nThe proceedings terminated with God Save the Queen.\n\n[ \"Evening Mail\" 4th August, 1865 ]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 271189, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11]", "page_number": 145, "title": "CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11]", "content_text": "His Excellency the Governor has signified his intention of extending the course of study by the introduction of Lectures on the simpler elements of Science,--Chemistry, Electricity, and other branches of Natural Philosophy. I trust that, at first, only very moderate expectations will be entertained of their success. Considerable difficulty must attend the communication of a knowledge of these subjects through the medium of a language in which the scholars are but in their first stages of advancement, and for the ordinary nomenclature of which there exist, as yet, no equivalents in Chinese. To this must be added the fact already referred to that the boys leave school by far too early for acquiring a taste for such studies. It must not be supposed that I am throwing difficulties in the way or attempting to exaggerate those that confessedly exist. In every school, where it is possible, more attention should be given to such subjects than is generally done, and the Central School should certainly not be content to remain in ignorance of such branches of knowledge considering the advantages that would arise from their diffusion. I have thought it right, however, in making reference to the proposal to moderate as far as possible any undue expectations of success. I hope that, at first, the amusement to be derived from the Lectures will be considered as not the least essential reason for their introduction, and all that it is possible to do shall be done to make them, in time, profitable sources of instruction as well.\n\nWould the Revenue of the Colony permit of it I would recommend most strongly the appointment of another English Master not only for reasons already given but for the additional one that a class could then be formed of boys whose parents are able to pay a higher scale of fees for a higher grade of instruction than can be given under present circumstances. There are several boys now in the school who could advance to Algebra, Geometry, and kindred studies could it be found possible to devote time to them, but the time thus spent would have to be taken from more elementary subjects to the detriment of the present average proficiency of the school. For these reasons I cannot hold out hopes of much higher than present results so long as present circumstances remain as they are.\n\nI am glad that it has at last been decided that the school is to be no longer exclusively confined to the Chinese, as this will be the first step to a more general extension of education to other and equally deserving portions of the community. How the amalgamation of the different races in one school will be found to succeed if advantage of the privilege is taken to any great extent no one can at present undertake to say. It will not be without difficulties, perhaps serious ones, but these must be encountered not only for the sake of many children in the Colony who are without the means of instruction and who, unlike their Chinese neighbours, would be very glad to avail themselves of such advantages, but also for the sake of the reputation of the Government whose duty as well as interest it is to dispense its gifts with perfect impartiality. I am only afraid that when the announcement has been made public the alacrity with which it will be responded to may be attended with serious embarrassment. That it will lead ultimately to the establishment of another school, both from the number of applications and from differences that will be found necessary in the system of teaching, I do not think there can be a doubt; and, that the public education of the Colony should tend to this result, all its well-wishers must be gratified to find.\n\nI have not yet been able to get the Chinese department into the satisfactory state in which I could wish to see it. The inability of the Masters to comprehend a system of teaching that differs from their own, and, it may be, their tacit opposition to any change that is proposed, from their knowledge of my comparative ignorance of what a Chinese education really is, doubtless go far to retard the efficiency of this part of the work. Improvement is appearing although slowly, and it is to be hoped that ere long this duty will be not less carefully performed than the others. There seem to be grave doubts in the minds of many as to the propriety or necessity of devoting the half of the boys' time to the study of their own language. For myself I have none. I hold it to be an axiom that a boy cannot be taught a foreign language without a knowledge of his own, unless, indeed, he is sent to the country where the language is spoken, and that his progress in the one will be in proportion to his attainments in the other. Chinese is not studied at the Central School so much for the sake of making the boys acquainted with what their sages have written as that they may master as far as possible the language as a language, in the investigation of its elements, and in the construction of its parts. I know of no more humiliating spectacle than to see boys, as we frequently do in Hongkong, who know English much better than they do Chinese, who entirely neglect their own language when they begin to learn the other, and who when asked for the translation of a letter or a petition fail to render it intelligibly. If there is anything which ought to be aimed at in connexion with the School it is that this disgrace shall not attach to it.\n\nThe payment of fees has not proved the slightest drawback to the school. The sum paid into the Treasury during last year amounted to $1,231.07. I had it in contemplation to propose the raising of the fee in the Lower School this year, but, on consideration, I think it would be advisable, in the present rather unsettled state of the minds of the Chinese, to make no change for at least six months. As a rule, the parents of the boys are not in very prosperous circumstances, and hence any additional tax on their resources would not be likely to be well received. As soon, however, as trade revives among the Chinese and the Colony regains its previous status I shall propose the increasing of the fee. To do so in the meantime would be highly impolitic, and this conclusion has not been arrived at without consideration and enquiry.\n\nI think it but right in concluding this part of my Report to take the opportunity of recording my sense of the obligations under which the school lies to C. C. Smith, Esquire, Registrar General, for the handsome contribution he put into my hands in order to increase the Prize Fund. In the present, comparatively speaking, infant state of the school any encouragement of this nature is invaluable, and I need scarcely say that I wish it were more common.\n\nTHE VILLAGE SCHOOLS,\n\nI shall not enter, at any length, into this part of my Report as, on consideration, I find that it would involve the repetition of a great deal of what was stated last year. An attempt was then made to show what these schools are, how they are conducted, and the nature of the instruction of which they are made the vehicle. In all these respects they continue as they were. They are simply schools where the villagers can obtain for their children, free of all cost, such an education as would be given to them in any native school in China, and, although this may be very barren of what we consider as the necessary elements of any education that is worth the name, it is not to be supposed that it is useless. It is founded on principles which are strictly moral, which have minute reference to all the relations of life, and which have sustained, from centuries before Europe was civilized to the present day, the whole fabric of Chinese polity and manners. It, at least, deserves to be maintained until the Colony is in a position to substitute something better in its stead. This is not intended as a defence of a Chinese education but merely a statement of the grounds on which the Government bases its present relations with these schools.\n\nI have, in conclusion, to refer you to the following Tables for all statistical information. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant,\n\nFREDERICK STEWART, Head Master and Inspector.\n\n1. Aberdeen 2. Bowrington 3. Central School. 4. Girls' School.. 5. Mosque\n\n6. Stanley\n\nGroups not found\n\nMaximum Enrolment\nMinimum Enrolment\nMaximum Attendance\nMinimum Attendance\n\n7. Tang-lung-chau (Hakka)\n25\n18\n14\n5\n\n8. Tang-lung-chau (Punti)\n42\n16\n34\n10\n\n3. Central School\n222\n200\n222\n195\n\n9. Webster's Crescent..\n15\n\n10. West End..\n36\n26\n25\n12\n\n11. West Point (Hakka).\n37\n12\n20\n\n12. West Point (Punti)\n34\n20\n16\n9\n\n13. Wong-nai-chung\n11\n2\n\n46\n8\n32\n\n25\n10\n\n40\n35\n20\n\n21\n13\n\n4\n\n44\n33\n43\n20\n\n20\n13\n16\n3\n\nTotal\n623\n435\n573\n337\n\nCOMPARATIVE STATEMENT of NUMBERS and ATTENDANCE in the Government Schools for 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866.\n\n1862\n1863\n1864\n1865\n1866\n\nNo. Enrolled\nAverage Attendance\nNo. Enrolled\nAverage Attendance\nNo. Enrolled\nAverage Attendance\nNo. Enrolled\nAverage Attendance\nNo. Enrolled\nAverage Attendance\n\n1. Aberdeen\n30\n23\n\n2. Bowrington\n\n17\n12\n\n3. Central School\n186\n150\n200\n161\n192\n\n221\n207\n\n4. Girls' School\n24\n20\n21\n\n24\n\n5. Little Hongkong\n42\n12\n11\n10\n13\n10\n10\n\n6. Mahometan Mosque\n\n12\n11\n\n*7. Sai-wan\n\n18\n\n*8. Shek-o\n\n#9. Shau-ki-wan\n\n10. Stanley\n22\n\n33\n\n11. Tang-lung-chau (Hakka)\n\n12. Tang-lung-chau (Punti)\n\n*13. Tai-tam-tuk\n\n14. Webster's Crescent\n\n15. West End\n38\n31\n17\n15\n26\n18\n11\n\n16. West Point (Hakka)\n\n25\n17\n38\n\n21\n14\n27\n\n17. West Point (Punti)\n40\n\n49\n40\n38\n\n41\n34\n\n18. Wong-nai-chung\n16\n15\n24\n16\n11\n\nTotal\n653\n424\n495\n406\n469\n$92\n514\n425\n548\n458\n\n* Schools marked with an asterisk have been discontinued.\n\nSUMMARY OF ENROLMENT and ATTENDANCE.\n\n1862\n1863\n1864\n1865\n1866\n\nMaximum No. Enrolled\n739\n535\n502\n597\n623\n\nMaximum Attendance\n621\n469\n417\n585\n572\n\nMinimum No. Enrolled\n505\n414\n434\n418\n435\n\nMinimum Attendance\n209\n301\n324\n330\n337\n\nThe Honorable W. T. MERCER, Esq.,\n\nColonial Secretary,\n\netc., etc., etc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 271199, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11]", "page_number": 155, "title": "CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11]", "content_text": "No. 7.-Summary of RETURN No. 6.\n\nTOTAL NUMBER\n\nNAMES OF HARBORS AND BAYS.\n\njor VESSELS\n\nAT EACH\n\nNUMBER OF PERSONS ON BOARD.\n\nΤΟΤΑΙ. POPULA-\n\nADULTS.\n\nCHILDREN.\n\nTION AT\n\nFACH\n\nPLACE.\n\nMen.\n\nWomen.\n\nBoys.\n\nGirls.\n\nPLACE.\n\n \n Victoria,\n 1,950\n 7,287\n 2,772\n 2,448\n 1,348\n 13,850\n \n \n Aberdeen and Ap-li-chow,\n 424\n 2,082\n 899\n 688\n 461\n 4,130\n \n \n Show-ke-wan and Shai-wan,\n 682\n 2,296\n 1,203\n 834\n 521\n 4,854\n \n \n Stanley and Shek-o,\n 380\n 2,207\n 753\n 722\n 433\n 4,115\n \n \n TOTAL,\n 3,445\n 13,872\n 5,627\n 4,602\n 2,763\n 26,054\n \n\nCECIL C. SMITH, Registrar General.\n\nRegistrar General's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 22nd February, 1867.\n\nNo. 47.\n\nNo. 8.- EuCATIONAL STATISTICS.\n\n \n CLASS OF SCHOOL.\n NO. OF SCHOOLS.\n NUMBER OF FOREIGN SCHOLARS.\n NUMBER OF NATIVE SCHOLARS.\n \n \n \n \n Boys.\n Girls.\n Boys.\n Girls.\n \n \n Government,\n 13\n 578\n \n \n \n \n \n St. Paul's College,\n I\n 33\n \n \n \n \n \n Roman Catholic,\n 6\n 101\n 83\n 109\n 205\n \n \n Roman Catholic Reformatory,\n \n \n 53\n \n \n \n \n Diocesan Female Training,\n 1\n \n 70\n \n \n \n \n London Mission,\n 1\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Foundling Hospital,\n 1\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Basel Mission,\n 1\n 2\n 3\n 3\n \n \n \n Mosque Garden,*\n \n \n \n 45\n 16\n \n \n Chinese, General,\n \n \n \n 47\n 36\n \n \n Chinese, Private,\n 18\n 806\n \n 13\n 60\n \n \n TOTAL,\n \n 1,213\n 367\n 103\n 98\n \n\n* Private Schools supported by voluntary contribution.\n\nRegistrar General's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 22nd February, 1867.\n\nGOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. The Colonial Surgeon's Report, with Returns on the Sanitary Condition of the Colony for the Year 1866, is published for general information.\n\nBy Order,\n\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 18th March, 1867.\n\nW. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.\n\nCECIL C. SMITH, Registrar General.\n\nVICTORIA, HONGKONG, 23rd February, 1867.\n\nThe Year 1866, the subject of my Eighth Annual Report, has been generally considered the mildest and most healthy year the Colony has passed through for a very long period. That opinion I am happy to say is supported by statistics. From Table XI it appears that only 74 Residents have died during the year, bringing the ratio of mortality as low as 3.50 per cent, a very remarkable result when compared with the average number of deaths during the past nine years as exhibited in the Table.\n\nA year so remarkably healthy having succeeded what may not inaptly be termed the pestilential year of 1885 appears to favor the theory to which I alluded in my last year's Report namely that the Meteorological wave is not of the usual undulating character, gradually rising to a maximum and as gradually attaining the minimum, but which if capable of being presented to the eye on paper would appear rather as a zig-zag figure, which having attained the maximum, suddenly drops to a minimum.\n\nThen assuming this theory to be correct and that the salubrity of Hongkong follows this wave in some degree, we may fairly infer that the unhealthiness would gradually increase up to a certain year, when its maximum would be again attained and the following year would in like manner be as healthy as the one which has just terminated.\n\nI do not profess to have arrived at any very definite conclusions on the subject and rather mention it as a matter to be followed out by others. What I have stated has appeared to me the legitimate result of observations extending over a period of more than 20 years.\n\nNotwithstanding the remarkable healthiness of the past year I regret to say that yellow fever or pseudo-yellow fever, has been even more prevalent than in 1865. In the Gaol alone 533 cases were admitted to treatment, but of this number 32 only terminated fatally. The Civil Hospital was not so fortunate, there of 53 patients admitted 30 died, but the difference in the two cases may be explained by the fact that most of the patients when admitted to the Civil Hospital were in a nearly moribund condition.\n\nIn consequence of my last year's Report on this disease His Excellency the Governor appointed a commission consisting of myself and the Principal Military and Naval Surgeons, to enquire into the nature and probable cause of this disease and to devise means for arresting its progress. As the Report of this committee was published in the Government Gazette of the 12th May 1866, it is unnecessary for me to do more than refer to it here.\n\nSuffice it to say that the general conclusions at which the committee arrived corroborated to a great extent the statements I had made in my own Report. Last year's experience of such a large number of cases has not induced me to alter my opinion and the only alteration made in the treatment has consisted in adding diuretics to the mercurial course. I am happy to say that up to this time we continue free from any sign of the epidemic this year.\n\nSmall pox began rather later than usual, the first case occurring in February, but on the other hand it extended further on in the season, a case having been recorded in April and two singular isolated cases in August.\n\nIt has been for long a point under discussion whether Hydrophobia occurs in Hongkong. A very sad case of a gentleman well known in the Colony, who had been bitten by a dog and subsequently died, was narrowly watched by myself and several other practitioners throughout the course of the malady, but even after a careful Post Mortem examination, the case remained obscure and I believe that the majority of my professional brethren were of opinion that a strong mental impression had more to do with the fatal result than Rabies.\n\nA feeling of terror appeared to seize the community and had an epidemic of hydrophobia occurred I should not have been the least surprised, as it was, several cases were reported amongst the military, but as I had no opportunity of examining closely into their details, and as the existing excitement was not conducive to arriving at dispassionate conclusions, I am compelled, as far as my own opinion is concerned, to let my antecedent impressions retain their full force.\n\nThat hydrophobia has occurred in Hongkong cannot be doubted, but that it is of extremely rare occurrence appears to me equally evident.\n\nMy few remaining observations had best be made when treating of the condition of the various Institutions of which it is my duty to take cognizance in my Annual Report.\n\nI. THE POLICE.\n\nThis Force has undergone considerable weeding during the past year. It is no longer called upon to act as a chaingang guard, a mode of employment which appeared to be very demoralizing in its tendency, and its duties are now limited to the preservation of the Public Peace.\n\nWhether from these or other causes the health of the Force has been much better in 1866 than in the preceding year, and although the total number of men employed was somewhat less than in the year 1863 it will be seen from Table I and II that both the mortality and sickness were less than the average, the death rate being only 1.78 per cent and the rate of sickness 96.08.\n\nWith efficient officers and the splendid accommodation with which the Force is now provided, it ought to retain that preeminence in health for which it has always been characterised.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 273759, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-130 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [4-5]", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-130 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [4-5]", "content_text": "## 10. What has just been said, has been said, of course, judging the schools by a European standard. Looking at them, however, from another point of view, as schools, namely, where a Chinese education is given to Chinese children, there are one or two things to which more particular reference may be made. I stated last year why I thought these schools should be continued and encouraged, poor, in our estimation, though the education given in them be. It is painful to see the number of children in the Colony who seem to spend their whole time in the streets, generally at play, frequently at mischief, always watching for opportunities to pilfer, and thus commencing a career of idleness and crime. Could these children be made to attend school, the opportunity at least of doing evil would, so far, be removed. It were much better that they should be confined for the greater portion of the day in school, than that they should spend, as it is to be feared many of them do, the best part of their days in prison. Even on this ground, low though it be, the schools, well attended, would be of no mean advantage to the well-being of the Colony.\n\n## 11. If it could be possible to make the Chinese here feel a greater interest in the education of their children, and if they could be induced to send them regularly to school, the work of reformation would be more than begun. It would be much easier than to prevail on them to allow changes to be introduced than it is now when there is nothing but stolid indifference to appeal to. In many cases, the people do not conceal that they consider they are doing Government a favour by sending their children to its schools. It does not seem to occur to them that the advantage is at least mutual. I have had cases where a father has urged as a reason why some request of his should be granted that he sent his son to the Government school, and was therefore, doubtless, entitled to a favourable hearing.\n\n## 19. As regards particular schools, I am sorry to find such a falling off at Tang-lung-chau. Two years ago, the attendance at this school was upwards of fifty. Now it is scarcely twenty. This state of things is not due entirely to the removal of the inhabitants from the neighbourhood but to a cause with which it is more difficult to deal. In the early part of last year, it was discovered that the Master was appropriating money which should have been spent in the payment of a Monitor to assist him in school, to the payment of his own servant. The case was a clear one against him and he was dismissed. A petition, signed by many of the people, was then brought to me praying that the Master might be re-instated because he was a good teacher. The cause of his dismissal was completely ignored. When their request was refused, the scholars were sent to me in a body to ask that he should be allowed to return. No reasoning as to the flagrancy of his fault and his consequent unsuitability for such a trust as that of teaching the young had the slightest effect. They admitted most willingly that his conduct had been bad, but he is a good teacher. Another and undoubtedly the best native Master we have, was sent to the school but one half of the children were withdrawn. Such are the people with whom we have to deal.\n\n## 13. The most gratifying circumstance connected with the schools is the increasing interest that is now taken in female education. In addition to the Girls' School in Sheung-wan with upwards of forty scholars, there is now another at Bowrington with upwards of seventeen. In several of the others, also, there are from two to six girls. To whatever cause it is to be attributed, it is curious to find that the girls make much more satisfactory progress than the boys. Neatness characterizes everything they do, and their handwriting, especially, attracts the admiration of those Chinese who have been shown it. In the school at Bowrington alone is needle-work taught, in addition to the ordinary routine of reading, writing and committing to memory, but I hope that it may soon be introduced into the other school also.\n\n## 14. It is unnecessary, I trust, for me to state that English is carefully excluded from these schools. To the melancholy results which, in nearly every instance, have followed from teaching Chinese girls English I need not more particularly allude. Its effect on the character of the boys is not, I am sorry to find, what one could wish, but on the character of the girls it has proved to be fatal. And the reason seems to be this, that coming, as they nearly all do, from the poorer classes, the care, such as they have never experienced before, which is taken of them, the comforts, to them luxuries, which they enjoy, and the so-called accomplishments, which they are taught, totally unfit them for the sphere of life in which they would otherwise naturally remain, and out of which it is impossible for them to rise.\n\n## 15. The only aim which is attempted to be reached in the Girls' schools, which are under Government control, is that of making them honest and useful in their own humble sphere, and I am happy to say, from enquiries which I have made, that the effort to do this has not been unsuccessful. The Master of the school in Sheung-wan tells me that the scholars who have left him, during the ten years in which it has been in existence, have, as a rule, been respectably married in their own native Districts of Nam-hoi and P'un-yü.\n\n## 16. Further than stating that the Stanley school is, in the meantime, the most regularly attended and that a Girls' school may be established as soon as there is a suitable school-house, I do not think it necessary to do more at present in connection with the Village Schools than refer you to the statistics which are appended to this Report.\n\n## 17. I have now, in conclusion, only to refer to the **Central School**, and, in doing so, I shall be very brief, as no important changes have been made or results reached beyond those previously reported.\n\n## 18. The attendance was well sustained during the year. It is a matter of some surprise to me that it was so; for, in the first place, the chances of obtaining situations have lately been rapidly diminishing, and in the second, it is not to be concealed that the classes are by far too large for only two English Masters, with the additional duty of inspecting the Village Schools devolving on one of them. The progress of the boys is certainly not what it ought to be, or what I should like to see it. Strangers who pay a casual visit may find some cause for commendation, but those who are daily engaged in the actual working of the school find much that is unsatisfactory, and which either an additional Master or decreased attendance would materially remedy.\n\n## 19. In previous Reports I have referred to this difficulty. I had hoped that ere this time the Revenue of the Colony would be in a condition to admit of the appointment of another English Master but I fear such a proposition cannot, in the meantime, be entertained. I content myself therefore, under the circumstances, with saying that nothing could more contribute to the efficiency of the school, and that it will not be efficient without it.\n\n## 20. Allusion has already been made to the main source of the apparent popularity of the school—the means of money-making which are derived from a knowledge of English. In another respect, I was sorry to be told lately by one who has opportunities of knowing that those Chinese who have no sons at the school look upon the boys in anything but a favourable light. By giving themselves airs, by affecting a superiority they do not possess, by forming clubs, to the exclusion of those who do not know English, where all sorts of dissipation exist, the boys do not place the character of the school or the results of the training which is attempted to be given them in the light which those, whose time and energy are spent in their behalf, have perhaps a right to expect. When one thinks, however, of even the effects of Christianity itself, in its earlier stages, and that one Church in particular which had much to commend it had to be seriously cautioned, among other things, against a propensity to steal, one needs not despair at finding many things to annoy and disappoint in the promotion of Education in Hongkong. Like civilization, or any other moral and intellectual change, education is a comparative term which bears a relation not to this arbitrary standard or to that, but to the particular mental condition of the people among whom it is being disseminated. From the six years' experience I have now had of the work, I do not expect to find any great or lasting results in my time. My only hope is that, at the close of my connection with the schools, I may have done something which my successor will not have to undo.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient Servant,\n\nThe Honourable CECIL C. SMITH,\nActing Colonial Secretary.\n\nFREDERICK STEWART,\nInspector of Government Schools.\n\n## NUMBERS and ATTENDANCE at the Government Schools during 1867\n\n| School | Maximum Enrolment | Minimum Enrolment | Maximum Attendance | Minimum Attendance |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1. Aberdeen | 28 | 24 | 24 | 17 |\n| 2. Bowrington | 55 | 47 | 48 | 37 |\n| 3. Central School | 205 | 178 | 204 | 178 |\n| 4. Girl's School | 48 | 37 | 45 | 34 |\n| 5. Shau-ki-wan | 84 | 44 | 84 | 40 |\n| 6. Stanley | 20 | 14 | 20 | 14 |\n| 7. Tang-lung-chau (Hakka) | 11 | 8 | 11 | 8 |\n| 8. Tang-lung-chau (Punti) | 39 | 30 | 38 | 29 |\n| 9. Webster's Crescent | 44 | 28 | 44 | 28 |\n| 10. West End | 38 | 15 | 38 | 15 |\n| 11. West Point (Hakka) | 15 | 11 | 15 | 11 |\n| 12. West Point (Punti) | ... | ... | ... | ... |\n| 13. Wong-nai-chung | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 |\n\n## SUMMARY of ENROLMENT and ATTENDANCE at the Government Schools for the last Six Years\n\n| Year | Enrolment | Average Attendance |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1862 | 733 | 505 |\n| 1863 | 535 | 414 |\n| 1864 | 502 | 434 |\n| 1865 | 597 | 418 |\n| 1866 | 623 | 435 |\n| 1867 | 700 | 533 |\n\nNumber of Children in the Colony, under 16 years of age, as per last Census, ... 19,349\nDeduct, as being under 6 years of age, ... 6,949\nDeduct, as attending schools of all denominations, ... 1,600\nTotal Number of Uneducated Children in Hongkong, ... 10,800\n\n## ATTENDANCE at the Central School for the Half-year commencing 4th March, 1867\n\n| Class | Maximum Enrolment | Maximum Attendance | Minimum Enrolment | Minimum Attendance |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Head Master's Classes | 89 | 88 | 37 | 30 |\n| Assistant Master's Classes | 37 | 37 | 28 | 28 |\n| Preparatory Class | 28 | ... | 28 | ... |\n| Total | 204 | ... | ... | ... |\n| Number rejected at Preliminary Examination | 34 | | | |\n\n## ATTENDANCE at the Central School For the Half-year commencing 3rd September, 1867\n\n| Class | Maximum Enrolment | Maximum Attendance | Minimum Enrolment | Minimum Attendance |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Head Master's Classes | 103 | 103 | 38% | 38 |\n| Assistant Master's Classes | 88 | 88 | 30 | 30 |\n| Preparatory Class | 30 | ... | 30 | ... |\n| Total | 221 | ... | ... | ... |\n| Number rejected at Preliminary Examination | 4 | | | |\n| Number who left school during the year | 75 | | | |\n\nFREDERICK STEWART,\nInspector of Government Schools.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-130 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 276766, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-135 - Public Offices & Others - 1868", "page_number": 66, "title": "CO129-135 - Public Offices & Others - 1868", "content_text": "IV.\n\nHONG KONG,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nEarl Grey to\n\nGovernor Sir J. Davis, Bart.\n\n19 March 1847.\n\nRev. G. Smith,\n\n12\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH THE COLONIAL DEPARTMENT\n\n(No. 77.)\n\nHONG KONG\n\nNo. 1.\n\nCopy of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Sir J. Davis, Bart.\n\nSir,\n\nDowning-street, 19 March 1847.\n\n19 January 1847.\n\nColonial Office, 19 March.\n\nEnclosure in No. 1.\n\nI TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, the copies of a correspondence between the Reverend G. Smith and myself, on the subject of certain suggestions and statements submitted to me by that gentleman, relative to the religious and social interests of Hong Kong.\n\nI wish especially to direct your attention to the statement made by Mr. Smith, regarding the liability of Chinese to be detained in custody at Hong Kong for moving abroad in the streets and high roads in the evening without a light, and a written note from their European employers; and I have to request that you would furnish me with an explanation as to the origin and necessity for this regulation. From such means as I now possess of forming a judgment upon it, I cannot but state that the regulation in question appears to me to be very objectionable.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nEnclosure in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c. (signed) Grey.\n\nChurch Missionary House, 16 January 1847.\n\nA COMMUNICATION from the Bishop of London relative to an interview with your Lordship led me to the inference that there might be some specific subjects of information respecting China, to which your Lordship might wish to direct the attention of one recently returned from that country. Under this erroneous impression, I came to the interview with which I was favoured by your Lordship without previous preparation upon specific matters connected with China.\n\nBut the request made by your Lordship at the close of the interview, that if any subjects of information presented themselves to my mind as desirable for the Government to possess, I would make them the subject of a subsequent written communication, leads me to submit to your Lordship's consideration the following facts and statements.\n\nPresuming that the extension of the colonial empire of Britain involves responsibilities of the highest order, namely, of diffusing through the world the blessings of liberty, of civilization, and of Christianity, I beg to submit the following specific measures as likely to exert a favourable influence towards these ends.\n\n1. The first measure which I would respectfully lay before your Lordship is the extreme importance of adopting a more liberal policy towards our Chinese fellow subjects of the Island of Hong Kong, with the view of encouraging more promising subjects for Christian instruction. My own observation leads me to fear that the present system of police injuriously affects the immigration of respectable Chinese, and the consequent improvement of the colony. For instance, no Chinese is permitted to move abroad in the streets or public roads after a certain hour in the evening, without bearing a lantern, and a written note from his European employer. A respectable Chinese coming to Hong Kong, and venturing in the public streets without such protection, would be in danger of being apprehended by the police, kept in custody during the night, and rendered liable to the humiliating disgrace of corporal punishment. It may be pleaded that such a precaution in the present social state of the native population may be necessary; but I cannot forbear to state to your Lordship that such a regime, as long as it is permitted to continue, will seriously affect the well-being of the colony,\n\nand\n\nON COLONIAL CHURCH LEGISLATION, &c.\n\n13\n\nand preclude every hope of securing any better class of immigrants than that which at present exists. Needy adventurers, who have little of character or of pecuniary means, will be bribed to submit for a few months to this regime by high wages. But to the wealthy native merchants, to the well-educated native scholars, to the Chinese gentry, money will be an ineffectual inducement in leading them to submit to such invidious regulations.\n\nIt would be easy to particularize other instances by which a race of people, the most alive to good treatment, instead of becoming friends, are converted into enemies of British connexion; and return with heartburnings and hatred to the mainland, to spread abroad disaffection to Hong Kong, and detestation of the western barbarians. Till a more liberal policy toward the native population of Hong Kong can be substituted for the present system, I cannot but express to your Lordship that there exists but a very faint hope of being able to encourage the immigration of a better class of commercial traders; or, what in my view of the question is of still higher importance, of more hopeful subjects for Christian instruction.\n\n2. The second measure which I venture to propose to your Lordship, refers to the desirableness of Christian schools established and supported by Government, for the intellectual, moral, and religious education of Chinese youths. It might at first view, appear desirable that educational measures might be undertaken by some of the Missionary Societies in existence, assisted by pecuniary grants from the Colonial Legislature of Hong Kong. Such a plan would, I apprehend, be open to objections, and many practical inconveniences. Missionary Societies will always have a primary, if not exclusive, reference to the object of raising up a body of native teachers and evangelists, who may, by the Divine blessing, become the instructors of their fellow countrymen.\n\nOn the other hand, the Government must look on the natives educated by their funds, as the nucleus of a body of native interpreters, writers, and subordinate officers. In China, where the language is so difficult, and where interpreters are consequently so much in request, the demand will for a long time considerably exceed the supply; and in scholastic institutions under a mixed control, there must arise apparent collisions of interests and objects on various grounds of mutual dissatisfaction. The case of the Morrison Education School at Hong Kong may be cited in some respects as an instance in point.\n\nThe practical measure I beg leave to suggest to your Lordship is the establishment of an efficient educational institution for the benefit of the Chinese at Hong Kong, in which an European principal of Christian zeal and ability might dispense the benefits of an education in the literature, the science, and the religion of the West. By such a measure, not only would an important Christian duty and responsibility be discharged, but also important and obvious advantages of a secular kind would be secured. From among the recipients of this bounty of a Christian Government, the Colonial Executive might look with justice for a reinforcement of native interpreters, who by the efficiency gained from an European education, and by the principles of moral integrity instilled during the progress of Christian instruction, might be placed in a position to repay the debt of gratitude in some subordinate official trust, and might also effect much towards leavening with the influence of Christian loyalty the whole mass of native society.\n\nThe management of such an institution might be undertaken by the ecclesiastical representatives of the Church of England in the colony, under the visitorial control of the Governor.\n\n3. There is another practical measure to which I beg leave next to direct your Lordship's attention. An adequate provision for the spiritual wants of British subjects in China, military, civil and mercantile, carries with it a most powerful claim. While barracks, forts, hospitals, magazines, official residences and private dwellings have been erected at a munificent outlay of expenditure; while places of worship, raised by the Roman-catholics, and by different Christian sects from Europe and America, and even a Mahomedan mosque, built by the contributions of the poor Indian sepoys and camp followers, have risen up with wonderful rapidity, at the period of my leaving China, in May last, only a temporary building, almost the meanest edifice in the town, existed as a place for Divine worship according to the ritual of the Church of England. This neglect will doubtless soon be repaired; but one Colonial Chaplain and one Military Chaplain\n\n355.-4.\n\nB 3\n\nIV. HONG KONG.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-135 - Public Offices & Others - 1868.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 291886, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-164 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [7-9]", "page_number": 565, "title": "CO129-164 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [7-9]", "content_text": "## Report on Schools in Hong Kong for 1873\n\n### Grant-in-Aid Scheme Schools\n\n22. Wantsai and T'ai-p'ing Shán Chapel Schools for Chinese boys are under the management of the Revd. Dr. EITEL. At the former, 54 scholars were enrolled during the year. The average monthly enrolment was 54, and the daily attendance varied from 48 to 52. The number examined was 42, and of these 19 passed very satisfactorily. Scholars were presented under all the six standards, which accounts for the greater number of failures. T'ai-p'ing Shán Chapel School was attended by 42 scholars. The monthly average was 37, and the daily attendance varied from 31 to ... . At this school 28 were presented for examination under the first five standards. There were 14 failures. The sum gained by the two schools amounted to $110.50. A very much higher proportion of passes could have been obtained at these two schools, if the scholars had been ranged, as it was perfectly competent for the manager to do, under lower standards. Having, however, full confidence in the teachers, he classified the scholars as has been stated, and the result showed that his confidence was not misplaced. The teachers are able, hard-working men. They were fully aware of the extent to which the credit of the schools depended on their exertions, and they exerted themselves accordingly. The schools reflect great credit on masters and manager.\n\n23. The Baxter Vernacular Girls' Schools under the management of the Revd. A. B. HUTCHINSON, are three in number, but for the purposes of the Grant-in-aid scheme they are considered as one. This arrangement was necessary because the schools, taken singly, could not have reached the average attendance qualifying each of them for a grant; and, in order to meet, as far as possible, the difficulties attending female education here, and the reluctance of parents to send girls any but the shortest distance from home, the manager thought it advisable to have three schools in various parts of the city, to secure as large an attendance as possible. The three schools were, therefore, taken as three separate class-rooms, the scholars being classified as if belonging to one school; and as such they will be here spoken of. The total attendance for the year was 133. The average monthly enrolment was 72, and the daily attendance varied from 42 to 48. On the examination day 37 scholars were presented under the first three standards. Of these 28 passed and 9 failed. There were also 32 passes in plain needlework. The sum paid to the school amounted to $57.60. The school is solely for Chinese girls. The average age is 10, the extremes being 7 and 16. The school is well conducted, well superintended and well taught. The education given is solely in the Chinese language, a fact to which undue prominence cannot be given. Hitherto, the educating of Chinese girls in English has been one of the most disastrous experiments which the Colony has ever witnessed.\n\n24. The Victoria Boys' School is under the management of the Honourable P. RYRIE. The number enrolled in 1873 was 28; but, as the average daily attendance for the last six months, during which the school came under the provisions of the scheme, did not amount to the minimum of 20, the school was not examined. During the present year, the numbers have increased, and the school will no doubt be able to qualify itself for a grant. It was only opened in 1873, and being at present self-supporting, it has been much hampered in many ways, the fees being insufficient to provide a large school-room in a central locality. It is attended principally by Portuguese, but it is open to all who choose to avail themselves of it. The education given is solely an English one; and, judging from the results of several inspections, the school is well taught and well conducted.\n\n25. Adding the numbers taught at these six schools to the numbers taught in the Government schools, the total number of scholars subject to Government inspection in 1873 was 2280. This, with an allowance of 1220 for the numbers attending all other schools, would bring the number of school children in the Colony up to 3500. This is very far short of the number who should be at school; but comparing the results with those of previous years, there is much cause for satisfaction and great encouragement to perseverance.\n\n26. One point alone now remains to be noticed. When the Grant-in-aid scheme was proposed, great difficulty was felt in applying it to Chinese schools, from the want of a graduated series of school books containing lessons on the model of those in use in the West. A committee was appointed by the Government to compile such a series, and two school books are nearly ready for publication. The remainder will in all probability be finished within the next twelve months. The use of these books will be entirely optional. As long as a school can impart the requisite amount of secular instruction it will be free to use any school books its manager may choose to select; but there can be little doubt that, if the undertaking is at all successful, the new series will ultimately find its way into all the Chinese schools in the Colony, with perhaps a very few exceptions. It will supply a want which is very much felt by all who have the conduct of native schools.\n\n## TABLE I\n### NUMBER OF SCHOLARS taught in the Government Schools during 1873, and Expense of each School.\n\n| School | Boys | Girls | Total | Expense |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1. Aberdeen | | | | $223.00 |\n| 2. Ap-li Chau | 36 | 2 | 38 | 127.00 |\n| 3. Central School | 502 | | 502 | 11,924.46 |\n| 4. Girls' School | | 107 | 107 | 593.00 |\n| 5. Há Wán | 37 | | 37 | 353.90 |\n| 6. Hok Ün | 16 | | 16 | 62.00 |\n| 7. Hung Hom | 20 | | 20 | 61.50 |\n| 8. Little Hongkong | 17 | | 17 | 62.00 |\n| 9. Má-tan Chung | 25 | 1 | 26 | 64.00 |\n| 10. Má-t'au Ts'ai | 21 | | 21 | 62.50 |\n| 11. Mong Kok | 25 | | 25 | 62.00 |\n| 12. Pok-fú Lam | 15 | | 15 | 61.50 |\n| 13. Sai-ying Pún, (Hak-ka) | 79 | 14 | 93 | 247.00 |\n| 14. Sai-ying Pún, (Pun-ti) | 61 | | 61 | 128.00 |\n| 15. Phái Vân | 22 | | 22 | 62.50 |\n| 16. Shau-ki Wán | 54 | 10 | 64 | 353.30 |\n| 17. Shek Ö | 22 | | 22 | 64.00 |\n| 18. Shek-tong Tsúi | 88 | | 88 | 317.30 |\n| 19. Sheung Wán | 55 | | 55 | 322.00 |\n| 20. Stanley | 22 | | 22 | 61.55 |\n| 21. Tái-kok Tsui | 76 | | 76 | 271.00 |\n| 22. Tái Wong Kung | 39 | 6 | 45 | 124.00 |\n| 23. Tang-lung Chau, (Hak-ka) | 22 | | 22 | 64.00 |\n| 24. Tang-lung Chau, (Pun-ti) | 21 | 2 | 23 | 63.00 |\n| 25. To-kwá Wán, (Hak-ka) | 12 | 2 | 14 | 62.00 |\n| 26. To-kwá Wán, (Hok-lo) | 98 | 35 | 133 | 261.50 |\n| 27. Tsat Tsz-múi | 21 | | 21 | 122.50 |\n| 28. Wan-tsai | 44 | | 44 | 112.49 |\n| 29. Wong-nai Chung | | | | |\n| 30. Yau-má Ti | | | | |\n| Total | 1,667 | 171 | 1,838 | 16,694.40 |\n\n## TABLE II\n### AVERAGE EXPENSE of each Scholar at the various Government Schools during 1873.\n\n| Category | Expense |\n| --- | --- |\n| Outlay for 1873 | $16,691.40 |\n| Deduct Fees from Scholars at Central School | $2,216.50 |\n| Total | $14,477.90 |\n| 1. Average Expense of each Scholar at the Government Schools | $7.88 |\n| 2. Central School | $19.34 |\n| 3. Village Schools | $3.67 |\n\n**Note**: Item 2 should perhaps be two dollars less, and item 3 one dollar more, because part of the Salary of the Head Master of the Central School, who is also Inspector of Schools, should be charged against the Village Schools.\n\n## TABLE III\n### AVERAGE MONTHLY ENROLMENT and REGULAR ATTENDANCE at the Government Schools for 1873.\n\n| School | Average Monthly Enrolment | Average Regular Attendance |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Brought forward | 797 | 703 |\n| 1. Aberdeen | 16 | 14 |\n| 2. Ap-li Chau | 41 | 35 |\n| 3. Central School | 349 | 329 |\n| 4. Girls' School | 67 | 53 |\n| 5. Há Wán | 28 | 22 |\n| 6. Hok Ün | 15 | 12 |\n| 7. Hung Hom | 16 | 13 |\n| 8. Little Hongkong | 16 | 13 |\n| 9. Má-tan Chung | 23 | 21 |\n| 10. Má-t'au Ts'ai | 17 | 12 |\n| 11. Mong Kok | 18 | 13 |\n| 12. Pok-fú Lam | 12 | 9 |\n| 13. Sai-ying Pún, (Hak-ka) | 58 | 52 |\n| 14. Sai-ying Pún, (Pun-ti) | 43 | 39 |\n| 15. Phái Vân | 16 | 14 |\n| 16. Shau-ki Wán | 52 | 41 |\n| 17. Shek Ö | 35 | 26 |\n| 18. Shek-tong Tsúi | 40 | 34 |\n| 19. Sheung Wán | 27 | 24 |\n| 20. Stanley | 20 | 14 |\n| 21. Tái-kok Tsui | 18 | 15 |\n| 22. Tái Wong Kung | 17 | 11 |\n| 23. Tang-lung Chau, (Hak-ka) | 81 | 18 |\n| 24. Tang-lung Chau, (Pun-ti) | 15 | 11 |\n| 25. To-kwá Wán, (Hak-ka) | 16 | 15 |\n| 26. To-kwá Wán, (Hok-lo) | | |\n| 27. Tsat Tsz-múi | | |\n| 28. Wan-tsai | | |\n| 29. Wong-nai Chung | 39 | 18 |\n| 30. Yau-má Ti | 15 | 11 |\n| Total | 1,249 | 1,089 |\n\nThe Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,\nColonial Secretary,\nHONGKONG.\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to be,\nYour most obedient Servant,\nFREDERICK STEWART,\nInspector of Schools.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-164 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 299825, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-177 - Sir Kennedy Acting Governor Austin Lieut Governor Hennessy - 1877 [1-5]", "page_number": 155, "title": "CO129-177 - Sir Kennedy Acting Governor Austin Lieut Governor Hennessy - 1877 [1-5]", "content_text": "countrymen, said he had been requested to express the pleasure of the members of the Deputation at seeing a member of Parliament in Hongkong, and to assure His Excellency that they quite appreciated the excellence of the laws of England and the manner in which they were carried out in this Colony. The Chinese community deeply regretted His Excellency's departure, and were fully sensible of and greatly indebted to him for the kindness and consideration he had shown to the Chinese in the Colony. The deputation present was a large one, but they wished it to be understood that they were merely representative of others; in short, representative of the Chinese Community generally in the Colony,\n\nHis Excellency: I quite understand. Mr. Chun Ayin: They wish a prosperous voyage to Your Excellency, and to Miss Kennedy.\n\nHis Excellency: Before you take your leave there is one matter for me to mention, that I omitted, that is, to thank you for the very handsome sandal wood casket in which you have presented the address to I shall value it as much or more than anything in my possession, as having been a spontaneous offering from a community among whom I have lived for over four years. When I die it will be handed down as an heirloom to my children.\n\nMr Chun Ayin explained that the umbrella is called \"Man Man San,\" meaning thereby the \"Ten Thousand People's umbrella,\" a term of indefinite number among the Chinese. It was the highest mark of honour a Chinaman could show to his official, by whom he was governed.\n\nHis Excellency said he quite understood the value of the umbrella,\n\nThe Deputation then withdrew.\n\nThe Daily Press.\n\nHONGKONG, MARCH 1ST, 1877.\n\nSIr ARTHUR KENNEDY, on assuming charge of the Government of this Colony on the 16th April, 1872, in the course of his modest inaugural speech, said: \"I hope when it comes to my turn to relinquish the Government that you will be able to give me credit for being honest and faithful in the discharge of my duties.\" Now that His Excellency's terms of office has expired it will be well to see how far this hope has been fulfilled, by passing in review what has been done under his administration. When Sir ARTHUR arrived in Hongkong there were several matters which might be considered local \"burning questions\" then on the tapis, some of which have and some have not yet been finally settled. Prominent among these was the much vexed subject of the blockade of the port by the Chinese revenue cruisers. Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL had taken active measures to procure a cessation of the annoyance, and Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY was quick to recognise the necessity for action. He took up the matter in good earnest, and has succeeded in demonstrating to the Colonial Office the reality of the grievance—a fact which, owing to the representations of Her MAJESTY's Consul at Canton, they had previously failed to see. Through the instrumentality of the Government officials, a mass of evidence was, after the expenditure of much time and labour, collected, and this, together with His Excellency's lucid explanations in covering despatches, has sufficed to convince the Home Authorities that the native trade of Hongkong is placed at a serious disadvantage by the unjustifiable exactions made upon it by the Hoppo of Canton. It was accordingly provided in the lately concluded Chefoo Convention that a Commission should be appointed to come to some arrangement whereby the Chinese Authorities can collect their revenue without prejudice to the commercial interests of this Colony. This is one important step towards a removal of the grievance. It is a significant comment on the red-tapeism of the British Government that it has taken years of constant worry to secure even this concession, and it is highly creditable to the Governor.\n\nWhen Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY assumed the reins of office, the infamous coolie traffic at Macao was flourishing like a green bay tree. He was deeply impressed with its nefarious character, and he unhesitatingly and vigorously condemned it. He watched its course narrowly, and fearful lest some of those engaged in the trade should attempt to connect Hongkong with it, he caused a stringent Ordinance to be prepared prohibiting any one in the Colony from having an interest in the trade. This was passed in May, 1873, In April of the following year he had the satisfaction of seeing the traffic finally put a stop to through the intervention of Great Britain and other Powers, who had become scandalised by the enormities carried on in connection with it.\n\nGambling was rife in the Colony when Sir ARTHUR arrived here, in spite of the measures taken by his predecessor in office to put a termination to it. His Excellency lost no time in taking energetic measures to scotch this troublesome vice, and shortly after his installation ordered the prosecution of the landlord of some public gambling-houses in Gilman-street. On hearing of this step a large number of similar establishments were hastily closed, and the evil has since been very greatly reduced. In 1872 the public safety was far from well assured. Robberies were rife, and European residents could not walk on the less frequented roads after dusk with security. That has all been changed now. Not only do we enjoy immunity from \"knocking down,\" but serious crime of all sorts has been immensely decreased. This is owing, of course, to the great improvement of the Police Force, which has become what Hongkong has a right to expect, efficient and capable. Piracy, which at the commencement of Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY'S administration was rampant in these waters, has been reduced to comparatively small limits. In the gaols a more rigid discipline has also been introduced at the instance of His Excellency.\n\nIn the Public Works Department a great deal has either been carried through or inaugurated. Progress in this direction is, unfortunately, much impeded by the often vexatious delay experienced in procuring official sanction for a projected work from the Home Government, Notwithstanding this, however, much has been effected. The lighthouses on Green Island and Cape D'Aguilar—two highly important undertakings—have been completed. A decision has at length, after ten years' consideration, been arrived at with regard to the Civil Hospital, for which unreasonable delay Sir ARTHUR is not responsible. The new building was projected in 1867; the site was surveyed in 1870; the first plans, ill-adapted to the requirements of the Colony, arrived in 1875; and in 1876 it was found that, owing to the satisfactory working of the Contagious Diseases Act, the accommodation in the Lock Hospital had become largely in excess of what was needed. It was then proposed by the Colonial Surgeon and the Surveyor-General that the Lock Hospital should be adapted for the purposes of a Government Civil Hospital and a Lock Hospital built on the site intended for the Civil Hospital. His Excellency, finding that a large saving would be effected by this plan, gave it his sanction, and the plans were completed last month. All the improvements for the benefit and aid of sufferers will be introduced under the direction of the Colonial Surgeon. A small-pox hospital is still needed, but that is a matter which must be left to Sir ARTHUR's successor. No less than eight years ago new buildings were proposed for the Government Central Schools, but other matters have stood in the way of this much needed work. Sir ARTHUR, who has always taken a warm interest in this institution, has long wished to see it more suitably housed,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-177 - Sir Kennedy Acting Governor Austin Lieut Governor Hennessy - 1877 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302489, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "has had to ask itself those questions and has not yet, it would appear, satisfactorily answered them. The discussion, by some thought to have been finally closed, has been re-opened, and the point to be debated is, on whom does the duty primarily rest of educating our children; on the Government as one of its essential obligations, or on the parents, to be performed by them to the best of their means and ability with aid only from the state as may be requisite in each case. If the state is to undertake the duty, then comes the further question, within what limits is the Government to act and is the education it gives to be secular, or religious, and if religious, of what religion.\n\nA great deal has been said and written in Hongkong on this business of education, many things that might well have been left unwritten and unsaid. Charity would not have been wounded so grievously as it has been, if there had been less heat and more consideration.\n\nWe do not now intend to join in the discussion, but to chronicle in this pamphlet the dates and events in the educational history of Hongkong, the origin and growth of the secular and of the religious schools, and to give a sketch, but only a sketch, of the phases of opinion that have existed at different times on the subject and of the controversies that have been excited by it.\n\nHongkong as a British colony is thirty-six years old, but it was only twenty years ago that anything was done towards the establishment of schools and the promotion of Education.\n\nWe purpose to give the educational history of those twenty years, dividing it into five periods, each of which formed an epoch in the development of the school system.\n\n## FIRST PERIOD\n\nFrom 1857 to 1860.\n\nSchools existed in Hongkong in 1857 both for Chinese and Europeans. The Chinese pupils at the Government school were not less than 420, as appears from the Report for the year 1857. In the Hongkong Government Gazette of November 27th, 1858, we find a Notice about Government School, by which Parents and Guardians are informed that Schools for gratuitous instruction had been established by the Government of Hongkong, within the City of Victoria, and throughout the Island, wherein the Chinese Elementary Books, their Classics, Geography, etc., and the English language are well taught by competent Native Teachers. No School Fee would be demanded, but a sum not exceeding 27 cash per month, in lieu of Tea, would be expected from each pupil. Complaints from the Parents as well as applications for the Establishment of new schools were to be sent to the Members of the Educational Committee, who were the Bishop of Victoria, Rev. J. Chalmers, J. Scarth Esq., Rev. W. Lobscheid. This latter gentleman signed as Inspector of Government Schools.\n\nThe hours of Tuition were:\n| Time |\n| --- |\n| From 6 to 8 o'clock a.m. |\n| From 9 to 12 o'clock a.m. |\n| From 3 to past 4 p.m. |\n\nIn the Government Gazette of the 12th February 1859, we notice a Report, for which the thanks of the Government were given to the Members of the Committee for superintending Government Schools.\n\nThe Report was for the year 1858. The number of scholars had increased from about 420 to 675 in the five months of January to May 1858 inclusive. The number of schools was fifteen, and the Inspector made application for permission to establish additional schools.\n\nThe course of instruction pursued was the general routine of native Chinese books with an endeavour to impart at the same time the meaning of the sentence or words more fully than is used in the purely native system of teaching at school; the pupils learned also portions of the New Testament in Chinese, the meaning was explained, and passages were committed to memory.\n\nThe first rudiments of spelling with reading English were also taught in the larger schools, and a few facts of Geography were learnt.\n\nThere was the continued difficulty of raising the moral and intellectual tone of the Native teachers.\n\nAlthough the Committee did not intend to place themselves in antagonism to private schools, they expected, however, in the course of time to attract to the Government public schools a good part of the pupils from the private schools by elevating the standard of the former. The Committee notices the presence of a few girls at some of the schools. The sum of £1,500 was granted by the Colonial Government for the ensuing year, thus providing Education for each day scholar at the rate of £1, to £1 10s.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302554, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 75, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "## GOVERNMENT EDUCATION, HONGKONG\n\nThe following Annual Report from the Inspector of Schools, with Appendices and Supplement, published for general information.\n\nBy Command,\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 2nd July, 1878.\n\n[No. 18.]\n**J. M. PRICE**, Acting Colonial Secretary.\n\nHONGKONG, 8th February, 1878.\n\nSir,---I have the honour to forward to you the Annual Report on Education and the Blue Book Returns for 1877.\n\n2. Taking all the schools subject to Government supervision together, there was an increase in the total number of scholars, amounting to seven and a half per cent., as compared with the preceding year.\n\n3. In the Government Schools, to which there was no addition during the year, there was a decrease in numbers of one per cent., although there was an increase of six per cent. at the Central School. This, however, is the only decrease that has to be reported. In every other respect there was a marked improvement. The average monthly enrolment was seven and a half per cent., the minimum monthly enrolment was fourteen and a half per cent., the average daily attendance for the year was six and a half per cent., and the minimum daily attendance was eleven and three fifths per cent. higher than in 1876.\n\n4. The decrease in the native schools maintained by the Government was fifteen, equivalent to one and a fifth per cent., and is therefore hardly worth noticing. The chief decrease is to be found in the native aided schools. In these it amounted to forty-one, equivalent to nine and a half per cent. No satisfactory reasons could be obtained for the falling off, except the usual ones of the poverty and indifference of the people.\n\n5. The Grant-in-Aid Schools made a great advance. Three new ones were admitted during the year, adding 140 scholars to the list. This, with an increase of 105 at the previously existing schools, gives an increase of thirty-two and a half per cent. on the numbers of the previous year.\n\n6. At the Government Schools there was an increase of ten per cent. in the number of girls, and in the Grant-in-Aid Schools there was an increase of eighteen per cent. The total number of girls as compared with that of boys, in the schools taken collectively, was in the proportion of one to four.\n\n7. As regards the Central School, there is nothing to add to previous reports beyond the increase of six per cent. already mentioned, and an increase of nearly ten per cent. in the average daily attendance. The total number of scholars enrolled was 610, and the average daily attendance was 431. Many applicants had, as usual, to be refused admission for want of accommodation. A very great loss was sustained in the death of **Mr. GAI**, the Third Master, whose indomitable energy, great firmness, and other high qualifications added greatly to the efficiency and discipline of the school.\n\n8. The other schools under the direct supervision of the Government require little comment. Five were ranked very good, seven good, and the remaining seventeen fair. Of the five schools in the first rank, the two at Tang-lung Chau, which appear for the first time in that category, were found to have made very great progress. In addition to a proper amount of ordinary Chinese work, the School Book Committee's Series and Geography had been thoroughly well taught. In the Hákká School every scholar answered with the greatest readiness the questions in Geography which were put. These two schools were long very backward, but with the present masters there should be no return to that unsatisfactory condition.\n\nAs to the insufficient teaching of English, see result of **Mr. STEWART**'s examination of the pupils, pp. 317-320.\n\nthe children might be called upon to contribute something towards the cost of the School. On the general question of the distribution of the Fund voted for public instruction in Hongkong, I adhere to the opinion I long since expressed, that more good would be done if the money were laid out on the schooling of the poorer classes, and some attempt made to bring within the Government scheme some of the thousands of little children now growing up in Hongkong without any education.\n\nI have the honor to be,\nSir,\nYour Obedient Humble Servant,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302562, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 83, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "79 \n\nmorning how many of these were able to speak English, and he said under fifty or sixty, and this small number very imperfectly. Now, these are grave facts. In this English Colony we must not be satisfied with 60 out of 600 being able to speak English in our principal Government school, and that imperfectly. After Hongkong has enjoyed thirty years of Colonial Government and large annual grants for education, I expected to find the new generation with something like a knowledge of English. The system unfortunately is that after learning perhaps only what we might call a smattering of our language, a few of the pupils leave the school and go at once into native business houses, whilst nine tenths leave the Government school entirely ignorant of the English language. In this Colony ---and in that respect it is unlike Singapore---you don't meet with many Chinese who in the ordinary course of business can speak or write English. I think one of our principal duties as educationists should be to increase the number of English speaking and English writing Chinese inhabitants of Hongkong. We must endeavour to do that not only by means of this valuable institution, but also by the other educational agencies in this Colony.\n\n## MEDICAL EDUCATION\n\nI should like very much to ask Mr. STEWART whether it might be possible also in connection with this school to do anything in the way of promoting medical education among the Chinese. We all know that there is in this Colony a large and excellent institution called the Tung Wah Hospital, supported and managed by the leading Chinese residents. Can we in any way combine clinical teaching which might be received in that establishment with a little instruction in physiology in this school? Will it be possible for Mr. STEWART, having consulted with the Colonial Surgeon and with some of our medical friends and the committee of that institution, to form a scheme by which we might have some young Chinese trained to a knowledge of European medicine? If he succeeds in putting a plan, a practical plan, before me, I certainly will consult my honourable friends on the Council as to providing funds for carrying it into effect.\n\n## UNEDUCATED CHILDREN\n\nI am bound, as the Governor of this Colony, to say that there is one object of public instruction that above all others should engage my attention. Nothing is now so universally recognised as this fact, that education is the greatest enemy to crime, and therefore it is my duty, and has been since I arrived here, to consider how far our educational system co-operates with the Government in the repression and in the prevention of crime. On this subject, I noticed a paragraph in the last report of Mr. STEWART which is undoubtedly a very serious one, the fact that whilst there were 26,247 children in the Colony, only 4,640 were attending school. Deducting those under the age of six, there are, he says, no less than twelve thousand children of school age who are attending no school whatever. Where are they? Well, as you go along to East Point, you have an opportunity of seeing some of these little boys. They are running about in the streets, picking up bits of coal or other articles that may fall from the bags that are carried from the stores to the ships. They are the very class a Government is bound to educate. As you come along here, you see numbers of them also. It is my first duty to endeavour with Mr. STEWART to educate as many of these uneducated children as we can.\n\nI therefore contemplate consulting my Council upon the establishment in this Colony of an industrial school, and of extending the reformatory system, such as it is at this moment. It is our duty to do so, a duty we owe not only to the children, but a duty we also owe to the tax-payers of this Colony, to prevent our juvenile population from growing up into a criminal class. It is our duty on all hands to endeavour to diminish that serious number of twelve thousand which Mr. STEWART mentions.* \n\n*Actual number of such children at end of 1877,---14,064.\n\nIn the very last Colony I had the honour of governing, I was looking only a few weeks ago over a parliamentary return laid before the House of Commons, in which it is said by the legislature of that Colony, that one in eighteen of the population are attending school. Well, in this Colony the number is only, as far as I have been able to ascertain, one in fifty-two, so that there is here a very large margin for educational work. We have much to do, and crowded as this hall is to-day, we must have many halls like it filled before the public instruction of Hongkong will be on the same satisfactory basis as I have seen it in other Colonies. And I may say this is especially our duty here on the confines of China, for speaking in the presence of perhaps one of the most distinguished scholars of China and Chinese---my friend Dr. EITEL---he will bear me out in saying the instruction of the people, no matter how rude and elementary, is carried out in that great Empire, and has been for centuries carried out in a mode which should set us an example. In the Chinese villages at the other side of the water, you see all or nearly all the little boys attending school. It may be that they learn, from our point of view, very little. They get off by heart a few moral and ethical precepts, but such as they are, there they are kept repeating them. They are kept at school away from the streets, and whatever the educational result may be, it is manifest that the peace and good order, speaking generally, of that vast Empire, is in no small degree dependent on the vast network of public instruction there is over the whole of China.\n\n## TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS\n\nThe following Letters and Minutes are published for general information.\n\nBy Command, \n**Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878**\n\n[No. 15.] \n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary**\n\nHONGKONG, 28th January, 1878.\n\nSIR,---Referring to your Letter No. 132 of the 2nd March last, informing me of the Secretary of State's approval of the proposal for introducing a system of payment by results in the Government Schools of the Colony, I have the honour to report as follows:---\n\nThe Schools ranked as very good are the---\n1. Tang-lung Chau (Puntí) School.\n2. Wán-trai School.\n3. Stanley School.\n\nThe Schools ranked as good are the---\n1. Sai Ying-p'in (Puntí) School.\n2. Há Wán School.\n3. Sheung Wan School.\n4. Shau-ki Wán School.\n5. Tang-lung Chau (Hákká) School.\n4. Girls' School.\n5. Ap-li Chau School.\n6. Shek-t'ong Tsúi School.\n7. Ts'at Tsz-múi School.\n\n| Rank | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| 5 Masters | $25.00 |\n| 7 \" | $15.00 |\n| Total | $230.00 |\n\nAccording to this classification, 5 Masters receive $25 each, and 7 \" $15. This payment comes under the denomination of Grants-in-Aid. I have already, in my Letter No. 3 of 7th instant, (`C.S.O. No. 38`), reported that the Grants-in-Aid this year are in excess of the sum voted for the purpose. I trust, however, that His Excellency the Governor, on considering the circumstances of the present year, will not object to making provision for this further sum; and I shall be glad if the Warrant for payment is issued in time to enable me to pay the Masters on the 1st proximo, before they go home for their New Year holidays.\n\nI have the honour to be, \nSir, \nYour most obedient Servant, \n**FREDERICK STEWART, Inspector of Schools**\n\nThe Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G., \nColonial Secretary, \n&c. &c. &c.\n\n**Minute by His Excellency the Governor**\n\nI have already sanctioned the extra payments in accordance with Mr. STEWART'S recommendation, subject to the approval of the Legislative Council.\n\nOn visiting some of these Village Schools, I found the Schoolmasters could not speak a word of English, and as far as could ascertain, none of the pupils had any knowledge of English. Possibly, in some of the Government Schools I have not yet been able to visit, there may be instruction in English; I should therefore be glad if Mr. STEWART would make out a list of the Schoolmasters of the Village Schools, marking in each case, those who can teach English, and those who cannot. Also the total number of pupils in each Village School, and the number in each that can speak English.\n\n**J. POPE HENNESSY** \n29th January, 1878.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302567, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 88, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "# GOVERNMENT EDUCATION, HONGKONG.\n\nThe following Annual Report from the Inspector of Schools, with Appendices and Supplement, is published for general information.\n\nBy Command,\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 2nd July, 1878.\n\nJ. M. PRICE, Acting Colonial Secretary.\n\n[No. 18.]\n\nHONGKONG, 8th February, 1878.\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to forward to you the Annual Report on Education and the Blue Book Returns for 1877.\n\n2. Taking all the schools subject to Government supervision together, there was an increase in the total number of scholars, amounting to seven and a half per cent., as compared with the preceding year.\n\n3. In the Government Schools, to which there was no addition during the year, there was a decrease in numbers of one per cent., although there was an increase of six per cent. at the Central School. This, however, is the only decrease that has to be reported. In every other respect there was a marked improvement. The average monthly enrolment was seven and a half per cent., the minimum monthly enrolment was fourteen and a half per cent., the average daily attendance for the year was six and a half per cent., and the minimum daily attendance was eleven and three fifths per cent. higher than in 1876.\n\n4. The decrease in the native schools maintained by the Government was fifteen, equivalent to one and a fifth per cent., and is therefore hardly worth noticing. The chief decrease is to be found in the native aided schools. In these it amounted to forty-one, equivalent to nine and a half per cent. No satisfactory reasons could be obtained for the falling off, except the usual ones of the poverty and indifference of the people.\n\n5. The Grant-in-Aid Schools made a great advance. Three new ones were admitted during the year, adding 140 scholars to the list. This, with an increase of 105 at the previously existing schools, gives an increase of thirty-two and a half per cent. on the numbers of the previous year.\n\n6. At the Government Schools there was an increase of ten per cent. in the number of girls, and in the Grant-in-Aid Schools there was an increase of eighteen per cent. The total number of girls as compared with that of boys, in the schools taken collectively, was in the proportion of one to four.\n\n7. As regards the Central School, there is nothing to add to previous reports* beyond the increase of six per cent. already mentioned, and an increase of nearly ten per cent. in the average daily attendance. The total number of scholars enrolled was 610, and the average daily attendance was 481. Many applicants had, as usual, to be refused admission for want of accommodation. A very great loss was sustained in the death of Mr. GAIR, the Third Master, whose indomitable energy, great firmness, and other high qualifications added greatly to the efficiency and discipline of the school.\n\n7. The other schools under the direct supervision of the Government require little comment. Five were ranked very good, seven good, and the remaining seventeen fair. Of the five schools in the first rank, the two at Tang-lung Chau, which appear for the first time in that category, were found to have made very great progress. In addition to a proper amount of ordinary Chinese work, the School Book Committee's Series and Geography had been thoroughly well taught. In the Hákká School every scholar answered with the greatest readiness the questions in Geography which were put. These two schools were long very backward, but with the present masters there should be no return to that unsatisfactory condition.\n\nAs to the insufficient teaching of English, see result of Mr. STEWART's examination of the pupils, pp. 337-320.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302568, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 89, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "## 8. The two schools at Sai Ying-p'ún suffered severely by their removal. \nThe building had to be handed over, in a pressing emergency, to the Medical Department. Temporary accommodation was provided as near as possible to the old site, and a new school-house was to be built in the course of a few months; but the delay in building the new hospital has prevented the erection of the new school, and the falling off referred to is partly accounted for. These native schools require the most delicate handling. Circumstances which of themselves need hardly affect any school, have often serious consequences to them, as was pointed out when the old building had to be handed over.\n\n## 9. The Aberdeen School remains in a very unsatisfactory state. \nIt made some advance towards the end of the year; but any improvement in it has hitherto proved so fallacious that no hope can be grounded upon it. It seems a great pity to abandon the experiment of introducing English into the village Schools, but it is evidently not wanted by the people, and they have the power of enforcing their opinion by leaving the school comparatively empty.\n\n## 10. More detailed information concerning those schools will be found in the Tables that form Appendix I. \nThese have been compiled with the view of showing with all possible accuracy the exact state in which the schools are, as far as this can be shown by statistics. In Table IV, an attempt has been made to calculate with more precision than formerly the average cost of each scholar at the Government Schools. Hitherto the Central School has been debited with all the expenses of the Department except the actual sums paid in salaries, rent, and prizes to the Village Schools. It is obvious that the expense of their superintendence should be charged against these schools; and this has now been done, as far as the circumstances of the case will allow.\n\n## 11. The Grant-in-Aid Schools are now fifteen in number, although for purposes of examination two of the Baxter Schools have still to be taken as one. \nTwo Basel Mission Schools, one at Sai Ying-p'ún for boys, and the other at Shau-ki Wán for both boys and girls, were, with the Diocesan Home and Orphanage, admitted to a share of the Grant during the year. As already stated, these schools have added greatly to the number of our school children.\n\n## 12. The amended Grant-in-Aid Scheme, which forms Appendix II of this Report, came into operation at the end of the year. \nThe knowledge that it was to contain more advantageous terms than the original scheme acted as a powerful stimulus to both Managers and Masters, and the results were very satisfactory. There were 459 scholars presented, as against 390 in 1876; and the passes amounted to 86 per cent., as against 77 per cent. in the previous year. In England, the average for the whole country has been a fraction less than 80 per cent. The Hongkong Schools, therefore, have gained themselves a highly favourable position. The percentage of scholars passed, and the percentage of passes in each subject taught in the schools, will be found detailed in Tables XIV and XV. These show that, with an exception here and there, the results reflect great credit on all concerned in the management and teaching.\n\n## 13. The Baxter Schools in Sai Ying-pún, Staunton Street, and Tái-ping Shán occupy the second, tenth, and eleventh places on the list of Grant-in-Aid Schools. \nThe first of these increased its number of passes by four per cent. The Staunton Street and Tái-ping Shan Schools did not maintain their previous positions. In all the three schools greater attention is required to Geography, and in the two latter to Reading and Explanation. In other respects the work was well done, especially in the Ying-p'ún School, whose only weak point was Geography.\n\n## 14. The London Mission Schools made an extraordinary advance. \nThe T'ai-ping Shán School had an increase of thirty-one per cent. of passes, and the Wán-tsai School of twenty-seven per cent. These schools were peculiarly unfortunate in 1876, but they are now recovering lost ground. They occupy the third and eighth places on the list. The Tái-ping Shán School, if likely to suffer at all, is in danger of doing so from the superabundant energy of the master. His scholars must have been drilled, until school and its belongings could have had little charm for them. This is not said by way of disparagement. On the contrary, it was a positive pleasure to see the efficiency of the school in the subjects of examination. At the same time, the manager will do well to guard against undue severity on the part of the master. There was no attempt at disguising the fact that he rules with a rod of iron. The Wán-tsai School did not show the same efficiency as the other, but the present master took over the school after his predecessor had almost wrecked it by neglect of duty. There can be no doubt that, if the present master remains, the school will soon recover all it has lost.\n\n## 15. The two St. Stephen's Schools occupy the first and ninth places on the list. \nThe Sai Ying-p'ún School had been admirably taught. Composition was the only weak point, and that subject will require the master's best attention. In all other respects the results were very satisfactory. Explanation had been most carefully attended to, every scholar examined in it passing well. The Tái-ping Shán School is a large school well taught. No school presented so many children for examination and, with the exception of some weakness in Explanation and in Composition, few of the schools gain higher percentages in the subjects of examination. The manager's attention has been directed to the advantages that would accrue from the use of black boards in some of the branches of the school work and, when these are provided and judiciously used, there will be still higher results in these two schools.\n\n## 16. The Basel Mission has now three schools under its management, namely, the Sháu-ki Wán School, and the Girls' School and the Boys' School at Sai Ying-p'ún. \nThey occupy the fourth, twelfth, and fourteenth places on the list. The two new ones have made a good beginning, the Sháu-ki Wán School especially so. The scholars presented at it were only in the first standard; but the work was so well done that, if regular attendance can but be secured, the school is sure to prosper. The master of the Boys' School was not so successful as he might have been, if he had less self-confidence. The result of the examination was rather disappointing, but no one now sees where the defect lies more clearly than the master himself, and this is a good guarantee for amendment. The Girls' School advanced four per cent. in the number of passes over the previous year. The school would have taken a very high place, but for certain failures in the first and fifth standards. In the former, several very young children were presented, and in the latter the teacher fully anticipated the result. A considerable number, too, of the best scholars left for Honolulu with their parents a few weeks before the examination. In spite of these drawbacks the school produced 85 per cent. of passes in Reading, 72 per cent. in Writing, 80 per cent. in Arithmetic, 72 per cent. in Geography, and 91 per cent. in History; and a school which can do that must be admitted to be in a very efficient state.\n\n## 17. The Diocesan Home and Orphanage was examined for the first time last year, and the results were very satisfactory. \nThe school occupies the seventh place on the list. Of the 30 scholars presented, 26 passed and 4 failed. Grammar was rather weak, and Arithmetic especially so; but in Reading the percentage of passes was 97; in Writing, 90; and, in Geography, 100. These are high figures, and they show what may be expected of the institution now that the nature of the examination is fully understood. The only suggestion that need be made here is that, in the teaching of Arithmetic, the sums should, as a rule, be dictated to the children, and not simply copied by them from a book or the black board. It is astonishing how awkward children are at writing the simplest numbers from dictation, when they are only accustomed to copy them from sight. When dictation is used, and the ordinary sums are varied with such as are calculated to draw out and exercise the reasoning powers of the scholars, Arithmetic is a valuable means of training; but, when it is allowed to be purely mechanical, so to speak, its advantage is very doubtful.\n\n## 18. St. Paul's College School holds the sixth place among these schools. \nIt had two European masters last year, instead of one, as formerly; and the advantage of this was clearly seen in the results of the examination. Nearly 90 per cent. of the scholars passed, and the percentage of passes in all the subjects was very high. The total number of scholars taught during the year was 135, and the average daily attendance was 74. In both these respects the school stands very much higher than it did in 1876. This school is well conducted in every way. The discipline and appliances leave nothing to be desired.\n\n## 19. The Victoria Schools occupy the fifth and thirteenth places on the list, the Girls' School taking the precedence. \nIn the Boys' School, Reading, Grammar, and Geography stood very high. Arithmetic and Writing (from dictation) were the weak points. The latter, always a difficult subject in a foreign tongue, needs very careful attention. The Girls' School is admirably taught. Upwards of 90 per cent. of the scholars passed, and the percentage of passes in the various subjects was as follows: Reading, 95 per cent.; Writing (from dictation), 90 per cent.; Arithmetic, 76 per cent.; Geography, 71 per cent.; and Grammar, 100 per cent. There is much careful work in these two schools, and they deserve every encouragement.\n\n## 20. The School Book Committee's Series is rapidly advancing in public estimation. \nSeveral of the Missions in various parts of China have introduced the books into their schools, and speak highly of them. The second edition of the Primer and First Book is nearly exhausted, and the Second Book will also have to be reprinted. The Committee will soon be in a position to undertake a thorough revision of the whole series; and the experience which is now being gained of its merits and defects will be of great assistance to them when they resume their work once more.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\n**FREDERICK STEWART, Inspector of Schools.**\n\nColonial Secretary,\n\n&c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302575, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 96, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "# Morning Session\n\nHow many of these were able to speak English, and he said under fifty or sixty; and this small number very imperfectly. Now, these are grave facts. In this English Colony, we must not be satisfied with 60 out of 600 being able to speak English in our principal Government school, and that imperfectly. After Hongkong has enjoyed thirty years of Colonial Government and large annual grants for education, I expected to find the new generation with something like a knowledge of English. The system, unfortunately, is that after learning perhaps only what we might call a smattering of our language, a few of the pupils leave the school and go at once into native business houses, whilst nine-tenths leave the Government school entirely ignorant of the English language. In this Colony—and in that respect, it is unlike Singapore—you don't meet with many Chinese who, in the ordinary course of business, can speak or write English. I think one of our principal duties as educationists should be to increase the number of English-speaking and English-writing Chinese inhabitants of Hongkong. We must endeavour to do that not only by means of this valuable institution but also by the other educational agencies in this Colony.\n\n## Medical Education\n\nI should like very much to ask Mr. STEWART whether it might be possible also in connection with this school to do anything in the way of promoting medical education among the Chinese. We all know that there is in this Colony a large and excellent institution called the Tung Wah Hospital, supported and managed by the leading Chinese residents. Can we in any way combine clinical teaching, which might be received in that establishment, with a little instruction in physiology in this school? Will it be possible for Mr. STEWART, having consulted with the Colonial Surgeon and with some of our medical friends and the committee of that institution, to form a scheme by which we might have some young Chinese trained to a knowledge of European medicine? If he succeeds in putting a plan, a practical plan, before me, I certainly will consult my honourable friends on the Council as to providing funds for carrying it into effect.\n\n## Uneducated Children\n\nI am bound, as the Governor of this Colony, to say that there is one object of public instruction that above all others should engage my attention. Nothing is now so universally recognised as this fact, that education is the greatest enemy to crime, and therefore it is my duty, and has been since I arrived here, to consider how far our educational system co-operates with the Government in the repression and in the prevention of crime. On this subject, I noticed a paragraph in the last report of my friend Mr. STEWART, which is undoubtedly a very serious one. At the end of his report, he mentions the fact that whilst there were 26,247 children in the Colony, only 4,640 were attending school. Deducting those under the age of six, there are, he says, no less than twelve thousand children of age to attend school who are attending no school whatever. Where are they? Well, as you go along East Point, you have an opportunity of seeing some of these little boys. They are running about in the streets, picking up bits of coal or other articles that may fall from the bags that are carried from the stores to the ships. They are the very class a Government is bound to educate.\n\n## Teaching of English in the Government Schools\n\nThe following Letters and Minutes are published for general information.\n\nBy Command, \n**Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.**\n\n[No. 15.] \n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.**\n\nHONGKONG, 28th January, 1878.\n\nSir—Referring to your Letter No. 132 of the 2nd March last, informing me of the Secretary of State's approval of the proposal for introducing a system of payment by results in the Government Schools of the Colony, I have the honour to report as follows:-\n\nThe Schools ranked as very good are the-\n1. Tang-lung Chau (Puntí) School.\n2. Wan-trai School.\n3. Stanley School.\n\nThe Schools ranked as good are the-\n1. Sai Ying-p'ún (Puntí) School.\n2. Há Wán School.\n3. Sheung Wan School.\n4. Shán-kí Wán School.\n5. Tang-lung Chan (Hákká) School.\n6. Girls' School.\n7. Ap-li Chau School.\n8. Shek-t'ong Tsúi School.\n9. Ts'at Tsz-múi School.\n\n| Rank | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| 5 Masters | $25.00 |\n| 7 Masters | $15.00 |\n\nTotal: $230.00 + $105.00 = $335.00 (though the actual total calculation is not shown)\n\nThis payment comes under the denomination of `Grants-in-Aid`. I have already, in my Letter No. 3 of 7th instant, (`C.S.O. No. 38`), reported that the Grants-in-Aid this year are in excess of the sum voted for the purpose. I trust, however, that His Excellency the Governor, on considering the circumstances of the present year, will not object to making provision for this further sum; and I shall be glad if the Warrant for payment is issued in time to enable me to pay the Masters on the 1st proximo, before they go home for their New Year holidays.\n\nI have the honour to be, \nSir, \nYour most obedient Servant, \n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN**, \nColonial Secretary, \n&c.\n\n### Minute by His Excellency the Governor\n\nI, along here, you see numbers of them also. I say it is my first duty to endeavour with Mr. STEWART to educate as many of these uneducated children as we can. I, therefore, contemplate consulting my Council upon the establishment in this Colony of an industrial school, and of extending the reformatory system, such as it is at this moment. It is our duty to do so, a duty we owe not only to the children but also to the tax-payers of this Colony, to prevent our juvenile population from growing up into a criminal class. It is our duty on all hands to endeavour to diminish that serious number of twelve thousand which Mr. STEWART mentions.* I may tell you of my own experience in the very last Colony I had the honour of governing—I was looking only a few weeks ago over a parliamentary return laid before the House of Commons, in which it is said by the legislature of that Colony, that one in eighteen of the population are attending school. Well, in this Colony, the number is only, as far as I have been able to ascertain, one in fifty-two, so that there is here a very large margin for educational work. We have much to do, and crowded as this hall is to-day, we must have many halls like it filled before the public instruction of Hongkong will be on the same satisfactory basis as I have seen it in other Colonies. And I may say this is especially our duty here upon the confines of China, for speaking in the presence of perhaps one of the most distinguished scholars of China and Chinese—my friend Dr. EITEL—he will bear me out in saying the instruction of the people, no matter how rude and elementary, is carried out in that great Empire, and has been for centuries carried out in a mode which should set us an example. In the Chinese villages at the other side of the water, you see all or nearly all the little boys attending school. It may be that they learn, from our point of view, very little. They get off by heart a few moral and ethical precepts, but such as they are, there they are kept repeating them. They are kept at school away from the streets, and whatever the educational result may be, it is manifest that the peace and good order, speaking generally, of that vast Empire, is in no small degree dependent on the vast network of public instruction there is over the whole of China.\n\n*Actual number of such children at end of 1877, ~14,004.\n\n**FREDERICK STEWART, Inspector of Schools.**\n\nI have already sanctioned the extra payments in accordance with Mr. STEWART's recommendation, subject to the approval of the Legislative Council.\n\nOn visiting some of these Village Schools, I found the Schoolmasters could not speak a word of English, and as far as I could ascertain, none of the pupils had any knowledge of English.\n\nPossibly, in some of the Government Schools, I have not yet been able to visit, there is instruction in English; I should therefore be glad if Mr. STEWART would make out a list of the Schoolmasters of the Village Schools, marking in each case, those who can teach English, and those who cannot.\n\nAlso, the total number of pupils in each Village School, and the number in each that can speak English.\n\n**J. POPE HENNESSY.**\n\n29th January, 1878.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305441, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 182, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "## Prize Distribution\n\n**4th Class, 1st Division**\n\n- A Silva, for General Improvement, \"Stories of Birds,\" presented by Honourable J. Russell; \n- B. Vieira, for Good Conduct, \"Webster's Dictionary,\" presented by Rev. Father Sainz, Spanish Procuration; \n- C. Hynn, for Religious Instruction, a Pen and Kaleidoscope, presented by Mr. Noronha; \n- F. Aguir, for Arithmetic, a Dictionary, presented by Dr. Stewart; \n- J. Vieira, for Religious Instruction, a Dictionary, presented by Father Sainz, and for Arithmetic, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; and for Home Work, a Book, \"Mousters of the Deep,\" presented by Mr. Kwok Acheong; \n- G. Ranciman, for Reading, a Penknife, presented by Dr. Stewart; \n- T. Masso, for Reading, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- G. Thomas, for Orthography, a Book, \"Life Among the Indians,\" presented by Dr. Stewart; \n- James Grimes, for Writing, a Book, \"Life Among the Indians,\" presented by the Brothers; \n- G. Gutierez, for Writing, a Book, \"Tales of Kings and Queens,\" presented by the Director; \n- W. Rose, for General Improvement, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios.\n\n## Class Prizes\n\n### 1st Class, 2nd Division\n- A Castro, for Mental Arithmetic, a Silver Medal, presented by Mr. Sharp; \n- M. Souza, for Geography and Writing, a Silver Medal, presented by Mr. Coxon (Consul for Belgium); \n- M. Pereira, for Arithmetic, \"Webster's Dictionary,\" presented by Doctor Stewart; \n- C. Castro, for Analysis and Parsing, Chamber's Dictionary of English Language, presented by Deputy Inspector-General Breeu.\n\n### 2nd Class, 1st Division\n- F. Braga, for General Improvement, a Gold Medal, presented by Mr. Plichon, Consul for France; and a prize for Chinese, by Dr. Eitel; \n- H. Rozario, for Grammar, a Silver Medal, presented by Dr. Gomes; \n- C. Oemand, for Composition, \"Ogilvie's English Dictionary,\" presented by Mr. Justice Francis; \n- B. Remedios, for Arithmetic, a Silver Medal, presented by Honourable J. Russell; \n- F. Soares, for Grammar, \"Webster's Dictionary,\" presented by Mr. Kwok Acheong; \n- G. George, for Arithmetic, a Book, \"Living Pages from many Ages,\" presented by Honourable P. Ryrie, and a Book, \"Longfellow's Prose Works,\" for Orthography, presented by Mr. Fleming; \n- P. Assis, for Religious Instruction, \"History of America,\" presented by Rev. Father Borghignoli, and \"The Sea and its Wonders,\" presented by Mr. Loureiro, Consul for Portugal; \n- C. Ozerio, for Geography, a Pen Case, presented by Mr. Noronha; \n- J. Braga, for Geography, an Inkstand, presented by the Italian Consul; \n- F. Britto, for Good Conduct, a Book, \"Cruise of the Frolic,\" presented by Honourable P. Ryrie.\n\n### 2nd Class, 2nd Division\n- G. da Costa, for Arithmetic, a Pencil and Kaleidoscope, presented by Mr. Noronha; \n- A. Ribeiro, for Arithmetic, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- A. Adams, for English, a Gold Medal, presented by H.E. the Governor.\n\n### 3rd Class, 1st Division\n- F. Jesus, for English, a Book, \"Parlour Menagerie,\" presented by Mr. Justice Francis; \n- P. Sonza, for Arithmetic, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- C. Barradas, for Arithmetic, a Book, \"Tales of the Sea,\" presented by Mr. George; \n- F. d'Almada, for Grammar, a Book, \"Little Folks Holiday Album,\" presented by Portuguese Consul, and for Dictation, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by the Director; \n- J. Prestage, for Reading, a Book, \"The Manners and Customs of the World,\" presented by Mr. George; \n- J. Brandão, for Good Conduct, a Book, \"Stories for the Household,\" presented by Honourable P. Ryrie; \n- J. Mesny, for General Improvement, a Silver Medal, presented by Mr. Newton; \n- A. Barradas, for Christian Doctrine, a Gold Pen, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- C. Carvalho, for Mental Arithmetic, a Book, \"Three Years at Wolverhampton,\" presented by the Italian Consul; \n- E. Sequeira, for Writing, an Inkstand, presented by the Honourable J. Russell; \n- A. da Costa, for Regular Attendance, a Book, \"Nugae Syricae,\" presented by the Italian Consul; \n- B. Braga, for Parsing, a Dictionary, presented by Rev. Father Sainz, Spanish Procuration; \n- J. Leon, for Home-tasks, a Book, presented by Mr. A. G. Romano, Consul for Brazil.\n\n### 5th Class\n- E. Adams, for Reading, a Dictionary, presented by the Brothers; \n- H. Campos, for Arithmetic, a Dictionary, presented by the Brothers; \n- J. Remedios, for Writing, a Colour Box, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- W. Foley, for Reading, a Penknife, presented by Mr. Noronha; \n- M. Barradas, for Arithmetic, a Dictionary, presented by Father Sainz; \n- L. Rosario, for Writing, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- M. Dauenberg, for Orthography, a Colour Box, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- L. Rose, for Orthography, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- G. Tavares, for Arithmetic, an English and French Dictionary, presented by the Brothers; \n- L. Assis, for General Improvement, a Dictionary; \n- P. Gomes, for Good Conduct and Application, a Book, \"Life among the Indians,\" presented by Honourable J. Russell; \n- F. Sequeira, for Reading, a Book, \"Narratives and Dialogues,\" presented by Dr. Stewart.\n\n### 6th Class\n- C. Gutierrez, for Writing, a Colour Box, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- S. Figueiredo, for Spelling, a Book, \"Columbus and Laperouse,\" presented by the Brothers; \n- D. da Costa, for Arithmetic, a Book, \"Catholic Legions\"; \n- I. Placido, for Reading, \"Story of Christian Heroism\"; \n- L. Brass, for Religious Instruction, \"Tales of Enterprises\"; \n- V. Musso, for Good Conduct, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; \n- B. Fasso, for Reading, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios.\n\n## Chinese Class Prizes\n\n| Student Name | Prize | Presented By |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Leung Ah Mong | \"Worcester's Dictionary,\" an Ornamental Inkstand, a Drawing Box | Honourable Ng Choy |\n| Luy Chin Un | A Drawing Box and a Box of Colours | Rev. Brother Leo |\n| Hing Shang | \"Pictures from Bible Lands\" | Mr. A. G. Romano, Brazilian Consul |\n| Lam Shing Man | Silver Medal | His Lordship the Bishop |\n| Leung Aur | Drawing Box | Brother Idanaelis |\n| Tuò Ah Sing | Silver Medal | His Lordship |\n| Kan Shang | \"Stories of Animal Sagacity\" | Kwok Acheong |\n| Wong Wing Kwong | Chinese and English Dictionary | Mr. Noronha |\n| He Kam Uu | Chinese and English Dictionary | Doctor Eitel |\n| Ng Au | Chinese and English Dictionary | Mr. Noronha |\n| Leung Chin Im | Silver Watch | Opium Farmer |\n| Acheung | Silver Pencil Case | Opium Farmer |\n| A Ngo | Silver Pencil Case | Opium Farmer |\n| Wong Wing Kee | Knife | Opium Farmer |\n| A Foon | Silver Pencil Case | Opium Farmer |\n| Tso Aching | \"Parlour Menagerie\" | Opium Farmer |\n| Ng Hing Shan | \"Parlour Menagerie\" and a Watch | Opium Farmer |\n| Leung Aut | \"Parlour Menagerie\" | Opium Farmer |\n| Lain Shang Nan | \"Parlour Menagerie\" | Opium Farmer |\n| Fung Tio Sek | Penknife | Opium Farmer |\n| Ma Wan Nek | Penknife | Opium Farmer |\n\nPage 179\n\nHis EXCELLENCY then said—My lord, ladies and gentlemen,—I have now discharged the pleasing task of distributing the prizes which the pupils have obtained upon the examination of Dr. EITEL, the Government Inspector of Schools. I need hardly say that no one in this Colony is better qualified than Dr. EITEL to test the proficiency of scholars. It affords me peculiar gratification to be present here to-day to take part with all of you in seeing the result of the instruction given by the Christian Brothers. As his Lordship has said, it is the first time that this school has come under our Government grant-in-aid system although that system was established in 1873. The difficulties to which his Lordship referred have been happily surmounted, and Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in the decision he gave, has caused universal satisfaction throughout the Colony to the School managers and the parents of the pupils.\n\nIt is true his predecessor, Lord CARNARVON, addressed to me a despatch desiring me to ask the Bishop how it came to pass that in this Colony the Roman Catholic schools were not accepting any aid from the Government. Accordingly, a letter was addressed to the Bishop conveying the instructions I had received from Lord CARNARVON. The Bishop, in answering, went minutely into the objections that he and other managers of schools took to the grant-in-aid scheme, for it did so happen that he did not stand alone in the objections that he raised to it. At the very same time that his Lordship objected to the scheme as it then stood, the head of the Berlin Mission, Pastor KLITZKE, his successor during his absence, Pastor Louis, and our late Colonial Chaplain, Mr. Kron, also came to me and stated their objections to the scheme. Those objections were reduced to writing and duly transmitted by me to Her Majesty's Government. They turned mainly on one point, that the scheme insisted that certain books to be used in the schools should be secular books and that four hours a day should be given to purely secular instruction. They said, \"Let us teach our schools as we ourselves and the parents of the children think best, teaching according to the standards fixed upon by the Government; let the Government select the subjects, let Government select its own Inspectors and Examiners and give the grant-in-aid according to the result of their inspection and examination, but do not tie us down to any specified class of books or four hours of secular teaching.\" Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH considered these objections, and of the ten points raised by the Bishop, he instructed me to grant seven, the other three being points of a different character, one of them relating to the two hundred attendances. I shall convey to the Secretary of State the cordial acknowledgments which the Bishop has made publicly to-day to Her Majesty's Government for what Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH has done. I shall also not fail to consider most carefully the Bishop's observations with respect to the two hundred attendances. It is a fact that at Singapore there is a different rule, and indeed the rule in England also on that subject is different. It is also, perhaps, a reasonable statement to make that whilst it may be perfectly fair to expect two hundred attendances from a Chinese boy, to expect the same from a European boy in this climate may not be equally fair. However, I shall consider that question.\n\nThe school we are now assembled in is therefore enjoying a grant-in-aid, and the question arises, what does the Government get from this school, what advantage will Her Majesty's Government derive from the grant-in-aid given in this and similar institutions? I admit at once it is the duty of the State to assist education, but I think it is especially our duty in this Colony to assist in giving a sound English education. It was therefore satisfactory to see that the young gentleman who read out the list of prizes so clearly got a first prize. His correct enunciation showed how well he deserves it. Dr. EITEL has reported that as far as English speaking goes, of all the schools he has been examining he regards this as the best; in arithmetic, he reports highly of his examination, and also in the art of handwriting. In other words, the English speaking, the writing, and the arithmetic in this school show a sound basis for our mercantile requirements. The Inspector has also reported that the results of the teaching in Algebra and Geometry are excellent. But there is one defect to which I venture, as I have received a report on the subject officially, to call the attention of the teachers, and that is in English Composition. Now, it arises, I believe, not so much from the fault of the teachers as from the fact that the pupils are mostly young gentlemen of the Portuguese race. I observe my friend Mr. LOUREIRO, the Portuguese Consul, here. He sees a majority of apparently Portuguese youth in this school; but I claim them from him as British subjects, because, although they are of the Portuguese race, they have been born in the Colony and therefore it is only their fathers or grandfathers he has charge of; I have official charge of these young gentlemen.\n\nIn the address which my young friend ALMADA read, I have been invited to give the scholars advice. Acting on that invitation, I therefore recommend that they should endeavour of all things to improve their English Composition. We all know what admirable clerks the young Portuguese make, we know how accurately they keep their accounts, how clear is their handwriting; and we know their other good points—fidelity, punctuality, and the courtesy that arises from a natural disposition to please—but they are defective in English Composition, and it is a most important thing in this Colony that they should pay attention to it, and that in this respect they should show they are equal to any other youths in Hongkong. I would therefore advise them to establish some organisation or society among themselves where they might read little essays in English and discuss them, and also to endeavour to form a library of English authors, not so much of instructive as of entertaining books; by reading these books and writing essays they might gain the skill they require in English Composition. I am sure in giving that advice, from what I have seen of the prizes to-day, I am only doing what the donors of the prizes would like. I find among the prizes some contributed by Dr. STEWART, the Head Master of the Central School, and all the prizes he has given are prizes pointing in that direction, to the teaching and studying of English.\n\nOwing to the munificence of my generous friend, Mr. BELILIOS, there is established in this Colony now a series of scholarships. The Honourable Mr. RYRIE, Dr. EITEL, and the Governor of the Colony are the trustees of the `BELILIOS Scholarships`. Some of these will be devoted to giving medical instruction to Chinese, which I hope to see accomplished by means of the native physicians at the Tung Wah Hospital in combination with a teacher of western medical science. Some of the scholarships go to the Central School; and some to this school. I advise the pupils who may compete for the `BELILIOS scholarships` to endeavour to work beyond the sixth standard, to remain a little longer at school, and to give their attention in the direction I have been pointing, namely, to English composition and English literature.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 306004, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6]", "page_number": 227, "title": "CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG, MAY 26TH, 1880.\n\n## QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.\n\nHis Royal Highness Prince Heinrich of Germany, as Her Majesty's Grandson, and His Excellency Sir John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G., as the Queen's Representative in the Colony, received on the 24th instant, as joint hosts, at Government House, on Her Majesty's Birthday, His Royal Highness Prince Thomas of Savoy, Duke of Genoa, at a State dinner, and subsequently their Royal Highnesses, with His Excellency the Governor and Lady Hennessy, received the Naval, Military, and Civil officers, the Foreign Consuls and a number of the British, foreign, and native residents in celebration of the day.\n\nA Royal Guard of Honour of the 27th Inniskillings, under the command of Captain Carr (with the Band and the Queen's Colours), was drawn up at the principal entrance to Government House, the front of which, as well as the garden surrounding, was brilliantly illuminated with Chinese lanterns and gas jets. H.R.H. Prince Heinrich and H.E. the Governor received His Royal Highness the Duke of Genoa, on his arrival and after the invited guests, who had previously assembled in the drawing-room, had been introduced to His Royal Highness, the party filed into the dining-hall. H.R.H. Prince Heinrich was attended by Baron von Seckendorff, and Captain MacLean, of H.M. frigate `Prinz Adalbert`. H.R.H. Prince Thomas of Savoy was attended by Count Candiani, A.D.C., and Captain Millelire of H.M.S. `Piemonte`.\n\nThe following is a list of the other guests who sat down to the banquet with their Royal Highnesses.\n\n| Guest | Designation |\n| --- | --- |\n| H.E. Dr. Elmore | |\n| His Honour Sir John Smale | Chief Justice |\n| Lady Smale | |\n| Captain East | H.M.S. `Conus`, Senior Naval Officer |\n| Hon. B. L. O'Malley | Attorney-General |\n| Hon. J. M. Price | Surveyor-General |\n| Hon. M. S. Tonnochy | Acting Colonial Treasurer |\n| Hon. Ng Choy | Member of Legislative Council |\n| His Honour Mr. Justice Snowden | |\n| Deputy Inspector-General Breen | R.N. |\n| Mrs. Breen | |\n| Dr. Ayres | Colonial Surgeon |\n| Mrs. Ayres | |\n| Rev. W. Jennings | Colonial Chaplain |\n| Mrs. Jennings | |\n| Dr. Eitel | Inspector of Schools |\n| Mrs. Eitel | |\n| Mr. Creagh | Acting Head of the Police Force |\n| Mr. J. P. McEuen | R.N., Acting Harbour-master |\n| Mr. Gerrard | Acting Registrar-General |\n| Mr. Gibbons | Registrar of Supreme Court |\n| Captain Carr | 27th Regiment (the Officers of the Guard of Honour) |\n| Lieutenant Cox | 27th Regiment (the Officers of the Guard of Honour) |\n| Captain Francis | Hongkong Volunteers, extra Aids-de-Camp |\n\nThe Band of Her Majesty's 27th Inniskillings played at intervals during the banquet. The only toast of the evening was given by Prince Thomas of Savoy, who proposed \"The health of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland,\" and, addressing Prince Heinrich, added: \"Sir, Your Royal Grandmother.\" The Band played the National Anthem, and soon after the party adjourned to the Reception Room, which was presently filled with ladies and gentlemen attending the general reception.\n\nThe officers of the 27th Inniskillings came in body, with Lieutenant-Colonel Geddes, and were amongst the earliest presented. There was also a number of officers of Her Majesty's Navy and of the foreign ships of war in harbour, amongst whom were distinguished the officers of H.P.M.S. `Tejo`, who specially attended by order of H.E. the Governor of Macao. The Consular Body was also well represented. The whole assembly presented a most striking *tout ensemble* of Anglo-Oriental society, the uniforms of Her Majesty's Army and Navy and of the Consular Officers, glittering in scarlet and gold, being well set off by the soft yellow and embroidered court dresses of Chinese gentlemen, the richly coloured turbans and flowing robes of Mahomedans and Parsees, amid the fashionable costumes of European ladies.\n\nThe presentation lasted for more than an hour. In the course of the reception H.R.H. Prince Heinrich expressed to Mr. Sassoon and Mr. Belilios his regret that he would not be able to travel through India. He spoke also a few kindly words to the leading Chinese merchants Mr. Tan King-sing, Mr. Li Tak-cheung, Mr. Tung Ming-shan, and others.\n\nTheir Royal Highnesses left about half-past ten o'clock, whereupon dancing commenced soon after and was kept up till midnight, when the assembly broke up, after having enjoyed one of the most brilliant receptions ever held in the Government House of Hongkong.\n\nPage 223", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 306005, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6]", "page_number": 228, "title": "CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6]", "content_text": "# CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE\n萬后皇祝恭府憲督在\n\nThe following is abridged from the Report in the “Daily Press”.\n左於錄署所報新喇孖將兹\n\nHis Royal Highness Prince HEINRICH of Germany, as Her Majesty's Grandson, and His Excellency Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., as the Queen's Representative in the Colony, received on the 24th instant, as joint hosts, at Government House, on Her Majesty's Birthday, His Royal Highness Prince THOMAS of Savoy, Duke of Genoa, at a State dinner, and subsequently their Royal Highnesses, with His Excellency the Governor and Lady HENNESSY, received the Naval, Military, and Civil Officers, the Foreign Consuls and a number of the British, foreign, and native residents in celebration of the day.\n\n本月二十四日在總督府恭祝萬壽同作主人宴請意大利多馬世子賜爵芝挪雅公爵大德國世子爲大英皇后外孫大德國世子與督部堂額爾近訥與其夫人接見水陸文武員弁各國領事闔港英華紳商等恭祝萬壽\n\nA Royal Guard of Honour of the 27th Inniskillings, under the command of Captain CARR, (with the Band and the Queen's Colour), was drawn at the principal entrance to Government House. His Royal Highness Prince HEINRICH and His Excellency the Governor received His Royal Highness the Duke of Genoa on his arrival; and after the invited guests, who had previously assembled in the drawing-room, had been introduced to His Royal Highness, the party filed into the dining-hall. His Royal Highness Prince HEINRICH was attended by Baron von SECKENDORFF, and Captain MacLEAN of H.I.G.M. Frigate `Prinz Adalbert`. His Royal Highness Prince THOMAS of Savoy was attended by Count CANDIANI, A.D.C., and Captain MILLELIRE of H. I. M. S. `Fettor Pesuni`.\n\n督憲府頭門恭代皇后看守時開理世子與燕制軍俟賜爵多馬世子駕到爱迎進所請赴宴賓客先聚官廳陸續晋謁世子然後各進膳客所先進官子皇后看守之帶兵官故也又有本港義勇都司兼第`27`營步兵都司嘉及守備郝以其爲恭代皇后看守之帶兵官大德亞他伯兵舶世子隨員則有男爵士堅訥與艦長麥意大利國多馬世子隨員則有子爵干第亞尼與飛多里艦長密\n\nThe following is a list of the other guests who sat down to the banquet with their Royal Highnesses.\n另將請陪世子同享福宴嘉賓列後\n\n| Guest | Title/Position |\n| --- | --- |\n| His Excellency Dr. ELMORE | |\n| His Honour the Chief Justice Sir JOHN SMALE | and Lady SMALE |\n| Captain East, R.N., H. M. S. `Comus` | Senior Naval Officer |\n| Hon. E. L. O'MALLEY | Attorney General |\n| Honourable J. M. PRICE | Surveyor General |\n| Honourable M. S. TONNOCHY | Acting Colonial Treasurer |\n| Honourable NO CHOY | Member of Legislative Council |\n| His Honour Mr. Justice SNOWDEN | |\n| Deputy Inspector-General BREEN, R.N. | and Mrs. BREEN |\n| Dr. AYRES | Colonial Surgeon, and Mrs. AYRES |\n| Revd. W. JENNINGS | Colonial Chaplain, and Mrs. JENNINGS |\n| Dr. EITEL | Inspector of Schools, and Mrs. EITEL |\n| Mr. CREAGH | Acting Head of the Police Force |\n| Mr. J. P. McEUEN, H.N. | Acting Harbour Master |\n| Mr. GERRARD | Acting Registrar General |\n| Mr. GIBBONS | Registrar of Supreme Court |\n| Captain Carr and Lieutenant Cox | 27th Regiment, (the Officers of the Guard of Honour) |\n| Capt. FRANCIS | Hongkong Volunteers: extra Aide-de-Camp |\n\n與其列者有按察司經歷劫士威與其夫人本港水師總統伊士艦長卑仁署理營醫醫生埃與其夫人國家醫師艾與其夫人國家牧師甄與其夫人監督學院歐與其夫人華民政務司車庫務司湯定例局紳伍副臬司士威督理營醫醫生卑署巡官官卑與其夫人第二十七營步兵都司嘉兒與守備哥士督部堂額外中軍法蘭些士\n\n224 \n\nS \n\nHONGKONG.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 308650, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "page_number": 640, "title": "CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "content_text": "629\n\n輔翼中館之法\n\n教\n\n學以使貧家子弟有進初學之機更當大度畧裁規條而用學某歎課領某款賞之法以獎賞闔港∶館大館所有各書塑最妙莫如效埃國於一千八百七十八年\n\n右\n\n學之列時所助者只教華文之義學茲則推廣規條不但中館卽大館書院均可准家義學之法使彼實有公平之基卽使凡有國家義學成如現在國家察理之各意義環之間工者流獲値似亦不賤况華文書塾修金頗兼故於教習華文一院意見如此删改輔翼義學之規條實爲大路進步之階所云大路者即改香港國值無多而教師修金頗貴故彼工人所入難供子弟就學之費惟在香港五領獎賞且如此推廣規條之意自應增益各歎獎賞之費此亦理所當然者桉敝監然以英官而教華文或兼教英文華文者則大異按在英國僱工人殺獲有初學一語删除尤爲切要因自立輔翼義學規條直至聖保羅書院初入輔翼義法之一如英國無異論及英國教法情事可云用物者未足品評是物之書教徒一事較爲方便且與國家不涉聖會事宜之定法亦無滯礙釵將規條内最後更欲陳明一事倘思若何修改香港教法一端所最要者勿翮香港教事國家似亦無庸關涉蓋華人自是以華人之道理教法爲囂者₩此須至\n\n官教英文者則無不合故教英文乃國家在本港所可備與居民者此固宜精微要之此語爲英官在極多華民之藩地欲教華文者似爲未合而為英\n\n値然官\n\n但\n\n\"secular instruction\" there has been substituted the phrase \"instruction in the subjects of the standards,\" which alteration, whilst removing conscientious scruples of denominational Educa-tionists, did not affect the vital principle of the Grant-in-aid System, viz., payment for results in specified subjects. It gives, moreover, greater frame to the Managers in the selection of books without compromising the attitude of the Govern-ment as regards the principle of non-interference in religious matters. The elimination from the Schedule of the word “elementary\" is a matter of the highest importance. The Grant-in-wil Scheme, hitherto or rather until the time when St. Paul's College first came under the Grant-in-aid System, was confined to aid native elementary education. Now, however, it is open to further development in the direction of admitting not only intermediate but high-class educational institutions to the benefits of the Grant-in-aid system and by making this alteration in the scope of the scheme the necessity of enlarging the value of the passes is involved as a natural consequence, I see in this alteration of the Grant-in-aid Scheme a step in the right direction towards placing the Educational Policy of the Colonial Government on a thoroughly sound and equitable basis, viz., the aim to confine all direct teaching, such as is now given in schools kept at the entire expense and under the exclusive control of the Govern-ment, to the Elementary English education of the poor classes, but to give increased aid with fewer restrictions on the principle of payment by results in specified subjects to the middle schools and high-class schools of the Colony, more or less in the manner indicated by the Intermediate Edu-cation Act (Ireland) of 1878.\n\n8. In conclusion, I beg to point out that in considering the Educational Problem of this Colony, it is all-important to refrain from assuming an identity of the radical features of the problem as it presents itself here and in England. England it may be said regarding matters of Education that the consumer is not a competent judge of the commodity,\" but this principle does not apply to the purely Chinese education attempted by an English Government of a Colony the overwhelming majority of which is made up by Chinese; though this principle does indeed apply to the teaching of English, and hence it follows that English education is one of those things in Hongkong which it is admissible in principle that a Government should provide for the people. As regards purely Chinese teaching or Chinese teaching combined with English, the case is entirely different. Whilst in England the common wages of unskilled labour are too low and the cost of teaching too high to enable an ordinary unskilled labourer to pay the whole cost of elementary instruction for his children, the wages of unskilled labour are comparatively high here in town and the cost of Chinese teaching so low, that Government interference in the matter of Chinese teaching is entirely uncalled-for, especially as the Chinese place an extremely high esteem on their own system and method of education. --I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient Servant,\n\nE. J. EITEL, Inspector of Schools.\n\n輔右\n\n中陳者\n\n輔政使司\n\n使申\n\n馬陳\n\n教因耳法彼且欧地恐國欲有國家善人於豬及致國也意至謂蓋便理設規若欲詳知去歲義學若何可觀後所准改學時各規進今本港仍未設有書院以育成本土人欲肩英文教師之任者故欲得確善誘人之教師則不得已動用多費請自英國來能爲愈於國家者爭衡則數年前早已不勝本土人能教英文且善於教及樂於教而所用修俸亦不若是之奢也爭奈迄立一院以育成本土人欲肩英文教師之任者且多設初學英文書塾义不此只教華文之義學以與本土人所樂爲所内開各欸一句如此改易則聖會載後或因病請假藉等情所有盤川亦由國家支給故也個國家在本港創教英文時只專教英文並不兼教華文叉學二語即將世俗二字删除添入知顚末監院亦欲陳明教習英文費用極奢之故實因英人教師請自英國來盤川不少另其修俸周歲不下三百磅數者是廢除規條内所有世俗及初儒教所有教法固有善於彼者論及國家各義學所有費用若干與及獎賞各聖會義學之項若干請看下附數目等圖便現率藩政大臣准改各款最要輔翼義學因彼地瘠人稀無力所致也至在五環專教華文之國家義學按徹監院意見非徒無益而又害之蓋華人自理及去歲所改輔翼義學規條若何諸多煩瑣耳且恐國家涉其教法蓋意謂彼知教華文之法愈於國家所可知惟在村鄉籬落之人極樂國家在彼設立一千八百七十九年時進退若何塾者未嘗騎戰國家輔助卽諭知准領國家獎賞之項彼亦未協於心非謂不樂受國恩所不樂者乃國家賞給義學規條附一片在該片可見國家義學於此外又有要者卽教學所需經費如或專教華文所費甚濂故土人儒教之散館學館義學港内在在均有且掌理如此\n\n由此觀之則國家教法必須易轍較爲顯然\n\n條本資桉學成某歎之課卽領某歎之賞如此則各聖會牧師於選牧師於心無所嫌疑且亦無傷規\n\n6. Another question of great importance is the cost of education. Purely native teaching is extremely cheap. The consequence is that purely native Confucian Schools, public and private, abound all over the Colony. Their managers ask for no grant from Government and even decline to apply for it when invited. They would not hesitate to take the money of the Government, but they object to the trammels of the Grant-in-aid Schedule and fear interference with the method of teaching, believing, as they do, that they know better how to teach Chinese than a foreign Government can possibly know. In the smaller villages and hamlets of the Colony alone the people are glad to have the advantages of the Grant-in-aid Scheme because their poverty does not allow them, with their small number of families, to establish schools of their own as they would otherwise prefer to do. But in the town all purely Chinese schools kept by the Government are, in my opinion, not only uncalled for but compete injuriously with native self-help in Confucianist education without giving really a better education. For details as to the cost of the Government Schools and the amount of aid given to Grant-in-aid Schools, I refer to the tables appended to this Report. But I wish to point out that the costly nature of English teaching principally consists of the salaries of English Masters who have to be imported from England, who require free passage out, a salary of at least £300, and after some years a passage back to England on furlough or sick certificate. Had the Government, when first beginning to teach English in this Colony, confined itself to English teaching, instead of combining it with Chinese, and established a training school for native teachers of English, creating at the same time a demand for such teachers by opening Elementary English schools instead of purely Chinese schools all over the Colony and thereby needlessly competing with the natives in what they were willing enough to do themselves and what after all they do better than the Government can do, there would long ago have been furnished a supply of natives able to teach English effectively and willing to teach it at very moderate salaries. Even now no training school exists in the Colony and consequently almost all English teaching in the Colony that is really effective has to be provided for by procuring the teaching power at great cost from England. A revision of the whole Educational Policy of the Government is clearly needed.\n\n7. Detailed information as to the changes which have taken place last year in the constitution of the Education Department will be found in the Supplements* annexed to this Report. To the same Supplements, I also refer for detailed information as to the progress made by the outside Government Schools in the course of the year 1879, and as regards the revision of the Grant-in-aid Schedule. This revision, as far as approved at present by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, consisted principally in the expurgation from the Schedule of the words \"secular and “elementary.\" For the words\n\n*These Supplements, being reprints from the Government Gazette, are not re-published here but will be inserted in Blue Book.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 309359, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "content_text": "KIDNAPPING COMMISSION.\n\nMINUTES OF MEETING held at the Justices' Room, at the Magistracy, on the 28th June, 1879. Present:-John J. FRANCIS in the Chair; Revd. E. J. EITEL, PH.D.; C. V. CREAGH, Esq.;\n\nMr. FUNG MING-SHÁN; Mr. TSE SUNG-SHAN.\n\nMinutes of last Meeting read and confirmed.\n\nMr. FUNG MING-SHAN states that the other two Chinese Members, Messrs. SHI SHANG-KAI and LO LAI-PING, are absent from the Colony.\n\nMr. FRANCIS' memo, with the notes of the Chinese Members of the Committee thereon, was read and approved, and it was resolved-\n\nThat the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor with a strong recommendation that His Excellency would be pleased to approve of the proposed Association, and that the Chinese may be authorised to take the necessary steps to carry out their ideas.\n\nThat Dr. EITEL be requested to write the necessary letter.\n\nJOHN J. FRANCIS, J.P.,\n\nChairman.\n\nMINUTES OF A MEETING held (in accordance with the Minute of His Excellency the Governor on C.S.O. No. 2641, of 12th November, 1878), at the Magistracy, on 28th November, 1878,\n\nat 2.30 P.M.\n\nPresent:-Dr. EITEL, Acting Inspector of Schools; J. J. FRANCIS, Esquire, Acting Police Magistrate; C. V. CREAGH, Esquire, Acting Police Magistrate; Mr. FUNG MING-SHÁN, Comprador of Chartered Mercantile Bank; Mr. SUI SHANG-KAI, Opium Merchant; and Mr. TSE TAT-SHING, Tea Merchant.\n\nAfter it had been stated that Captain DEANE had received permission to withdraw from participation in these Meetings, and that Mr. LO LAI-PING was unavoidably prevented from attending the present Meeting, the Petition addressed by Mr. LO LAI-PING and others, with its enclosure, was read, as also the Minutes on the same document, C.S.O. No. 2641.\n\nAdverting to the fact that kidnapping had always been practised in the Colony, Mr. FRANCIS then put the question to the petitioners if there was of late any special modus operandi observed in the proceedings of kidnappers differing from what had been observed and known formerly, and justifying special proceedings either on the part of petitioners or on the part of the Government or both. To this question the Chinese gentlemen present replied that there was indeed a marked difference observable in the proceedings of kidnappers of late, because they had become acquainted with the loopholes English law leaves open, also with the principle of personal freedom jealously guarded by English law, and that through this knowledge their proceedings had not only become less tangible for the Police to deal with, but the kidnappers had been emboldened to give themselves a definite organization, following a regular system adapted to the peculiarities of English and Chinese law, and using regular resorts and depôts in the suburbs of Hongkong. In support of this, Mr. FUNG MING-SHAN laid on the table two documents written in Chinese (marked A and B). One of these (marked A) contained a list of 38 different houses in the neighbourhood of Sai-ying-p'ún and Tai-ping-shán used by professional kidnappers as their regular resorts or depôts, and a list of 21 professional kidnappers whose names are given, but whose residence could not be ascertained. The other document (marked B) consists of a list of 41 professional kidnappers whose personalia have been satisfactorily ascertained. Both papers are herewith appended together with an English translation.\n\nThe Magistrates present, feeling satisfied that there was good raison d'être for some special organization to oppose this systematized sale of women and children for unlawful purposes, pointed out to the Chinese members of the meeting that one great difficulty the Government frequently met in dealing with such cases was the question what to do with women or children, found to have been unlawfully sold or kidnapped, how to restore them to their lawful guardians in the interior of China, how to provide for them in case such women or children had actually been sold by their very guardians, who, if the woman or child in question were restored to them, would but seek another purchaser, how to prevent such women and children being sold again by their guardians or friends, how to deal with persons absolutely friendless, &c. To this observation the Chinese members of the meeting replied that they were prepared to undertake this duty and overcome these very difficulties by means of an organized \"Society for the Protection of Women and Children,\" which would employ trustworthy detectives to ascertain the family relations of any kidnapped person, which would see to such persons being restored to their families upon guarantee being given for proper treatment, which in cases where restoration would not be advisable or where in the absence of relations and friends it was impossible, would take charge of such kidnapped persons, maintain them and eventually see them respectably married.\n\nThe meeting thereupon agreed that it would be desirable for the proposed \"Society for the Protection of Women and Children\" to obtain corporate existence and then authority to employ private detectives to be sworn in as special Constables, who would have to be selected and to a certain amount (corresponding to that guaranteed in the case of ordinary Constables) secured by the Society's guarantee, who would also be under the general superintendence of the Captain Superintendent of Police to whom they would, if in the Colony, report themselves daily, without however being liable to any ordinary Police duty, being entirely under the orders of the Society.\n\nMr. FRANCIS suggested to the Chinese members of the Committee the desirability of spreading in the neighbouring districts a knowledge of the English law forbidding the sale of persons and guaranteeing the liberty of the subject. The Chinese members expressed themselves anxious to do so if someone drew up a succinct statement of the provisions of the English law on the subject. The Magistrates present expressed themselves willing to draw up such a digest in a brief form and Dr. EITEL promised to translate it into Chinese for the use of the Society.\n\nThe Committee then agreed that apart from the superintendence of detectives to assist the regular Police in the arrest of kidnappers, the functions of the proposed Society would be the raising and administering of funds to pay the detectives and to provide for rescued kidnapped persons, for which an account should be published annually.\n\nThe Committee further agreed that there would be no need for the proposed Society to pay out of their own funds the rewards to be offered for the detection of kidnappers, as there is a law authorizing the payment of such rewards by the Government.\n\nThe Chinese members of the Committee then made some reference to one or two members of the Chinese Police force being suspected of being in league with professional kidnappers, but as they had no distinct proof to bring forward and would therefore, for the present, not give names, it was agreed not to go into this point.\n\nThis closed the proceedings for the day, it being understood that draft regulations of the proposed Society would be prepared for the assistance of the Chinese members by Mr. FRANCIS and, after consultation with the whole Committee, finally submitted to His Excellency the Governor together with the Minutes of this meeting and of any future meeting that may be held.\n\nE. J. EITEL.\n\nConfirmed at the meeting of 28th June, 1879.\n\nJOHN J. FRANCIS.\n\nCOPY OF LETTER FROM CHINESE SECRETARY TO COLONIAL SECRETARY,\n\nHONGKONG, 3rd October, 1879.\n\nSIR,-I have the honour to address you in the name of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor, under date of 12th November, 1878, to inquire in concert with certain Chinese gentlemen into the matter referred to in their petition of 11th November, 1878, (C.S.O.2641), and to draw up some scheme, for the approval of His Excellency, to check the crime of kidnapping.\n\nThe Committee now submit to His Excellency the papers I forward under this enclosure, which contain not only information as to the character and extent of kidnapping practised in Hongkong, but also a detailed scheme for the suppression of this crime by means of the aid which an organised native Society for the protection of women and children would render to the Executive.\n\nThe Committee beg to urge upon His Excellency the Governor to sanction the proposed Association, and to authorise the Chinese gentlemen, who are the promoters of this excellent organisation, to take the necessary steps to carry out their ideas.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir,\n\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\nE. J. EITEL.\n\nThe Honourable W. H. MARSH,\n\nColonial Secretary,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 309362, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "content_text": "I concluded my arguments by an epitome of most of the propositions I desired to affirm which are comprised in eight propositions. To these I refer as the substance of most of my very long observations.\n\nWhat I said appears in the China Mail, and Daily Press, but I think the latter on the whole is more exact.\n\nThe matters discussed are important. I have expressed my views on them with the earnestness they excited in my mind.\n\nI should be going beyond my proper province to say more than that I am at the service of His Excellency the Governor as to the serious questions which may arise.\n\nThe Honourable W. H. MARSH,\n\nColonial Secretary,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed,)\n\nJOHN SMALE, Chief Justice.\n\nMINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.\n\nTo the Acting Attorney-General, for his observations.\n\nNo. 1217.\n\nJ. POPE HENNESSY. 9th October, 1879.\n\nMINUTE BY THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.\n\nRead.\n\nJ. R.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO CHIEF JUSTICE.\n\nCOLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,\n\nHONGKONG, 9th October, 1879.\n\nSIR,--I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Honour's letter of the 8th instant, calling His Excellency's attention to the observations Your Honour made in sentencing certain prisoners convicted of kidnapping and detaining children for sale at the recent Sessions, and I am to convey to Your Honour His Excellency's best thanks for placing your great experience and knowledge at the Governor's service in this matter.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed,)\n\nW. H. MARSH,\n\nColonial Secretary.\n\nThe Honourable Sir JOHN SMALE,\n\nChief Justice, &c.,\n\n&c.\n\nI cannot understand why such classes should as classes increase in this Colony at all, unless it be that (in addition to the Chinese demand for domestic servants and brothels) there be an increased foreign element increasing the demand.\n\nI fear that a high premium is obtained by persons who kidnap girls in the high prices which they realize on sale to foreigners as kept women.\n\nNo one can walk through some of the bye-streets in this Colony without seeing well-dressed native girls in great numbers whose occupations are self-proclaimed, or pass those streets, or go into the schools in this Colony, without counting beautiful children by the hundred whose Eurasian origin is self-declared. If the Government would enquire into the present condition of these classes, and, still more, into what has become of these women and their children of the past, I believe that it will be found that in the great majority of cases the women have sunk into misery, and that of the children the girls that have survived have been sold to the profession of their mothers, and that if boys they have been lost sight of or have sunk into the condition of the mean whites of the late slave-holding States of America.\n\nThe more I penetrate below the polished surface of our civilization, the more convinced am I that the broad undercurrent of life here is more like that in the Southern States of America when slavery was dominant, than it resembles the all-pervading civilization of England.\n\nNothing less powerful than a commission with legislative powers to investigate and to examine on oath will ever lay bare the evil which, from suggestions I have received, I believe to underlie our seemly fair surface.\n\nMy suggestion that the mild intervention of the Law should be invoked was ignored. It was also met by the assertion that custom has so sanctioned the evils in this Colony as that they are above the reach of Law, and that by custom the slavery was mild.\n\nI have been driven to denounce the whole evil from the Bench in a way I do not now regret. Having been driven to speak out, I now suggest to His Excellency the Governor an important addition, not convenient to be particularly alluded to from the Bench, to the matters which I have already declared require, as I think, investigation.\n\nI must leave it to the Government to decide whether there shall or shall not be investigation, and whether the status in quo of public morals in this Colony in these particulars shall be allowed to continue as one of the many evils which neither law nor legislation can cope with.\n\nThat is a question which fortunately is not within the province of the Judge, it is for the Statesman only to decide.\n\nIn the meantime, and apart from that large important question, I would suggest that it would be desirable that the police should be instructed to bring every person known to hold a purchased (so-called) servant before the Magistrate to be dealt with mildly; and, moreover, that all placards in Chinese should be interpreted to the head department in the police. Such placards advertising rewards for runaway purchased slaves as were produced in Court would then cease, and other announcements would then be suppressed if they should prove to be, as I incline to think, obnoxious.\n\nI am not so blind to consequences as not to see that an attempt to interfere with the present system will entail public outlay to provide temporarily for the victims of that system till better positions can be secured for them; but if prisons up to the wants of a community are provided of necessity, it would be of equal duty to provide for putting down a system that by debasing all moral tone tends to crime.\n\nTHE SUPREME COURT, HONGKONG, 20th October, 1879.\n\nSIR, I return herewith C. S. O. No. 2666, being Letter from the Captain Superintendent of Police to the Colonial Secretary recommending rewards of $10 to Inspector SWANSTON and Police Constable CAMPBELL, respectively, on the arrest and conviction of certain kidnappers which His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to refer to me.\n\nAlthough I do not know whether these two Police Officers come within the precise conditions of the proclamation, I think it desirable to sustain recommendations by the Head of the Police. The conduct of the Police officers was good, and the reward is small, I therefore concur in the recommendation.\n\nI should be obliged by a copy of the Proclamation for reference.\n\nI avail myself of the opportunity on recurring to this subject of informing His Excellency the Governor directly that I daily feel more reason to believe that the practice of kidnapping for purposes other than the coolie traffic has of late been alarmingly on the increase in this Colony. His Excellency will have noted the cases already tried in the Police and Supreme Courts. I may now add that the present sessions for October furnish two cases of the kind for trial before me and incline me to think that \"Brokers of mankind,\" as a girl eleven years of age designates them, form among the various classes of brokers in this Colony a well-known special class, though, like Gaming House Keepers, the Law ignores them. I believe that mothers have even kept their daughters from going to school for fear of their being kidnapped.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\nJOHN SMALE,\n\nChief Justice.\n\nMINUTE BY DR. EITEL.\n\nHaving been directed to report on those points to which His Lordship the Chief Justice refers as inconvenient to mention on the Bench, I have the honour to forward herewith replies to the following questions which, I think, are raised by the Chief Justice's remarks:--\n\n1. Do the high prices realized by sales of Chinese girls to foreigners, whose kept women they become, contribute to raise that demand which is supplied by kidnapping?\n\nThe demand which is supplied by kidnapping, or by the kindred trick of inducing women through false representations to leave their homes, originates in the first instance in the high prices paid for prostitutes or concubines in places where Chinese women are rare, i.e., in Singapore and the Straits Settlements...\n\nPage 22", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 311337, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2]", "page_number": 358, "title": "CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2]", "content_text": "## Petition of M. than Jong \nTranslation\n\nTo the Acting Colonial Secretary\n\nThe humble petition of Chan Tany Jong, a native of the Sungkan District, aged 28 years, living at present at 23 Salt Fish Street, \n\nShoweth,\n\nThat as Your Petitioner studied Chinese literature when young, he possessed knowledge of all the books, and that, afterwards, he was engaged as a teacher.\n\nfurther begs to direct His Excellency's attention to the fact that the post of school teacher at Aberdeen being vacant, the expense of maintaining the school ought to be considered as unnecessary by the estimates for Local Services, and that the petitioner applied for the post, which ought to be fitted up at the beginning of next year.\n\nI have \nThe Aberdeen \n(Signed) %. J. \nActing Inspector of Schools \n\nPetition of M. than Jong.. \n\nExclvence N. I is Act Insp. of \n357 \nM./ iis Act. Inop. of School's felt IN 1990;\" \n\nPage 357", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317801, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "page_number": 52, "title": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "content_text": "# 50\n\nin\n\nI observed several evil tendencies arising from some of its provisions. All The Hongkong Public School, conducted at St. Paul's College, with an enrolment of boys, all of whom were the sons of English-speaking parents, presented only 14 boys for examination under the Grant-in-Aid Scheme. There is no need to detail the results of the examination of each of the 23 Grant-in-Aid schools, as the results are summarily tabulated in the comparative Tables appended to this report. But a few general observations, which forced themselves into notice lately in connection with these schools, may be interesting to the taxpayer and possibly contain useful hints to the Managers of these schools.\n\nI observed, in the first instance, a general steady improvement going on, from year to year, in the quality of teaching given in these schools, as well as in their organisation and discipline. As I knew all those of these schools which existed before they were brought under the Grant-in-Aid Code, I am certain that this general improvement in the effectiveness of these schools is principally due to the provisions of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme. On the other hand, this scheme, like all other schemes, has also its drawbacks.\n\nThe class of residents, for whose children this Public School was specially designed, is too small to give any solid prospect of securing a larger attendance in future. In my opinion, it would be more advantageous to the school to revert to the former plan of admitting a number of respectable Chinese youths to be taught together with the English-speaking boys, as the increased number of scholars would enable the Committee to reduce the fees and to increase the staff, whilst the mixing of the two races would produce a healthy emulation without at all endangering a good discipline, to which Chinese boys are far more amenable than European youths.\n\nAs, for instance, one-fourth of the annual grant earned by a school goes, according to the provisions of the Code, to the paid teacher as a personal bonus, there is among most of the native teachers a strong tendency, not only to neglect the religious teaching which is not examined into nor specially paid for by the Government, in favour of the particular subjects required by the Code, but also to adopt objectionable expedients.\n\nAnother objectionable expedient lately resorted to by some of the native teachers of these schools is the practice of admitting at the beginning of the year a much larger number of children than there is teaching power to provide for, and to select out of the mass, and to drill in preference, the more intelligent portion of the scholars, but quietly to get rid, by neglect or otherwise, of the unpromising scholars. A further objectionable device of the same sort is the practice, which appears more generally to be setting in in all the boys' schools, of bringing forward as many scholars as possible for the lower standards in which passes can be obtained at the examination with comparative ease, but to bring forward as few scholars as possible for the higher standards in which the risk of failure is much greater.\n\nThus, the liberality of the Code appears to have engendered a mercenary spirit among many of the native masters of schools in Class I, and it seems that this very scheme, which was introduced to raise the standard of education in the Colony, is, as far as these schools in Class I are concerned, liable to an abuse tending to lower the standard of education materially. Although the number of these schools and the number of their scholars has very largely increased since 1876, yet the subjoined figures show that the number of scholars annually brought forward into the two highest standards of the Code has considerably decreased since 1876.\n\n| Year | Number examined in Standards V and VI |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1876 | 11 |\n| 1877 | 33 |\n| 1878 | 33 |\n| 1879 | 15 |\n| 1880 | 5 |\n| 1881 | 28 |\n\nI find that the slight increase in the number of scholars brought forward into the higher standards in 1881, as compared with the three preceding years, is due to the laudable efforts made in this direction by the girls' schools and their Managers. It is principally in the boys' schools in Class I that the standard of education has manifestly been lowered instead of being raised.\n\nThe Hongkong Public School, directly connected with any foreign Missionary, presented 14 boys for examination. None of the Kaifong schools has as yet been placed under the Grant-in-Aid Scheme. The results of the examination of the other Grant-in-Aid schools are as follows:\n\nThe Basel Mission, with an enrolment of 47 boys, presented only 19 boys for examination. Of the 18 boys examined, 3 failed in 1 subject each, and 1 failed in 2 subjects. Considering that 4 of the boys examined were clearly too young to be expected to pass in arithmetic, the result showed that good teaching had been given.\n\nThe time devoted to the teaching of reading and writing colloquial Chinese in the Roman character, and to arithmetic, makes a serious inroad upon the time required for learning to read and write in the Chinese character and, in my opinion, mars, if it does not hinder, real proficiency in the latter.\n\nThe Basel Mission Girls' School, admirably organised and conducted as a boarding school, shows this system to its best advantage. Of 43 girls examined, all passed in every subject, with the exception of 11 girls in Standard IV, of whom 3 failed in 1 subject each, 1 failed in 2 subjects, and 1 failed in 3 subjects.\n\nThe Berlin Foundling House Bethesda, a girls' school worked under the same system, also produced very favourable results. Out of 37 girls examined, 4 failed in 1 subject each, and the result was that only one failed to pass.\n\n## Grant-in-Aid Schools under Class I of the Code\n\nAll the remaining Grant-in-Aid schools are worked under Class I of the Code, giving a purely Chinese education in the Chinese language only. But as all these schools, 23 in number, teach principally the Chinese Classics and supplement the ethical teaching of the Confucian Classics by religious Christian teaching, the work done in these schools has, in my opinion, a high educational value.\n\nUntil the beginning of last year, the Protestant Missions of the Colony held the monopoly of this system of teaching. Last year, for the first time, the Roman Catholic Mission placed one school, worked under this system, under the Grant-in-Aid Scheme, so that now 22 of these schools are Protestant Mission schools and 1 is a Roman Catholic school.\n\n## Normal School\n\nA Normal School has been started by the Government in September 1881, beginning with 10 students, with a view to supply trained native Masters for the schools of the Colony. The ten students were examined by me at the end of the year, and the result was very satisfactory.\n\nI enclose also the usual Tables, `I-XVI`, containing the Educational Statistics for 1881.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nThe Hon. F. STEWART, LL.D.,\n\nActing Colonial Secretary.\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\nE. J. EITEL, \nInspector of Schools", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317896, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "page_number": 147, "title": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "content_text": "# THE CHINA REVIEW\n\nIn this code to the local peculiarities of each individual Colony, are a clear proof that this code is but the natural and progressive out-growth of practical life, an a posteriori deduction from a complex mass of facts, not an a priori theory super-imposed upon the Colonies.\n\nThe very absence of a predetermined Colonial policy, the very disregard of the old exploded theory that schemes of policy and legislation are omnipotent and that things will go right when laws and regulations are made to make them go right, and finally the very diversity of systems tried by individual Governors in view of the special peculiarities of individual Colonies, secured a healthy atmosphere of liberty in the Colonial nurseries, where, powerful as the Governors might be, the governed had but to stand together and howl una voce to make the Imperial Government indulge them to any reasonable extent, if but for the sake of peace and quietness. The liberty thus given to emotional individuality, in both the governing and the governed, secured full play for the development of character in the administration of the several Colonial communities. That great lesson, taught by modern Sociology, that forms of government are valuable and successful only where they are vitalized by national and local character, is palpably verified and is the real explanation of the secret of success exhibited by the English Colonies in general and the Colony of Hongkong in particular.\n\nThis Colony of Hongkong, if any one asked her how she came into existence—how her executive, administrative, judicial, educational and even mercantile establishments were formed, would have no better answer to give than that of Topsy, \"I specs I growed.\" The abolition of the East-India Company, the obstinate hatred of the Chinese and the blind folly of the Macao Governments, unitedly compelled the English trade to take refuge in Hongkong; the Island was ceded to Great Britain, as much almost against the wishes of the English as the Chinese Government, in 1841, the cession being confirmed by the treaty of Nanking in 1842, and under the pressure of circumstances subsequently enlarged by the cession of a small slice of the opposite mainland, the Peninsula of Kaulung, by the treaty of Tientsin in 1861. This small barren island of Hongkong, counting but a few hundred inhabitants before 1841, rapidly became peopled by settlers from all parts of the world, English, Americans, Germans, French, Portuguese, Parsees, Hindoos, but principally by Chinese from the adjoining districts of the Canton and Fuhkien Provinces, amounting now to a total of 132,524 persons exclusive of the Naval and Military establishments. Nevertheless members of Parliament, as well as leading newspapers in England, are occasionally not quite sure whether Hongkong is one of the open ports of China, with a British Consul to represent English interests there, or actually a British Colony. The Colonial Office List, until a few years ago, used specially to state that \"Hongkong perhaps comes more under the designation of a trading station than that of a Colony,\" and the ordinary Englishman at home has but a hazy notion that Hongkong is somewhere near Timbuctoo or Timbuctoo somewhere near Hongkong.\n\nThese popular facts are but exponents of the truth, that the Colony of Hongkong came into the world like an uncalled-for and unwelcome addition to the family circle of English Colonies, that it was supplied with Governors, Magistrates, Judges, Schools and Prisons and all the other paraphernalia of government simply because, having once come into being, it had to be done something to, but all the same it was systematically ignored as long as possible. Thus this precocious baby, nailed Hongkong, was first helped into the world by Sir Charles Elliot (1841), nursed and kept barely alive by the reticent Sir Henry Pottinger (1842-1844), painfully taught its A B C of government and administration by the learned Sir John Davis (1844-1848), then after a quiet spell of rest under Sir George Bonham (1848-1854) it was taken to the schoolroom by that sham-Sinologist Sir John Bowring (1854-1859); at last having grown to years of discretion, there came the age of enlightened reason, with Sir Hercules Robinson and Mr. William T. Mercer (1859-1866); then followed some years of stern discipline and training at the hands of Sir Richard MacDonnell (1866-1871), until the youthful Colony of Hongkong enjoyed the blissful happiness of being actually made love to, though in a very quiet and dignified style, by \"the good\" Sir Arthur Kennedy (1872-1877).\n\nBy the preceding brief sketch I intended to give prominence to the lesson derived from history that British Colonies flourished because, and in so far as, the special requirements of each individual Colony received their due share of consideration by the representatives of legislation and government. If this proposition is granted, it will be easy to prove the necessary sequel, that in a Colony like Hongkong, where 95 per cent of the population are Chinese, severed by an immense abyss from the governing classes in manners, customs, religion and ways of thinking, being moreover totally ignorant of the language, laws and modes of procedure of the governing classes, that in such a Colony successful government depends upon the measure in which the governed classes, the Chinese, and the governing classes, the English, understand each other. In other words, English education among the Chinese people of the Colony, and Chinese knowledge among the English officials of Hongkong, are the two factors upon which the success of the general scheme of English colonial policy to a great extent depends as far as the Colony of Hongkong is concerned. To make good this proposition I propose in the first instance to review the progress of Anglo-Chinese studies in Hongkong from the foundation of this Colony to the present day; next I shall endeavour to state the present condition of affairs, with special reference to official interpretation in the Courts of Justice; and finally I shall venture to suggest some remedies.\n\n## CHINESE STUDIES AND OFFICIAL INTERPRETATION\n\nI. The early history of Hongkong (from 1842 to 1859) reveals a most distressing picture of official incapacity in high places and of immorality, rowdyism and general lawlessness among the great mass of the people. The successive governors of Hongkong were all men of high moral character, well meaning and intelligent, some even enjoying a European reputation as scholars of first rank, yet Ordinance after Ordinance was passed during the first fifteen years of the Colony, based either on a thorough misunderstanding or thorough disregard of the peculiar wants of the Colony, so that in January 1859 the legal advisers to the Secretary of State for the Colonies had to censure the local legislature for the careless manner in which British Acts of Parliament had been adopted in Hongkong. The heads of departments, during this period, were with scarcely a single exception men of culture and unimpeachable integrity, yet even so high an officer as a Colonial Secretary (Dr. Bridges) had to be put on his trial for bribery and corruption, an Attorney General (Mr. Austen) admitted in his letters to the Secretary of State that bribes had more than once been offered to himself, referring to which a Registrar General (Mr. Caldwell) publicly stated in his self-defence (p. 22) that there were (in 1852) \"some wealthy officers still in the police who are not strangers to the latter practice.\" Again and again native interpreters, employed at the Magistracy and in other departments, were dismissed for corrupt practices, but the cases of detection were probably few as compared with the amount of rascality carried on undetected. As to the native population, it is sufficient to state that Hongkong was up to the time of Sir Hercules Robinson (1859) the chief residence of smugglers and pirates, the paradise of gamblers, thieves, robbers and incendiaries. In 1846 an official notification \"advised\" all European residents to carry arms.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317897, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "page_number": 148, "title": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "content_text": "# THE CHINA REVIEW\n\n## immense\n\nand not to proceed to any distance from town alone, on account of the island being infested with robbers. In 1848 an attempt was made to poison 25 soldiers of the Royal Artillery. In 1853 more than 70 cases of piracy occurred in the neighbourhood of Hongkong, whilst the number of robberies from houses and from the person which were daily reported was almost incredible. In 1854 the whole of the European population was thrown into an abject state of terror by the rumoured approach of a piratical fleet, and several hundred armed Chinese, preparing for an attack on Kaulung, were captured in the streets of Hongkong. In 1857 incendiarism was flourishing in Hongkong, piracies were recorded almost every week, an attempt was made to poison the whole foreign community, and in December that year the Government, fearing a general emeute of the Chinese population, had to issue a notification stating that, at the Central Police Station, one hundred stand of arms complete, with appointments and ammunition, were ready for the use of that portion of the Foreign Community who were unprovided with fire-arms.” These facts require no comment. Let the philanthropist say what his good nature dictates as to the orderly character of the ordinary Chinaman, but the past history of Hongkong shows plainly that the \"heathen Chinee\" is a good-natured harmless individual enough till the devil is roused in him by misfortune, bad example, temptation or misgovernment.\n\n## \n\nNow what did the Hongkong Government do for the native population during this first period of the history of Hongkong? Laws were made for them, police regulations were framed, revised, recast; Ordinances were published without number, some of which were indeed published in Chinese but worded so obscurely that, on several occasions, the badness of the translation produced misunderstandings, which ended in riots and bloodshed. Education, schools for the children of the native or foreign population, appear to have never occurred to the Government, or at any rate no attempt was made in such a direction, till, full fourteen years after the occupation of Hongkong, a public meeting was held on 6th March 1855, \"to consider reasons for the establishment of a public school.\" One thing, however, was attempted with a view to bring the complaints of the native population before the governing classes, and to produce a better understanding between both, viz. an office of \"Protector of Chinese\" was created by Sir John Davis in 1846. This was a well-meant measure and certainly a step in the right direction, but the duties of this office remained a dead letter, owing to the successive Registrars General, who filled the post, being more or less ignorant of the Chinese language, until Mr. D. R. Caldwell was appointed Protector of Chinese. Even he, with his competent knowledge of the speech and customs of the Cantonese people, was but imperfectly acquainted with the written language and could therefore not do full justice to this important office. As to the interpretation in the Courts, there was during this whole period no competent interpreter attached to the Police Magistracy or Supreme Court with the exception of Mr. Caldwell, nor was any attempt made, on the part of the Government, to provide for competent interpreters for the future. The few sentences in power of speaking Chinese was looked upon as little short of miraculous, and the native interpreters in the Courts, with their imperfect knowledge of English and their ignorance of more than one native dialect, with their power for good or evil to represent or misrepresent what witnesses or defendants stated, remained absolutely unchecked. There were some competent Chinese scholars during this period attached to the Colonial Secretary's Office, as long as the Governors of Hongkong held also the office of Superintendent of Trade. There were Morrison, Thom, Gützlaff, Mongan, Wade, but their time was occupied with documentary translation work, they having to conduct the correspondence between the British and Chinese Governments, and when the office of Superintendent of Trade was, in 1854, transferred to Shanghai, there was, apart from the Missionaries, not a man left in Hongkong thoroughly acquainted with both the written and spoken languages of China. There was a good deal of pretence to Chinese acquirements by one or two persons, a sort of thing of which only too conspicuous an example had been set by Sir John Bowring, but there was no reality. The amount of Chinese knowledge of which the average English official of the Colony was possessed, during the period which elapsed before Sir Hercules Robinson's arrival, is best illustrated by an episode which occurred in Colonel Caine's, the Chief Magistrate's, Court. But for the better understanding of this really authentic story, I must premise, that Colonel Caine had heard in social intercourse with other officials that a great discussion was going on among Sinologists as to the meaning of \"barbarian,\" but that he was entirely unaware of the popular epithets applied, up to the present day, by the common speech of the people to foreigners in general *fan kwai* i.e. foreign devil, and to Englishmen *hûng màu kwai* i.e. red-haired devil. This will explain the following incident, as reported, in Tarrant's \"Hongkong\" (p. 109):\n\nMagistrate: Collins,-Collins, I say. \nCollins: Your Honour! \nMagistrate: Did not that witness say *fan kwai* in his evidence? \nCollins: He did, your Honour. \nMagistrate: Then take him out of the Court and give him three lashes! (Lashes administered). And now, Interpreter, tell the witness that when he speaks of an Englishman in this Court he must call him **hương anh Kuri**.\n\n*The truth probably was that the witness said, after having given his evidence \"mâ fòn ¿kwai\" i.e. \"may I go home?\" for the words *fan 'kwai* \"foreign devil,\" mean, when pronounced in a different tone, *fán kwai*, to go home.\"*\n\nMr Caldwell was the only Government officer during this whole period who could orally interpret from Cantonese into English, and vice versa, with correctness and fluency, but the other dialects, spoken by at least one fourth of the population of Hongkong, viz. the Hakka, Chin-chow or Swatow, Tiêchiu, Amoy and Foochow dialects, remained absolutely without any competent interpreter. Ever since Mr. Caldwell resigned, the want of his services has been much felt, and his place has never been satisfactorily filled.\n\n## \n\nWith the arrival of Sir Hercules Robinson (1859) a new period opened in the history of Hongkong. The policy that seemed to guide all previous Governors was principally to provide for present urgent wants, to try and repress crime, to keep things smooth and to gloss over, by temporary measures, what could not be mended efficiently. It seemed as if each of them was averse to sowing seed which could not be expected to ripen within his own term of office. So they confined themselves each to pull down what his predecessor had built up, or restricted their energies to simple political patchwork, a proceeding far more easy and especially more pleasing to personal vanity, than the laborious, self-denying task of laying solid foundations to be built on—or set aside—by their successors in office.\n\nSir Hercules Robinson was a man of different stamp, patient, resolute, far-seeing. It is true the previous bad state of things, lawlessness and crime among the native population, continued for some years into his term of administration, but measures were introduced by him which were continued by his successors and eventually succeeded in completely altering the state of things. The Civil Service had its abuses inquired into, the Police force was reconstituted, the Gaol discipline was reformed, a \n\nPage 4 \nPage 14 \nPage 145", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317898, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "page_number": 149, "title": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "content_text": "# THE CHINA REVIEW.\n\n## CHINESE STUDIES AND OFFICIAL INTERPRETATION.\n\nWhen Sir Hercules Robinson's vigorous and enlightened system of education was organized, Cadetships for the future improvement of official interpretation were established, a road to the Peak and a Sanitarium were constructed, the waterworks which, through the energy of his successors, proved such a boon to the Colony, were begun, a Mint also was set up and a new Gaol built on Stone-cutters' Island. As the natural result of such vigorous enlightened policy, sympathetically animating the whole Government Service, the Chinese began at last to feel confidence in the stability and integrity of the English government; they ventured to bring their families to Hongkong, life and property, both foreign and native, gradually became secure as crime diminished, and the Colony began to redeem its previous deservedly bad reputation. Two only of Sir Hercules Robinson's schemes, the Mint and the Gaol on Stone-cutters' Island, were abandoned by his successors, yet public opinion has lately come to see that the abandonment of the Mint was a grand mistake, and the Gaol on Stone-cutters' Island, the original design of which was left uncompleted, has never had a fair trial yet. The idea, from which the building of the Gaol on Stone-cutters' Island arose, was to establish the separate system which is now found to be so effectual.\n\nBut the two principal reform schemes of Sir Hercules Robinson, those which have had the most beneficial effect on the Colony, not only met with the unqualified approval and persistent strenuous support of his successors Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell (1866-1871) and Sir Arthur Kennedy (1872-1877), but they gained by their practical results the unfeigned admiration and gratitude of the whole population, native and foreign. I mean the organization of the educational system of the Colony and the Student Interpreters' scheme, the former of which measures has so commended itself to every unprejudiced member of the community, that any tampering with its present successful working would produce a storm of lawful popular indignation such as no sensible Governor would venture to evoke.\n\nThe educational system of the Colony is the result of a gradual, almost spontaneous growth. A few schools existed before Sir Hercules Robinson, but they were but a sham and the objects of native derision. Sir Hercules Robinson appointed a Board of Education, and opened elementary schools in various parts of the Colony in charge of a foreign Inspector, the Rev. W. Lobscheid. The bible was used as a school-book, and native Christian teachers were therefore required. But it was soon found that, under the peculiar circumstances of the Colony, this denominational system was a mistake. Ninety per cent. of the school children were heathen, the remaining ten per cent. representing a most heterogeneous mixture of creeds, Roman Catholicism, Church of England, Nonconformity both foreign and native, Mahomedans, Parsees and Jews. Protestant Missions, still in their infancy, were unable then to supply the schools with Christian teachers who were not shams. Is it to be wondered at that the whole scheme proved a failure? Yet out of this failure arose gradually, and without any definite policy on the part of the Government, the present secular system of education. One good thing the Board of Education did before it died of inanition. Bishop Smith, as its representative, secured the services of a Graduate of Aberdeen University, Mr. Stewart, who came prepared to take things as he found them. Warned by the failure of the Board of Education and endowed with a broad and clear conception of the special requirements of the Colony, he resolutely resisted the counsels thrust upon him from various sides to disregard Chinese and confine himself exclusively to English teaching. Mr. Stewart formed the Government Central School, and meeting with the warm support of every succeeding Governor and Administrator (Mr. Mercer, Sir Richard MacDonnell, Sir Arthur Kennedy, Mr. Austin) continued, to the present day, to work both the Central School and the Village Schools in such a way that the Government offices gradually filled with clerks and interpreters having received a sound elementary knowledge of both Chinese and English on the basis of the publications of the Irish National School-book Society, whilst the strict discipline and moral influence of a gentleman like Mr. Stewart and his staff of high-class English and native teachers formed an educational agency far more powerful than were school-learning.\n\nSir Richard MacDonnell raised the standard of the Central School by having the elements of Natural Science, elementary Chemistry and Algebra, brought within the range of subjects taught in the School. Sir Arthur Kennedy further extended the secular educational system of the Colony by a scheme of grants-in-aid, offering most substantial assistance to all well-taught private schools in the Colony whether Roman Catholic, Protestant or Confucianist, on the basis of payment by results in secular teaching, such schools being, however, subject to periodical inspection and annual examination by H. M. Inspector of Schools. Owing to the absence of suitable native school books, Sir Arthur Kennedy moreover appointed a School-book Committee, a seat being offered in that Committee to the representative of every Roman Catholic and Protestant Mission in the Colony, and the result was a set of Chinese elementary school-books, designed to be used side by side with the Chinese Classics, whose deficiency in enlightened secular teaching demanded such a supplement.\n\nApart from the educational system, initiated by Sir Hercules Robinson, the Colony owes to this, its greatest Governor, yet another scheme more directly grappling with the great evil of former days, viz. the want of satisfactory official interpretation. He urged upon the Colonial Office the establishment of Cadetships, designed to supply the Civil Service in Hongkong with an efficient staff of interpreters. The candidates were to be selected in England on the basis of competitive examinations, and after two years study of the Chinese language in Hongkong, or as soon afterwards as they should be declared qualified by a Board of competent examiners, they were to be appointed Government Interpreters and to be employed in such of the departments as might require their services, being after three years' approved service eligible by the Secretary of State for promotion to the higher offices in the Civil Service of Hongkong. This far-seeing scheme, which had in vain been urged upon preceding Governors by the Rev. Dr. Legge, was approved by the Foreign Office, on 15th November 1861, and forthwith brought into operation by the selection of candidates, resulting eventually in the addition to the Civil Service of the Colony of six gentlemen, who are now foremost in many different departments and thoroughly qualified to check the interpretation and documentary translation work going on in their respective offices, as far as the written language of China and the Cantonese vernacular are concerned.\n\nThe Student-Interpreters' scheme was certainly a move in the right direction, but it lacked in range of application and in solidity of execution. It embraced only the ruling dialect of Hongkong, the Cantonese dialect, and ignored the Hakka and Fohkien dialects. But even for the study of that one Cantonese dialect the course of study was too short; it should have been extended to at least three years instead of two. The Students were moreover left too much to themselves. The then Colonial Secretary regarded a young man, come out to learn Chinese, much as Mr. Verdant Green might have regarded an unbroken horse—a creature that ought to be done something to, but Heaven knew what! In consequence each Student was allowed to follow what system or no system he liked, and to waste his time in Hongkong when he should have been in Canton. Moreover the pay allowed him during the pupilage was too small for another year of it to be contemplated.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317926, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "page_number": 177, "title": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "content_text": "## 02\n\n**THE CHINA REVIEW**\n\n...of high rank, communicating with native Mandarins by means of \"huge official envelopes, duly stamped and sealed,\" and thus, by the implied threat of political difficulties with France or the Pope, protect unscrupulous native criminals. The number is well illustrated and contains two valuable sketch maps of the districts surrounding Amoy and Swatow.\n\nWe regret to have to note in connection with this periodical the death of the Rev. Carstairs Douglas, M.A., LL.D., who was one of its principal promoters. He died since the issue of this number, rather suddenly, of cholera. Dr. Douglas arrived in China in 1855 and has ever since been foremost among the able representatives of the Presbyterian Church in Amoy. He was a first-class scholar, as evidenced by his \"Dictionary of the Vernacular of Amoy; London, 1873,\" and his various contributions to the China Review, Missionary Recorder, and other periodicals, but he was also an excellent practical worker, gifted with a largeness of heart and keenness of foresight so widely recognized that he was unanimously chosen President of the late Missionary Conference, although he was one of the principal partisans of Shangti as against Shin or Tien-chu.\n\nA complete Atlas of the two hemispheres. Second, revised, and improved edition. Canton, 1877. This is a very creditable product of native intelligence and industry and a good specimen of native block-printing. We have here three sheets, the first giving the two hemispheres, designed each with a diameter of two feet; the frontiers of the different countries are suitably coloured; all the principal names of countries, mountains, rivers, seas, etc., printed in bold type; and the available space filled up with brief notes on the usual subjects generally treated as introductory to geography. The accompanying two sheets give the most needful details concerning the political and topographical geography of each country seriatim. For a future edition of this for native schools specially valuable publication, we would recommend Mr. Leung Chu-shan to overhaul his system of spelling foreign names so as to make it uniform, to be more liberal in accepting popular terms such as 新金山 for Australia or 加利福尼亞 for California, which have once become generally accepted and are indispensable in speaking, and finally to bring up his accounts of European countries to the date of publication, including, for instance, the political results of the late Franco-Prussian war. The author ought also to state where this second and improved edition of his Atlas is for sale in Hongkong or Canton. The only reference we find is his private address, viz. 省沙基大街梁柱臣, Leung Chi-shan, Sha-ki Street, Canton.\n\n**Chinese Studies at Oxford**.—The Rev. Professor Dr. Legge, having in the course of last term given several lectures on Chinese Grammar, continued his course of Chinese instruction, during the term which is now ending, by treating in three consecutive public lectures the well-known Sacred Edict. Next term the exhibition of these sixteen maxims will be complete by one lecture, the subsequent lectures being devoted to Grammar.\n\nWe are pleased to learn that there are now a few students giving their attention to Chinese studies. The lectures on the Sacred Edict will be published in successive numbers of the China Review, as probably also the lectures on Grammar. Dr. Legge is now in correspondence with the Foreign and Colonial Offices regarding his proposal to send the Candidates for the Consular Service in China and Japan, as also the Candidates for the Civil Service in the Straits and in Hongkong, for a course of Chinese study, as unattached students of the University, to Oxford, in which case Dr. Legge will secure the assistance of a Pekingese native teacher.\n\n**SHORT NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS**\n\n**Chinese Studies in America**.—The chair for Chinese Language and Literature which is to be established at Yale College has been offered to Dr. S. Wells Williams, the author of the \"Middle Kingdom\" and of the two well-known Dictionaries for Cantonese and Mandarin Dialects. There is also a project to introduce Chinese lectures at Harvard University, without, however, establishing a Professorial chair. Mr. Francis P. Knight, formerly of Shanghai, and Chinese Commissioner of the Philadelphia Exhibition, proposed to President Eliot to bring from China one or two native teachers, who, he thinks, with the help of Sir Thomas Wade's textbooks would teach a young man, in the course of two years, sufficient Chinese to enable him to take a position of some usefulness upon arrival in China as a Consul or in connection with the Legation in Peking. A subscription has been opened by Mr. Knight to find the necessary funds, whilst President Eliot has promised the assistance of the Corporation in this undertaking.\n\n**COLLECTANEA BIBLIOGRAPHICA**\n\n| Publication | Issue | Title/Description |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Chambers's Journal | Febr., 1877 | A journey in Turkestan |\n| Leisure Hour | March, 1877 | Augustus Raymond Margary |\n| Leisure Hour | June, 1877 | The cup of gold, a Chinese story |\n| Leisure Hour | June, 1877 | Japanese (and Chinese) Music and musical instruments |\n| London & China Express | July, 1877 | A Chinese Dictionary in the Cantonese Dialect |\n| Lappincott's Magazine | June, 1877 | The Chinese at Beaver Falls |\n| The Nation | May, 1877 | A Chinese teachership at Harvard |\n| The Nation | May, 1877 | The Folklore of China |\n| The Saturday Review | May, 26, 1877 | Marks on China |\n| The Nineteenth Century | July, 1877 | A journey to China, and round the world, by Tho. Brassey, M.P. |\n| Trübner's American and Oriental Literary Record | Nos. 125 and 126, 1877 | Translation of the Peking Gazette; China and her Apologist; Catalogue of the Jesuit Missionaries in China |\n| The Hongkong Government Gazette | No. 36, 11 Aug., 1877 | Civil Service Examinations, Hongkong |\n| The Friend of China | June, 1877 | Our Chinese critics |\n| North-China Daily News | July, 1877 | Mr. Giles' Records of the Buddhistic Kingdoms |\n| North-China Daily News | July 21, 1877 | A Chinese Professorship at Oxford |\n| North-China Daily News | Aug. 2, 1877 | Epitome of ancient history of Japan |\n| The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal | May-June, 1877 | Rise and Progress of the Miau-tsze |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. VIII, No. 26 | Philological diversions; From Swatow to Canton; Dr. Legge and the Conference; The Son of Heaven |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. IX, No. 1 | The Logus of the Chinese; Bits of Chinese Travel; Record of the Buddhistic Kingdoms |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. IX, No. 2 | Bits of Chinese Travel; A Mandarin Primer; List of the high provincial authorities of China |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. IX, No. 3 | Bits of Chinese Travel; A Chinese view of the Cuban question |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. IX, No. 4 | Bits of Chinese Travel; The China Review |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. IX, No. 5 | The departure of Mr. Wylie; Bits of Chinese Travel |\n| The Celestial Empire | Vol. IX, No. 6 | Bits of Chinese Travel |\n| Magazin für die Literatur des Auslandes | 46 Jahrg. No. 20 | Literarisches über China and Japan |\n| Das Ausland | No. 18 | Corea |\n| Europa. Redig. von H. Kleinstouber | No. 19 | Der Theestrauch |\n| Die Grenzboten. Redig. von H. Bluhm | No. 20 | Der wahre Konfutse |\n\nThe following are the latest publications on Chinese subjects:\n\n- A visit to Japan, China and India, by R. N. Fowler, M.A. London, 1877.\n- `China, No. 2, 1877`. Report by Mr. Davenport upon the trading capabilities of the country traversed by the Yunnan mission. (Blue Book.)\n- Treaties referring to trade between Great Britain and China, by Edward Herstlet, Librarian to the Foreign Office. London, 1877.\n- The Diseases of China, By John Dudgeon, M.D. Glasgow, 1877.\n- Le Catholicisme en Chine. Par P. Dabry de Thiersant. Paris, 1877.\n- China, Erlebnisse eigener Reisen und darauf gegründete Studien. Von Ferdinand von Richthofen. Erster Band. Einleitender Theil. Mit XXIX. Holzschnitten und XI. Karten. Berlin, 1877.\n- Eine Staatslehre auf ethischer Grundlage oder Lehrbegriff des chinesischen Philosophen Mencius. Von E. Faber. Elberfeld, 1877.\n\nPage 63 \nPage 174", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 322516, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-210 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [6-7]", "page_number": 388, "title": "CO129-210 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [6-7]", "content_text": "The Daily Press.\n\nHONGKONG, JULY 16TH, 1883.\n\nEnclosure\n\nVISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE.\n\nOn Friday afternoon His Excellency Governor Sir George Bowen, accompanied by his Private Secretary and A.D.C., paid a visit to St. Joseph's College. He was received by the Right Rev. Bishop Raimondi and the Brother Director of the College. Upon His Excellency's arrival, the boys played and sang \"Welcome to our Governor.\" and five addresses were delivered by the boys—one in English by Master G. George, one in Portuguese by Master J. Loureiro, one in Italian by Master J. Francis, one in French by Master J. Elziogre, and a fifth in English by a Chinese lad.\n\nIn reply, His Excellency the GOVERNOR delivered the following address:- Monsignor Raimondi, Mr. Director and Gentlemen,-I assure you that it was with much pleasure that I accepted the invitation to visit, this day, St. Joseph's College. It is alike my duty and my pleasure, as the Governor of this Colony, to encourage by every means in my power all literary and educational institutions. The active interest which during my long career as a Colonial Governor I have always taken in such establishments is formed on the conviction that, in the absence of moral and mental culture, the fabric of domestic life, and even the apparently firmest guarantees of political institutions, are equally insecure. It is admitted on all sides that the most formidable impediments to civilization and good government are—ignorance, and the evils which ignorance produces. The mass of suffering and of crime directly or indirectly traceable thereto is appalling. Thence come most of the inmates of our gaols, and of the victims of drunkenness, vice, and disease. The aggregate of their misery, and the loss of their services to the community are indeed grievous; while the cost of their punishment is a very serious item in the public expenditure. Every effort should be made to bring about a cure, or at least, a diminution of such evils; and, next to the influences of religion, no effort appears more reasonable, more ready at hand, and more likely to prove efficient than the liberal support by the Government of Colleges and Primary Schools, coupled with public libraries, museums, and literary associations, calculated to raise the moral and intellectual tone of the people, and to breathe a right spirit into them. I will not, on the present occasion, enter at length on a discussion of the various branches of education which should be taught in the Public Schools of this Colony. But I desire to take this opportunity of pointing out the supreme importance that the youth of all races in this heterogeneous community should acquire, for their own sake and with a view to their own advancement in life, a practical knowledge of the English language: which, like the English race, is fast overspreading the world from one end of it to the other. Already nearly 100 millions of mankind, in the British Isles, in the British Colonies, in the United States of America, and elsewhere, speak English as their mother tongue; while certainly not more than 40 millions so speak either French, or German, the European languages most diffused after English. On this subject, I will content myself by quoting the opinion which an eminent statesman and scholar of France expressed some years ago, as \"to the mission of England and the English language.\" He said: -\"England's great mission is that which was foretold by Shakespeare with his wonderful spirit of prophecy, not far from the time when the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot in the new world. It is to form empires; to be Magna Virum Mater; to spread over the earth freedom and civilization. Fifty years hence the United States of America will be more populous, more wealthy, and more powerful than any European community. One hundred years hence Australia will be a greater nation than the present United States. Some 300 millions of men, the most energetic in the world, will then speak English as their mother tongue. French, German, and Italian will then be dialects as comparatively insignificant as is now Dutch. Those French, German, and Italian authors who desire world-wide and permanent fame should write in English.\" It will be recollected that this is the testimony borne by an eminent Frenchman to the victorious progress of the English language. I would remind all who hear me that every native of this Colony, from whatever race he may have sprang, is by his very birthright, a son and heir of the British Empire; and that it is alike his duty and his interest, whatever career in life he may choose, to make himself master of the English language (applause). In conclusion, my young friends, I thank you heartily for the addresses which you have presented to me, and for the hearty welcome which you have given me on my first visit to St. Joseph's College. I congratulate you on the splendid site, and on the excellent arrangements of this institution, and on the progress which you have evidently made under the care of the Christian Brothers. I have seen that Brotherhood at work in the great cause of education in many parts of the world, and always with success. I shall have great pleasure in visiting St. Joseph's College again at the Annual Distribution of Prizes; and until then I wish you all health and happiness (Loud cheers).\n\nBishop RAIMONDI thanked His Excellency in his own name and that of the Christian Brothers for his presence there, and added that St. Joseph's College being under the grant-in-aid scheme and the greater part of the pupils being British subjects, it was and always would be their duty to promote a good sound English education, and to make the boys learn the language of that noble nation and liberal government of England, which extended to them its favour and protection.\n\nSeveral recitations in English by the scholars were then given, after which His Excellency inspected the building, and expressed his high satisfaction with it and its arrangements,\n\nAccompanied by Bishop Raimondi and Father Reidhar, the Governor proceeded to the Italian Convent. The young lady boarders executed several vocal and instrumental selections with great credit, after which two addresses were presented to His Excellency by them. His Excellency, in response, expressed his gratification with what he had seen, and his appreciation of the good effected in the colony by the Sisters of Charity.\n\nFrom the boarders the Governor passed to the orphans' section. Here the European orphans sang beautifully their \"Orphans' song,\" and delivered two addresses. His Excellency next proceeded to visit the Chinese orphans. The first to greet His Excellency were the little infants, forty in number, from two to seven years old. The Governor was then shown the school for the blind; ten blind Chinese girls could read, write, make accounts, and do knitting work; the last were the grown-up Chinese orphans, who sang in Chinese, and two of them said a few words of Italian, welcoming His Excellency. Before leaving the Convent, His Excellency again entered the Hall where the boarders were gathered, and the young ladies harmoniously sang \"God save the Queen.\" His Excellency left the Convent extremely satisfied with his visit.—Communicated.\n\n377", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-210 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [6-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 324917, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "page_number": 177, "title": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "content_text": "10\n\nsatisfactory condition\n\n6\n\nI will cause the\n\ncreation\n\nof the new Victoria College, which\n\nto\n\nhas been too long delayed owing to causes known at the Colonial Office,\n\nto be proceeded with as\n\nfast as the limited resources of the Public Works Department permit.\n\nI have the honour to be\n\nYour Lordship's Most obedient\n\nHumble servant,\n\nJ. Bowen\n\nPRIZE DAY AT THE CENTRAL SCHOOL.\n\nThe annual distribution of prizes at the Central School took place yesterday afternoon. His Excellency the Governor presided, and amongst the visitors present were the Misses Bowen, Mrs. Marsh, Hon. A. Lister, Hon. F. Stewart, Mr. Justice Russell, Rev. W. Jennings, Major Lloyd, Captain Accioni (Italian Navy), Mr. Dejardin (French Consul), Mr. Loureiro (Portuguese Consul), Mr. Machida (Japanese Consul), Mr. Romano (Brazilian Consul), Lieut. Vyryan, A.D.C., Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, Mr. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Rev. Dr. Eitel, Rev. Dr. Chalmers, Rev. E. Faber, Rev. R. Lechler, Mr. R. C. Wilcox, Mr. H. W. Hambling, Mr. Dorabjee Nowrojee, Mr. Lee Tak Cheong, &c.\n\nMr. G. H. B. Wright, M.A., the Head Master, said—Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, it is just two years since I arrived in this colony, and I am now taking part in the third annual distribution of prizes in which I have assisted. I can honestly say the excellent impression produced on me as a stranger at the first examination has deepened on further acquaintance into the conviction that the school is slowly, but steadily and surely, attaining its object of imparting a high-class English education to the youth of this colony. The total number of boys on the roll during the year was 556, and the average daily attendance 394, a higher figure than in the previous year. I do not wish to anticipate the report of the Inspector of Schools, but from the examination of the papers made for prize purposes, I conclude that 96 per cent. of the boys have passed. There has been, I am happy to say, a great improvement in the English subjects—composition, grammar, history, translation from and into English. During the last year, grammar was introduced as low as the ninth class, with excellent results in the examination. I am sure it is not necessary for me, after making these statements, to remark that the masters and assistants of this school deserve the highest credit and warmest congratulation for their work during the last year. I must not omit, however, to mention the zeal and interest displayed by Mr. Chape, who was acting master in the Middle School for ten months of the year. By the addition of Mr. May to the staff, I was enabled to divide the first class, which was a rather unwieldy-sized class, into two divisions. This division has produced marked results in the examination. The trustees of the Bailie's Scholarships have awarded two scholarships this year, the senior to the first boy in the first class and the junior to the first boy in the second class, for proficiency in general subjects. The capital of the scholarship presented by Mr. Neish Bain for engineering has been invested during the year, and the first competition will probably be held this time next year. In August last year, Your Excellency was pleased to approve of a suggestion of mine that four boys should be elected from outside district schools for free education in this school. Four boys were accordingly elected, and I am pleased to say they have all passed a creditable examination, one boy in the sixth class having gained the first prize. I have nothing further to add than to express my thanks to Your Excellency for presiding on this occasion and to those ladies and gentlemen who, by their presence to-day, have testified their interest in this school. (Applause).\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY—Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with much satisfaction that I have come here to-day to preside for the first time at the annual distribution of prizes at the Central School, the chief educational establishment maintained by the Government of this Colony; and in which nearly all the students are Chinese. I assure that you all have listened with interest and pleasure to the remarks just made by the Head Master.\n\nAs already well known, the present very inadequate building will soon be replaced by a handsome and convenient College, furnished with all the necessary appurtenances. (Applause.) Looking to the great and growing importance of this institution, and to the mature age of a large proportion of the students, I have sought and obtained permission to have the new building called Victoria College. (Applause.) I am sure that this entire community will loyally appreciate the honour thus conferred upon it by our gracious Sovereign, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, the Tai Huang-ti of the English race. (Applause.) It is recorded in the Chinese Classics that the grand philosopher, the Aristotle of China,—Kung Tze, called by Europeans Confucius,—once, when gazing upon a river, compared its pure and ceaseless current to the transmission of sound learning and morality through successive ages of mankind. So let us hope that, under the blessing of Heaven, Victoria College may endure throughout the great future of China, a main source whence will flow the streams of education and knowledge to generations yet unborn. (Applause.) Your own Confucius, my Chinese friends, was the \"Great Master of Knowledge,\" \"Il gran maestro di color che sanno\" in the Eastern world, as Dante said of Aristotle in the Western world. The moral philosophy of Aristotle has for centuries exercised a wide influence over the higher education of the Western nations; and so the teaching of Confucius has held predominant sway over the laws, the feelings, and the general life of the vast Empire of China; which comprises above one-fourth of the entire human race. In fact, the golden words of Confucius have the same force now as when they were first spoken twenty-five centuries ago. You should all treasure in your hearts what the Master said when he was asked—\"Is it not pleasant to learn with never-failing application and perseverance?\" And again, when he laid down the rule that \"A youth when at home should be obedient to his parents, and when abroad respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow with love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity after the performance of these primary duties, he should employ them in polite studies.\" With regard to the art of ruling men, Confucius said—\"A just Government is like the polar star which keeps its fixed place, while the other stars turn towards it.\" I assure all the Chinese in this island that the Government of Hongkong is desirous to treat them with justice, and not only \"with dry but with sympathetic justice,\" to quote a phrase recently used by an eminent English statesman. (Applause.) In short, the Government desires to extend to them the privileges of British subjects. A most worthy representative of the Chinese race, Mr. Wong Shing, has been appointed a member of the Colonial Legislature. Moreover, I have thrown open the minor posts in the public service to competitive examination without distinction of race or creed. There will thus be a wide field for honourable employment for all the youth of this island. Again, provision will shortly be made at the public expense to send a certain number of the most distinguished pupils of the colleges at Hongkong to complete their studies in England, as members of the legal or medical professions, or as civil engineers. (Applause.) It will be remembered that more than 2,000 years ago your Chinese ancestors had already established a national polity, a national code of law, and a national literature; had built great cities, and had made much progress in many of the industrial arts, at a period when the ancestors of what are now the three most powerful nations of Western Europe—the English, the Germans, and the French—whose magnificent squadrons are now in this harbour, had not yet emerged from barbarism. But in modern times, while China has remained well nigh stationary, the Western nations have made rapid and constant progress in all the arts that can promote and adorn civilization. I hope that a long succession of the Chinese students of this college, after completing their education in England, may have the honour of bringing back with them, and of introducing into their native land, the results of the humane and enlightened jurisprudence, and of the improved medical science of modern Europe, or may, as engineers, help to cover the vast Empire of China, as Europe has already been covered, with a network of railways and telegraphs, those powerful promoters of commercial intercourse and of the arts of modern civilization. (Applause.) And now, my young friends, I will conclude this address by reminding you of two famous and excellent Chinese proverbs:—\"Those persons are only asses and cows in men's clothes who neglect the study of the past and present\"—Jen pu hsiao ku chin, ma niu mien chin chi; and \"learning is far more precious than gold\"—Huang chin yu chia, shu wu chia—Loud Applause).\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY—I am very much pleased with everything I have seen, my young friends, and I think your general appearance, behaviour, and proficiency reflect great credit upon your excellent Head Master and on all the staff of masters. I am very much pleased with all that I have seen to-day. I am requested by the Head Master to announce that your holidays will now commence and last till Friday, the 22nd February. I hope you will enjoy the Chinese New Year, and that you will have much pleasure during that festive time, with plenty of crackers and fireworks of all sorts.\n\nThe boys then gave cheers for the Queen, for His Excellency, for the Head Master, and for the visitors.\n\nPage 175", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 325390, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "page_number": 650, "title": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "content_text": "# Speech at the Laying of the Foundation Stone of Victoria College\n\nhave mainly sprung—the Boltons and the Watts, the Telfourds and the Stevensons—and that under the expansive freedom and rapid\n\n· growth of colonial society, even more surely than in the Mother Isle, Britain opens for all her sons and subjects, whether native-born or adopted, a cheering prospect of honour and wealth, if genius be allied to industry, and, above all, to virtue. (Applause). I am glad to welcome here to-day my hon. friend, Stewart, who, as the first Head Master, performed successfully the difficult task of organizing the Central School on its first establishment. I am confident that the present Head Master (Mr. Wright) and his assistants, will follow the example of Mr. Stewart's honourable zeal, unflagging labour, and calm judgment. (Hear, hear). I trust that each fresh generation of professors and masters will be animated with a like spirit, and that long lines of successors of the first founders of this institution will exercise their important and interesting functions through years of growing usefulness and reputation for this College. The men will come and go, but the College will abide. In the well-known words of Virgil:-\n\nErgo ipsos quamvis angusti terminus ævi Excipiat:\n\nAt genus immortale manet; multosque per annos Stat Fortuna domus, et avi numerantur avorum. (Applause). At the recent distribution of prizes, I reminded you, my Chinese friends, that it is recorded in the Chinese classics that the great philosopher of your country, Kung Tze, or Confucius—the Aristotle of China—when gazing on a flowing river, once compared its bright and abounding stream to the transmission of pure morality and sound learning through successive ages of mankind. So let us once more express the hope that, under the blessing of Heaven, Victoria College—to be developed at some future day into Victoria University—may endure throughout the great future of China a main source whence will flow the streams of education and knowledge to generations yet unborn, in an Empire containing nigh one-fourth of the entire human race. (Applause). The Posterá crezcam, lauda recens of Horace should be once the motto and the aim of Victoria College. (Applause). Let me again remind you, moreover, that provision will shortly be made at the public expense to send a certain number of the most distinguished pupils of the Colleges at Hongkong to complete their studies in England, especially as members of the legal and medical professions, and as civil engineers. It is within my personal knowledge that many of the leading statesmen of England regard this project as at once the most powerful, the most legitimate, and the most honourable method of spreading British influence throughout the Eastern world. With me they trust that a long succession of our Chinese students, after completing their education in England, may have the honour of introducing into their native land the results of the humane and enlightened jurisprudence, and of the improved medical science of modern Europe, or may, as engineers and surveyors, help to cover the vast Empire of China, as Europe has already been covered, with a network of railways and telegraphs, those powerful promoters at once of commerce and of all the arts that advance and adorn civilization. (Applause). And now, gentlemen, I fear that I have already detained you too long; but let me end as I began this address, by the expression of my satisfaction at presiding on this auspicious occasion. I am much pleased, moreover, at finding myself surrounded by the Admiral Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces in China, by the Officer Commanding the Garrison, by the Bishop of Victoria, by the members of the Colonial Legislature, by the Judges and Heads of Departments, and by the most distinguished members of this community of every race and creed. I welcome your presence, as a proof of the interest which you feel in the great cause of education. (Applause). The time will surely come ere very long when any prejudices or passions of the present time will have been forgotten; and when the present generation of residents in this Colony will have itself passed away; and when another generation will have arisen, but a generation educated in the schools which the men of this generation have founded: governed by the laws which they have enacted: enjoying the benefits of the public works which they have erected; enriched by the trade and commerce of which they have fostered the beginnings. Perhaps the leading men of that future generation, meeting in the Hall of the future University of Victoria, may speak of some of us who are here assembled this day as free and civilized communities love to honour their early benefactors. Meanwhile, let us each and all work on in our separate fields of duty, with a patriotic eye to the public welfare; and let us not fail to invoke the blessing of Heaven on the work commenced this day. (Loud Applause).\n\nHis Excellency then proceeded to lay the stone, and having done so said—Ladies and gentlemen, I now declare this stone to be well and truly laid. (Enthusiastic Cheers).\n\nMr. WRIGHT, the Head Master, then said— I must now ask Your Excellency's permission to express for myself and the whole staff of masters the gratification that we have felt at the approbation with which you have been pleased to speak of our labours at the Central School! With regard to this stone we have seen laid with so much pleasure, although the situation is somewhat higher up the hill, we hope that Victoria College will never look down upon the Central School. (Laughter and applause).\n\nHon. F. STEWART (Acting Colonial Secretary) —Your Excellency, allow me to offer you my thanks for the reference you made to myself and to express my personal gratification with what has been done to-day. More than ten years ago I had hopes the laying of the foundation stone of the new school was close at hand; it has only taken place to-day. I am quite sure that what your Excellency has done to-day will be held in grateful remembrance by the Chinese community. (Applause).\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY—The hon. gentleman is good enough to thank me for what I said with reference to him. I assure you I did not say half enough to express my deep sense of what education in this colony owes to Mr. Stewart, because I know that merit and modesty are inseparable, and especially so in his case. (Applause).\n\nCheers were then given for Her Majesty, the Governor, Victoria College and Victoria University, Lady Bowen and the ladies, the Surveyor-General, and Mr. Stewart, after which the large assemblage separated.\n\nPage 647", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 325392, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "page_number": 652, "title": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "content_text": "have mainly sprung—the Boltons and the Watts, the Telfourds and the Stevensons—and that under the expansive freedom and rapid growth of colonial society, even more surely than in the Mother Isle, Britain opens for all her sons and subjects, whether native-born or adopted, a cheering prospect of honour and wealth, if genius be allied to industry, and, above all, to virtue. (Applause). I am glad to welcome here to-day my hon. friend Dr. Stewart, who, as the first Head Master, performed successfully the difficult task of organizing the Central School on its first establishment. I am confident that the present Head Master (Mr. Wright) and his assistants will follow the example of Mr. Stewart's honourable zeal, unflagging labour, and calm judgment. (Hear, hear). I trust that each fresh generation of professors and masters will be animated with a like spirit; and that long lines of successors of the first founders of this institution will exercise their important and interesting functions through years of growing usefulness and reputation for this College. The men will come and go, but the College will abide. In the well-known words of Virgil:---\n\nErgo ipsos quamvis angusti terminus aevi Excipiat;\n\nAt genus immortale manet; multosque per annos\n\nStat Fortuna domus, et avi numerantur avorum. (Applause).\n\nAt the recent distribution of prizes, I reminded you, my Chinese friends, that it is recorded in the Chinese classics that the great philosopher of your country, Kung Tzu, or Confucius—the Aristotle of China—when gazing on a flowing river, once compared its bright and abounding stream to the transmission of pure morality and sound learning through successive ages of mankind. So let us once more express the hope that, under the blessing of Heaven, Victoria College—to be developed at some future day into Victoria University—may endure throughout the great future of China a main source whence will flow the streams of education and knowledge to generations yet unborn, in an Empire containing nigh one-fourth of the entire human race. (Applause). The Posterá crescam laude recens of Horace should be at once the motto and the aim of Victoria College. (Applause). Let me again remind you, moreover, that provision will shortly be made at the public expense to send a certain number of the most distinguished pupils of the Colleges at Hongkong to complete their studies in England, especially as members of the legal and medical professions, and as civil engineers. It is within my personal knowledge that many of the leading statesmen of England regard this project as at once the most powerful, the most legitimate, and the most honourable method of spreading British influence throughout the Eastern world. With me they trust that a long succession of our Chinese students, after completing their education in England, may have the honour of introducing into their native land the results of the humane and enlightened jurisprudence, and of the improved medical science of modern Europe, or may, as engineers and surveyors, help to cover the vast Empire of China, as Europe has already been covered, with a network of railways and telegraphs, those powerful promoters at once of commerce and of all the arts that advance and adorn civilization. (Applause.)\n\nAnd now, gentlemen, I fear that I have already detained you too long, but let me end as I began this address, by the expression of my satisfaction at presiding on this auspicious occasion. I am much pleased, moreover, at finding myself surrounded by the Admiral Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces in China, by the Officer Commanding the Garrison, by the Bishop of Victoria, by the members of the Colonial Legislature, by the Judges and Heads of Departments, and by the most distinguished members of this community of every race and creed. I welcome your presence, as a proof of the interest which you feel in the great cause of education. (Applause). The time will surely come ere very long when any prejudices or passions of the present time will have been forgotten; and when the present generation of residents in this Colony will have itself passed away; and when another generation will have arisen, but a generation educated in the schools which the men of this generation have founded; governed by the laws which they have enacted; enjoying the benefits of the public works which they have erected; enriched by the trade and commerce of which they have fostered the beginnings. Perhaps the leading men of that future generation, meeting in the Hall of the future University of Victoria, may speak of some of us who are here assembled this day as free and civilized communities love to honour their early benefactors. Meanwhile, let us each and all work on in our separate fields of duty, with a patriotic eye to the public welfare; and let us not fail to invoke the blessing of Heaven on the work commenced this day. (Loud Applause.)\n\nHis Excellency then proceeded to lay the stone, and having done so said—Ladies and gentlemen, I now declare this stone to be well and truly laid. (Enthusiastic Cheers.)\n\nMr. WRIGHT, the Head Master, then said—\n\nI must now ask Your Excellency's permission to express for myself and the whole staff of masters the gratification that we have felt at the approbation with which you have been pleased to speak of our labours at the Central School. With regard to this stone we have seen laid with so much pleasure, although the situation is somewhat higher up the hill, we hope that Victoria College will never look down upon the Central School. (Laughter and applause).\n\nHon. F. STEWART (Acting Colonial Secretary)—Your Excellency, allow me to offer you my thanks for the reference you made to myself and to express my personal gratification with what has been done to-day. More than ten years ago I had hopes the laying of the foundation stone of the new school was close at hand; it has only taken place to-day. I am quite sure that what your Excellency has done to-day will be held in grateful remembrance by the Chinese community. (Applause).\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY—The hon. gentleman is good enough to thank me for what I said with reference to him. I assure you I did not say half enough to express my deep sense of what education in this colony owes to Mr. Stewart, because I know that merit and modesty are inseparable, and especially so in his case. (Applause).\n\nCheers were then given for Her Majesty, the Governor, Victoria College and Victoria University, Lady Bowen and the ladies, the Surveyor-General, and Mr. Stewart; after which the large assemblage separated.\n\nPage 649", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326793, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "page_number": 257, "title": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "content_text": "# PRIZE DAY AT ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE\n\nEnclosure 21\n\nThe annual distribution of prizes to the boys of the St. Joseph's College who had gained rewards at the last examination took place on Saturday afternoon. The large room of the building was decorated with evergreens, paper chandeliers, etc., and at the western end a large daïs was erected. Proceedings commenced at three o'clock, when H. E. the Governor entered the room accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Capt. Lewis. His Excellency was conducted to the chair, and the National Anthem was played on the piano by two of the boys. Amongst the large assemblage present were Vice-Admiral Sir W. M. Dowell, Commodore Morani, the Very Rev. Bishop Raimondi, Hon. E. L. O'Malley (Attorney-General), Mr. L. De jardin (Consul for France), Mr. A. G. Romano (Consul for Portugal and Brazil), Mr. Machida (Consul for Japan), Capt. T. C. Dempster (Adjutant of Police), Mr. A. Coxon, Mr. J. J. Francis, Mr. G. H. Bateson-Wright, M.A., Mr. Sallé, etc.\n\nBishop RAIMONDI opened the proceedings with the following address---Your Excellencies the Governor and Admiral Dowell, ladies and gentlemen, it is with the most sincere feelings of gratitude that the directors and pupils of St. Joseph's College greet your Excellency's coming here to distribute the prizes a second time to the pupils. Amidst rumours of war, hostilities, insurrections and disturbances, the pupils of St. Joseph's College enjoy the greatest peace, and the pupils are pursuing their studies under the glorious British flag. St. Joseph's College and the Christian Brothers are, I suppose, known to your Excellency. With regard to the scholastic year nothing very extraordinary has been done, but something has been done in the right direction. The number of pupils is always on the increase. Last year, when we opened this new building there were in all about 300 pupils; this year we have nearly 400. The attendance, if good in the preceding years, has been very good this year, a fact which, considering the enervating tropical climate we live in, is of no small importance. The examination took place this year a little earlier than usual. The pupils of the Chinese division obtained a higher percentage than last year---about 95 per cent in round numbers.\n\nIt has been asserted that the standards cramp the development of the youths' intellects, while others contend they are necessary to test the progress of the boys. The Christian Brothers, desirous to satisfy the holders of both views, have, while adhering to the subjects required by the standards, opened some extra classes to facilitate the acquisition of more knowledge by the students. This year, for instance, besides the extra subjects in the special class, such as algebra, geometry, mensuration, languages, etc., the Christian Brothers opened a class for drawing. From the drawings which you probably noticed in passing through this hall, Your Excellency will see the great progress which has been made by the boys in this branch. We regret that this year there was no pupil of St. Joseph's College who presented himself to compete for the Government scholarship. This was mainly due to the tender age of the boys, but in future years, as they grow older than they are now, I am sure they will take advantage of such a kind offer made to them.\n\nSeveral of the boys have as usual obtained situations during the year. But what I have been more pleased with, was to see the boys begin to relish study, to love knowledge. Every one who has been engaged in educating youths in this part of the world will concur with me that it is not a very easy task. As a rule boys here wish to study just enough to gain for themselves a situation and no more. They are true positivists. They don't believe in anything but that which they can see with their own eyes and feel with their own hands, and they will not consent to study any subject unless they see an immediate advantage to be derived from it. This year, however, I am pleased to say, we have in St. Joseph's College more than twenty boys who have completed the course of education prescribed by the grant-in-aid scheme, voluntarily remaining in a seventh class to acquire more knowledge, and to thoroughly master the English language and English composition. Moreover, they have formed, with some ex-pupils of St. Joseph's College, a society, a kind of literary club, where they meet to practise the English language and English composition, and out of their economy, assisted by some friends, they have started a library, which already possesses some excellent works.\n\nI have no hesitation in asserting that all this is mainly due to the kind words of encouragement which your Excellency addressed to the pupils last year, and to the interest your Excellency takes in educational matters, especially in the founding of the Government scholarships, which are entirely due to Your Excellency. I can assure Your Excellency the pupils of St. Joseph's College, although belonging to different nationalities, are all unanimous in not only revering your Excellency as the worthy representative of our gracious Queen, but also in loving your Excellency as the patron and promoter of education. (Applause). Your Excellency has kindly consented to distribute the prizes. There are not quite so many this year as last year. According to your Excellency's advice they have been reduced by a good third. They are still numerous, however, and there will be room for further reduction next year. I hope your Excellency will not get fatigued by distributing them.\n\nH. E. the GOVERNOR---Monsignor Raimondi, ladies, and gentlemen, as I have said on similar occasions to the present, it is one of the first duties of every Governor to promote by all means in his power, and to use every effort to advance the great and noble cause of education---that most splendid, and at the same time that most useful department in every state. Accordingly I gladly accepted the invitation of my reverend friend, Monsignor Raimondi, to preside to-day on this interesting and important occasion. (Applause). I am sure you will all rejoice to see here to-day not only the Governor, but also the Admiral commanding Her Majesty's naval forces on this Station, and Commodore Morant. I believe it is only by an accident that Lieut.-General Sargent is not also here, because I understood from the Bishop just now that he promised to come. I am sure you are glad to see all the chief officers of the Imperial Government here in a gathering composed of every class of our mixed population. (Applause). It is a proof of their sympathy with the entire Community.\n\nBishop Raimondi referred to the discourse I made last year, if I recollect aright I made rather a long speech then. I certainly will not inflict such an oration upon you on this occasion, especially after the very interesting address of Monsignor Raimondi, which gave such a clear and accurate statement of the present conditions and prospects of this institution. I am sure you are all very pleased to hear the report of the progress that has been made under the Christian Brothers. (Applause). Speaking of the efforts of the Christian Brothers, who principally manage this institution, I have met members of that Society at work in many parts of the world, and always with zeal and success. I am sure the College owes much to their energy and abilities applied always under the active and enlightened supervision of Bishop Raimondi.\n\nBefore proceeding to distribute the prizes, I propose making a very few remarks to the students I now see ranged before me. I echo the regret expressed just now by the Bishop that no pupil of St. Joseph's College was a candidate for the Government Scholarship. I hope this omission will not occur in future years. My object in proposing and the object of the Colonial Legislature in founding the Government Scholarships, was to promote education among every class in the colony, without distinction of race or creed; that all should have an opportunity given them of being sent to Europe and there finishing their studies, so that they can come back here and practise in the professions of law, or medicine, or civil engineering. (Applause). As I have said on former occasions, I believe this will be an advantage not only to Hongkong, but to all the neighbouring countries. I have seen the pupils of Hongkong schools holding high positions in Japan and China. This is a very legitimate way of extending British influence throughout the East. These young men who rise to high positions in life in other countries will always recollect that they owe their education to the advantages that were afforded them at Hongkong under the British flag. (Applause).\n\nI would also ask you to remember the golden words which fell from the lips of Bishop Raimondi last year, which he has repeated again this year, namely, the exhortation to you to master the English language, which like the English race, is fast overspreading the earth. You should remember, moreover, that every naturalised or native-born British subject here, from whatever race he may have sprung, is a son and heir of the British Empire equally with Englishmen themselves, and is entitled to all those privileges... \n\nPage 254", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 337280, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8]", "page_number": 311, "title": "CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8]", "content_text": "303\n\ntaught in any class being compulsory to every boy in that class,--but the examination in Grammar is not. The system is, in the Grant-in-Aid System, confined to Analysis Parsing and Definitions, nor in Geography to Map drawing and Definitions; on the contrary, searching general questions are set, more after the type of the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations; nor must I forget to mention the two papers, translation from and into Chinese, in each class, which prove such a stumbling-block to non-Chinese boys and so ruthlessly handicap them in the race for prizes. The system I adopted on arrival, and which I have since maintained, is that to pass in each subject a boy must obtain at least half-marks, and failure in more than half the subjects of his class makes a boy a complete failure. This year there were 15 subjects in the First Class, as opposed to 8 subjects in 1882; therefore this year, a boy required for a bare pass, as much as would have gained him excellent distinction six years ago. If this School had been examined on Grant-in-Aid principles, we could have presented 69 boys in the highest Standard, Standard VI; 41 in Standard V, 102 in Standard IV; 100 in Standard III; 52 in Standard II; and 20 in Standard I; moreover Copy-writing would have been taken into account for 274 boys, instead of merely for the 70 boys at the bottom of the school.\n\n5. The Upper School was examined in a first year's work in Latin, the same paper was set to all three classes, and though the questions were stiff, very creditable answers were obtained. Class I was examined in three books of Euclid; and in Algebra offered Surds, Scales of Notation, &c. up to Harmonical Progression. Class IV passed excellently in Algebra and Euclid.\n\n## STAFF\n\n6. Mr. ARTHUR, Third Master, was transferred to the Magistracy early in the year. He was a thoroughly efficient, successful, and popular teacher, able to maintain excellent discipline without any ostentation, and having no need to resort to severity. In the important subject of English Reading and Pronunciation, which, to those not practically engaged in teaching English to foreigners, might appear easy, he was unrivalled. The school was fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. JAMESON, a graduate of Peterhouse Cambridge, whose engagement at another school happily terminated at the time of Mr. ARTHUR's transfer. Mr. JAMESON laboured strenuously throughout the year, with what success may be estimated from the fact that only one boy failed, out of the three classes in his charge, which comprised 126 boys. On April 1st Mr. Mox, 3rd Chinese Assistant was transferred to the Registrar General's Office, Mr. Cnt took his place, and Mr. Lo Kit was promoted from Senior Pupil Teacher to be 4th Chinese Assistant. In my report on the requirements of the New School forwarded twelve months ago, I drew special attention to the injury done to the school, by Masters, English and Chinese, leaving on account of dissatisfaction with salaries, and I trust that my suggestions on this head will meet with the approval of the authorities.\n\n7. That the whole Staff deserves credit for the past year's work is evident from the results of Examination given above; but I wish to bear my testimony to the important fact, of which I alone can be cognisant, that in this school, there is no spasmodic cramming at the end of the year, with a view to dazzling effect; but steady uniform work, willingly and cheerfully performed consistently throughout the year. As in the New School a larger amount of responsibility in teaching will fall into the hands of the Chinese Assistants, I desire to draw particular attention to the good results obtained by the four classes V-VIII, which were entrusted to the care of the four Chinese Assistants. The excellent papers, in most instances, done by these boys, in English Grammar, Geography, Dictation and Arithmetic show that there is no ground for apprehension, that English subjects cannot be adequately taught by Chinese.\n\n8. I have received from Mr. JAMESON, Master in charge of the Preparatory School, a very favourable report of the work done by the six Articled Pupil Teachers. This is very satisfactory, and marred alone by the fact, that one of the Pupil Teachers gave evidence of persistent neglect of his First Class studies, which culminated, as might naturally be expected, in a pass, which can only be viewed as discreditable.\n\n## CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATION\n\n9. The six candidates who entered for the Cambridge Local Examination in 1886 acquitted themselves well. The Senior candidate passed in Arithmetic, English Grammar, Composition, and History, Geography, Euclid, and Algebra, but failed in Scripture. As a Chinese, he had natural difficulty with this subject, but his experience has led him to devote more attention to it for the late examination. Of the five Juniors, Howard and MADAR obtained certificates and have therefore the distinction of being the first Hongkong boys to obtain that honour; two others WONG FAN and WONG PING failed only in History and Geography, or it may be in only one of these as particulars were not given. The remaining boy was incapacitated by fever. That the boys themselves considered this result encouraging is evident from the fact, that they all entered for the late examination; MADAR abandoned the project only on leaving school, and five new boys swelled the number. In October last the Colonial Secretary, Hon. F. STEWART, LL.D., presented the parchments to the two successful candidates, for it seemed specially appropriate that the late headmaster should perform in his old school a ceremony, that occurred for the first and last time, and which will prove a prominent link between this school and the new college.\n\n10. I cannot refrain from here taking the opportunity to defend the Local Examinations against two serious imputations, cramming and competition, that have been laid to their charge. Cramming, the process by which a man of experience reduces, for the sake of his pupils, the wide area of any given subject, by judiciously selecting those portions, on which questions are likely to be set. This method is open to the obvious objection that first principles and sound basis are sacrificed to show results in answer to Catch Questions. Now when year after year, bodies of examiners, like the Oxford Delegates and Cambridge Syndicate set forth varied questions, testing the knowledge of rudiments in each subject, as well as embracing the highest achievements, and at the same time distinctly state that each candidate must satisfy the examiners in Rudimentary knowledge in each subject--to talk of cramming in connexion with these examinations merely argues want of information in those who hazard the statement. As regards the Central School, this charge is simply ludicrous; the local candidates study their subjects in a class of 60 boys; only one hour a week, in the afternoon, is allowed for instructions in each of the special subjects (as Shakespeare and the Epoch of History) and for instruction in Higher Euclid and Algebra.\n\n11. The idea of Competition is foreign to the purpose of local examinations, which is to provide one standard for boys educated in different schools on widely varying principles. Each boy does his best to pass well, and if possible to obtain distinction; but there is no personal emulation to urge him to outstrip any particular boy, which is the necessary element of competition as applied to school-boy life. Unfortunately, however, the attempt has been made, to raise the spirit of competition, not among scholars but schools. Such a feeling should not be admitted for a moment; not only is there no contest, but there is actually no uniformity of conditions. One school may send in all the boys in certain classes, another may offer only selected candidates. One school may have a large staff of masters, another may be without this advantage. It is not the custom in England, as far as my personal knowledge reaches, for comparison to be made between the results in different schools in the same town. Whatever wholesome emulation may be personally stirred among the masters, no comparisons are drawn between the results (say) of a Grammar School and of a Board School, nor between the latter and those of a Denominational School; nor in fact would it be possible as the basis of comparison is wanting.\n\n## OLD SCHOLARS\n\n12. In the past year we were gratified by the news of Mr. WALTER BOSMAN'S (Government Scholar) final success at the Engineering College at the Crystal Palace. He was presented with the Society's Bronze Medal for sustained distinction, in no less than 9 terminal examinations. His future successes will not come within the scope of School Reports, but he will continue to carry with him the good wishes of his old school-fellows and schoolmasters.\n\n13. It is also worthy of note that Mr. TAI TIN-eur, who left the Second Class of this school at midsummer after showing marked aptitude for English Studies, graduated last November as Sau Tsoi at Canton. I am informed that this is the first time this success has been achieved by a Central School boy. It must, however, be clearly understood that the credit of this success does not belong to this school, for as a rule we can do but little more than preserve the knowledge of Chinese a boy brings with him; still Mr. TAI has shown conclusively that application to English studies need not cause a boy to abandon the pursuit of native literature.\n\n## HEALTH\n\n14. The health of the school suffered from the fever and small-pox prevalent in the town, at the close of the year. The Sick List in December is the largest I remember.\n\n## CONCLUSION\n\n15. I will conclude with a few general remarks. The new school is lasting to its completion, and I sincerely trust, that we are not doomed to pass another summer in these overcrowded class-rooms, from which air is effectually blocked out by the houses that hem us in, on every side. It may be that in another year Chinese dwellings may stand on the site of this old School, but its memory will endure; a dozen Morrison scholars, and one Government scholar, hundreds of clerks in English and Chinese Government Service, and a countless number of mercantile clerks scattered over the Far East will have these old walls photographed on their memory of happy youthful days, as long as life shall last. The standard of education at the Central School may be said this year to have attained its High Water mark, it only remains for the Victoria College to take this tide at the flood and so be led on to Fame and Fortune.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\nGEO. H. BATESON WRIGHT, M.A., \nHead Master.\n\nThe Hon. FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D., \nColonial Secretary, \n&c., \n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 337285, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8]", "page_number": 316, "title": "CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8]", "content_text": "## 314\n\n(recently placed under the Grant-in-Aid Scheme) took up those same special subjects. The Victoria English Schools came out strongest in this respect, gaining the proportionately largest number of passes, in Book-keeping (Turner's Commercial Guide and Hunter's Civil Service Examination Questions), Algebra, Euclid, and Physical Geography. St. Joseph's College also distinguished itself both by the number of higher subjects taken up (adding Findlater's Astronomy to the other subjects), and by the thoroughness in which these subjects were taught. The increase in the expenditure, thus caused, made it necessary to subject all the various Classes of Schools to a uniform reduction of the grants nominally earned. There was no injustice in including under this reduction also the Schools in Class I and III, because both those Classes of Schools, but especially the Chinese Schools in Class I, being comparatively inexpensive Schools, had all along an undue advantage annually earning from three fourths to nine tenths of their actual expenditure, whilst Schools in Class IV generally earn a grant covering, at the best, one fourth or one third of their expenses.\n\n19. The Needle work Examination was conducted on the plan adopted several years ago which now appears to work satisfactorily. Greater strictness has been exercised in 1887 in excluding from examination, after timely previous warning, any kind of needle work which did not come clearly under the denomination of plain sewing. The aim is to encourage domestic and practically useful needle-work rather than decorative and fancy work.\n\n20. Arrangements have been made, during the year 1887, to award the Hongkong Government Scholarship henceforth on the basis of written examinations conducted by the Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, the Inspector of Schools acting as Local Presiding Examiner. Opportunity was also taken of this measure, which is virtually another effect of the introduction in the Colony of the above-mentioned Cambridge Local Examinations, to remodel the conditions of the Hongkong Government Scholarship in other respects.\n\n21. I enclose the usual Tables, I to XVI, containing the Educational Statistics for the year 1887.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\n**TABLE 1-NUMBER OF SCHOLARS attending School subject to Government Supervision during 1887**\n\n| Native School (Govt.) | Native School (Aided) | Grant-in-Aid School | Name of School |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | 37 | + | American Board Mission, Bridges Street (Boys) |\n| | | + | Station Street (Boys), Hinglung Lane (Boys) |\n| | | T | Aplichau |\n| | | | Queen's Road West (Boys) |\n| | 7 | ** | Basel Mission, High Street (Girls) |\n| | 8 | | Shamshulpo (Boys) |\n| | | | Berlin Mission (Girls) |\n| 10 | 11 | IL | Central School (Boys) |\n| 12 | 34 | | Poltinger Street (Boys) |\n| 13 | 31 | | |\n| | | yg | |\n| | | 17 | |\n| | 74 | | |\n| | 27 | | |\n| | => | | |\n| | | 20 | |\n| | | 21 | |\n| | | 22 | |\n| | 17 | | |\n| | W | | |\n| | 28 | | C. M. S., St. Stephen's 1. Division (Boys) |\n| | | | Lyndhurst Terrace (Boys) |\n| | | | Salyingptún (Boys) |\n| | | | St. Stephen's Baxter Memorial (Girls) |\n| | | | Lyndhurst Ferraro (Girls) |\n| | | | Third Street (Girls) |\n| | | | Yaumati (Mixed) |\n| | | | Hunghow (Boys) |\n| | | | Diocesan Home and Orphanage (Boys) |\n| | | | F. E. S., Bonham Road (Girls) |\n| | 20 | | Hoktsui |\n| | | | Hokün |\n| | | | High Street (Girls) |\n| | | | Queen's Road (Girls) |\n| | | | Hollywood Road (Girls) |\n| | | | Pottinger Street (Girls) |\n| | | | Stanley School (Girls) |\n| | | | Shaukiwán |\n| 30 | | | Hongkong Public School (Boys) |\n| | | | Hunghom |\n| | | | Little Hongkong |\n| | | | L. M. S., Hollywood Road (Boys) |\n| | | | Wantoni (Boys) |\n| | | | Shekt'ongtsui (Boys) |\n| | | | Salyingpin I. Division (Boys) |\n| | JI | | (Boys) |\n| | | | Hunghom (Boys) |\n| | | | Aberdeen Street (Girls) |\n| | | | Shekongtsui (Girls) |\n| | | | Kau-ü-fong (Girls) |\n| | | | Ship Street (Girls) |\n| | | | Stanley Street (Girls) |\n| | | | East Street (Boys) |\n| 71 | F! | | Lower Lascar Row (Girls) |\n| | | | Tanglungchau (Girls) |\n| | | | Tairingslum Chapel (Girls) |\n| | | | Salyingpin First Street (Girls) |\n| | | | Wantsai (Girls) |\n| | | | Staunton Street Upper School (Girls) |\n| | | | Lower (Girls) |\n| 31 | | | |\n| 32 | | | year 1887 |\n| 33 | 3+ | | |\n| 12 | 35 | +7 | Yaunti (Boys) |\n| * | 21 | 50 | |\n| | 71 | 51 | E. J. EITEL, M.A., Ph. D., Inspector of Schools |\n| 52 | 3 | | |\n| | | | Mát'auch'ung |\n| 54 | | | Máriaustin |\n| 55 | | | Mongkok |\n| 56 | 7 | | New Village (Little Hongkong) |\n| | | | Nampakhong Tokwáwau (Boys) |\n| 58 | | | Pokfulmu |\n| 59 | | | R. C. M., Cathedral School (Boys) |\n| M | | | |\n| 61 | } | | |\n| 62 | } | | |\n| 63 | }} | | |\n| G | GF | | |\n| 11 | 67 | | Bridges Street, Poor School (Girls) |\n| | | | St. Joseph's College Chinese Division (Boys) |\n| | European # | | |\n| | | | Italian Convent (Girls) |\n| | | | (Boys) |\n| | | | Bridges Street Portuguese School (Mixed) |\n| | | | St. Francis Chapel, Portuguese School (Mixed) |\n| | | | Victoria Portuguese School (Mixed) |\n| 65 | | | English School (Boys) |\n| | (Girls) | | |\n| 69 | | | Sayingpan (English) |\n| 70 | (Punti) | | |\n| 71 | (Hakka) | | |\n| 72 | | | Shalwin |\n| 73 | | | Shaukiwán |\n| 7-1 | | | Sheko |\n| 76 | | | |\n| 77 | | | St. Paul's College Anglo-Chinese (Boys) |\n| 78 | | | Stanley |\n| 79 | | | Taitantuk |\n| 80 | | | Taiwongkang |\n| $1 | | | Tanglungchau (Hakko) |\n| | 19 | | (Punti) |\n| N1 | | | Tokwawan (Eastern Village) |\n| $5 | | | (Western Village) |\n| 86 | | | Tsatiszemúi |\n| $7 | | | Wantsai (English) |\n| S8 | | | (Chinese) |\n| | | | Wesleyan Mission, Spring Gardens (Boys) |\n| > | | | Wellington Street (Boys) |\n| 80 | | | |\n| 90 | | | Wongkoktaui |\n| 92 | | | Wongmakok |\n| 93 | | | Wougnaichung |\n| 94 | | | Yaumati |\n| | (Girls) | | |\n| 127 | 215 | 117 | Total |\n| 32 | 100 | 42 | |\n| | 601 | 868 | 310 |\n| | 4,100 | 5,971 | 40 |\n| | 65 | 70 | 76 |\n| | 36 | 47 | 20 |\n| | 18 | | |\n\nThe Hon. FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.,\nColonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 339492, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-242 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1889 [8-12]", "page_number": 83, "title": "CO129-242 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1889 [8-12]", "content_text": "82 \n\n## Ac-\n\n6. In educational matters the case of Hongkong is on all fours with the case of India, and therefore the educational principles and methods, which in the course of the last thirty-five years have commended themselves as practically sound and beneficial to the Government of India, deserve every attention in shaping the educational policy of the Hongkong Government. In 1854 the education of the whole people of India (excluding no one class) was definitely accepted as a State duty and the famous Despatch of 1854, which still forms the charter of Education in India, laid it down that \"English is to be taught wherever there is a demand for it, but it is not to be substituted for the vernacular languages of the country.\" Accordingly the Government of India not only established Departmental Schools for girls as well as for boys wherever there was the smallest demand for English teaching, but liberally aided and encouraged Missionary Societies in promoting public and private (Zenana) instruction, in English, given to native girls. Accordingly we find among the recommendations made, after the most careful and wide-reaching investigations, by the Indian Education Commission, the following Resolution (§ 682, No. 1), \"that female education be treated as a legitimate charge alike on Local, on Municipal, and on Provincial Funds, and receive special encouragement,” and further (§ 682, No. 9) \"that liberal aid be offered for the establishment, in suitable localities, of Girls' Schools in which English should be taught in addition to the vernacular.\" \n\n7. In view of the above considerations and encouraged by the Minute (on C.S.D. 393 of 1889) in which His Excellency the Governor stated, with reference to my last Annual Report, that he will be prepared to consider, in connection with the Estimates for 1890, my recommendations with regard to a Girls' School, I now beg formally to recommend that measures be taken at once with a view to start, on 1st March, 1890, a Government Girls' School, offering to girls of all nationalities an elementary English or Anglo-Chinese education on the principles of the Government Central School (now Victoria College). The details of the scheme will be subject to the special consideration of the Government, as they practically come to the surface hereafter, but the general outlines of the scheme now submitted for the approval of the Government are as follow.\n\n8. As to House accommodation it is absolutely essential that the School be located in a central part of the town, because for various reasons Chinese girls could not be induced to go to school if the building were situated in an out-of-the-way locality. It is further essential for sanitary reasons that the School-house be of the European style of architecture. Eventually a building, specially to be designed for the purposes of a School, will have to be erected, but, to begin with, a house built in the European style and situated in a central part of the town might be utilized, until a proper School-building can be secured. The house to be rented for the present would also afford quarters for the Head-mistress, and her Assistant Teacher.\n\n9. The Head-mistress should be obtained from England, under the approval of the Secretary of State. She should be a trained, certificated, unmarried English lady, not less than 22 and not over 28 years of age. She should possess experience in teaching, organizing or superintending elementary Girls' Schools, have a superior knowledge of needle-work and enjoy good health.\n\nHer duties should be, to organize the proposed Girls' School with the aid of an Assistant Teacher and a Pupil Teacher, to instruct the upper classes of the English division of the School in the subjects of an ordinary English Middle Class School, to superintend the teaching to be given by the Assistant Teacher and Pupil Teacher in the lower classes of the English division, also to give general superintendence to the Chinese division of the School consisting of the already existing two Chinese Girls' Schools at present located in separate Chinese houses. Finally it should be a special duty incumbent on the Head-mistress to assist the Inspector of Schools in the annual examinations of the needle-work done in the Grant-in-Aid Schools of the Colony.\n\nThe terms to be offered to such a Head-mistress should be as follow:- First-class passage paid to Hongkong, but no subsequent passage paid, unless the engagement terminate at or (through illness) before the end of three years; salary to be 1,200 Mexican dollars per annum, payable monthly; quarters provided; twelve months' leave (if substitute can be found) at the end of six years' service, viz., 4 months on full pay and 8 months on half pay; study of Chinese language (colloquial only) to be obligatory, but teacher provided by Government and progress tested by half-yearly examinations through examiners specially to be appointed for the purpose by the Government. The Head-mistress should leave England in the first week of January, 1890, drawing half-pay from the day of leaving England and full pay from the day of her arrival in Hongkong.\n\n10. The expenses involved in the above scheme and requiring special consideration in connection with the Estimates for 1890, are as under\n\n| Item | Amount ($) |\n| --- | --- |\n| Passage to Hongkong to be paid through Crown Agents | 400.00 |\n| Salary of Head-mistress, 1 month half pay ($50) and 2 months' full pay @ $100 | 250.00 |\n| House rent, 12 months @ $115 | 1,380.00 |\n| Furniture for School rooms | 100.00 |\n| School materials | 50.00 |\n| Salary of Assistant Teacher, 10 months @ $25 | 250.00 |\n| Pupil Teacher, 10 months @ $5 | 50.00 |\n| Wages of coolie, 12 months @ $6 | 72.00 |\n| Wages of Scavenger 10 months @ $2 | 20.00 |\n| Total estimated expenses | 2,472.00 (corrected from $ 8,472.00) |\n\nAs I expect the School will, during the first year, have at least 50 scholars in the English Division, paying each $1 a month as School fees, I estimate that, in the 10 months, the school fees will amount to at least $500. In the Chinese Division I propose to charge no fees, according to previous custom.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nThe Honourable F. STEWART, LL.D., \nColonial Secretary.\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient Servant,\n\nE. J. EITEL, M.A., Ph.D., \nInspector of Schools.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-242 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1889 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 343589, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-247 - Acting Governor Fleming Governor Des Voeus - 1890 [10-12]", "page_number": 336, "title": "CO129-247 - Acting Governor Fleming Governor Des Voeus - 1890 [10-12]", "content_text": "335\n\nenjoying an immortality in the hearts of his scholars in all parts of China, I might say the world, his memory will be kept green in Victoria College by the scholarship founded in his honour by old scholars in 1884. I believe too that the Memorial Committee appointed since his death contemplate applying to the Government for permission to affix some permanent memorial in the College Hall.\n\n5. It was originally proposed that Victoria College should furnish accommodation for 770 boys, a number which was supposed by some to be extravagantly large. By the simple expedient of dividing all the desks into six instead of five parts, seats have been provided for 960 boys (including the Pupil Teachers' room) affording each boy a space, that compares favourably with what is required in England; while future undue crowding, an evil long felt at the Central School is rendered impossible by each boy's space being defined by his desk-lid. In addition to the manifest saving of expense in providing education for 924 boys by the same staff as was allotted to 770, there are great advantages derived from the assembling of a larger number of boys in one building; these are—one continuous system of education, as the larger number of boys to be promoted from lower classes will gradually lessen the number of admissions into higher classes from other schools,—a prolongation of the course, which will delay the undue promotion of backward boys which has long been to their detriment, and to the discredit of the upper classes—and the more effective shading off of degrees of knowledge so that too great a stride in education will no longer follow on promotion. There were 800 boys on the Roll in September, and there is every reason to believe that the College will be full in a year or two, if not next month.\n\n6. During the past year there were on the Roll 790 Chinese and Eurasians, 23 English, 4 Germans, & Hebrews, 1 Hindu, 10 Japanese, 86 Mohammedans, 1 Parsee and 46 Portuguese. This college can therefore in a marked degree lay claim to a cosmopolitan character.\n\n7. Chinese boys, as a rule, are very intelligent, docile and painstaking. That they are intelligent is established by the large number of boys, that in the short period of five or six years have advanced from the alphabet to a knowledge of English sufficient to do a creditable paper on a play of Shakespeare. Their docility proverbially arouses the admiration of every new master from England. Painstakingness is a national characteristic sometimes provoking to the more impetuous European. It might be thought that with these admirable traits the work of teaching in this College would be an easy task and the results should be even higher than they are. There would be grounds for this supposition, if there were not serious compensating drawbacks such as the following. Stolidity and absence of facial expression render it next to impossible for a teacher to gather how much of what he says is understood by the class; he has not the satisfaction of seeing perplexed ignorance dissolve into triumphant knowledge, for difficulties do not pucker the brow, nor does success kindle the eye of the Chinese student. This difficulty is increased tenfold by the fact that all instruction is given in English, thus there is not merely the doubt whether a boy understands the subject itself, but a fear that he does not grasp the phrase in which it is conveyed. Again the Chinese answer in English with a single word after the genius of their own language leaving a great deal to the imagination; such a habit is hard to break, and very tantalising to the teacher, as the curt answer may contain a correct idea or the reverse. Further where an English boy would answer to the best of his ability, even running the risk of a mistake, or would ask the master for assistance or explanation, a Chinese is deterred by a nervous fear of the ridicule of his comrades. Once again, though keen in detecting the shades of their dozen native tones, Chinese ears are remarkably dull in detecting the difference in English vowel sounds, and between sharp and flat consonants; the result of all which is impossible mistakes in Dictation and Reading. It might be thought too, that the inherited power of memory in the Chinese race, of which one hears so much would prove a considerable factor in their progress, but this is far from being the case. It would certainly be so in Examinations if special care were not taken in framing the questions to avoid putting them in such a form as would allow of an answer being previously committed to memory. But as a matter of fact, in daily school life there would appear to be a sad lack of an intelligent memory, the master cannot rely on the work done in the previous year as a foundation on which to raise a higher superstructure. I have dwelt at this length on the characteristics of Chinese boys, because only those daily engaged in the task of teaching know exactly where the difficulties lie, and because some explanation is thus afforded of the necessity of the slow progress that has been made in the past, and may be expected for some time in the future.\n\n8. To impart the principles of a sound education in English is the main object of this Government Institution. In the distribution of work to each class this is steadily aimed at, and strict injunctions are given to employ the English language alone in all instruction, except of course in the Translation Lessons and when occasionally in the Junior Classes difficulties require to be explained in Chinese. The natural consequence of this is that the boys become very apt at understanding what is said to them in English. The great problem is how to get boys to speak English before they leave school. Experience has shown that, within a few months after obtaining a situation, our Chinese boys, with their store of grammatical rules and knowledge of composition, develop the power of speaking English very creditably; but, as a rule, only Pupil Teachers and Monitors really speak English well before leaving school. This would seem to point clearly to a want of self-confidence, and to the absence of the necessity. Special attention will in the future be paid to this in Junior classes.\n\nThe work of the upper classes is at present regulated by the requirements of the Oxford Senior Local Examination,\n\nAs I believe a mistaken impression prevails that Latin was on this account added to the curriculum, I will take this opportunity of ventilating the purpose with which it was introduced. BACON and MILTON, the fathers of English Prose Composition, teem with Latinisms, nor are these entirely absent from the modern standard of ADDISON. It is only quite recently that English composition has become a separate study in England. Formerly a good classical education was supposed sufficient to enable an English author to write correctly in his mother tongue. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that a foreigner must be assisted in the acquisition of English rules of composition by the study of that language, on which its choicest models are framed. In Latin the observance of concord and regimen is rendered conspicuous by inflection, the intelligent translation therefore of a simple Latin author should explain the reason of many English rules. Moreover immense assistance in understanding and distinguishing the meanings of English words, and often in spelling them, is manifestly afforded by even a restricted Latin vocabulary. In the First Class, Latin, Chemistry, Drawing, Book-keeping, Mensuration, and Trigonometry will for the future be optional, and not included in class subjects.\n\n9. In India it has been found necessary to prepare special school text-books for English education. The demand in Hongkong is too slight to offer much encouragement to a similar enterprise, but the want makes itself felt.\n\nAs an effort in this direction I published a few years ago a School Arithmetic specially intended to explain difficulties to our boys. Much could be done in the way of explaining eccentricities of English Idiom and Spelling, to say nothing of the urgent need of a cheap text-book of the Geography of the Chinese Empire. Something too is needed to supplement the School Committee's series of books in Chinese, which provide practice for Translation into English. The late Mr. FALCONER edited a very useful book, but the very classical Chinese can only be adequately translated into very classical English. I have therefore just recently compiled a collection of cuttings from Chinese newspapers, which will, it is to be hoped, familiarise the boys with everyday ideas and expressions.\n\n10. In the confined area of the old Central School nothing could be done to provide the boys with the necessary opportunity for developing their physique. Simple gymnastic appliances will shortly be erected in the covered playground; properly availed of, this should counteract the cramped attitudes generally associated with study.\n\n11. The fees have been raised in Class I to $36 per annum and in Classes II and III to $24, as the Upper School derives the chief benefit from the heavy expense of the salaries of English Masters, and of costly school material. Chinese parents should reflect that they have now a good English education brought to their doors, and that their sons can pass an examination held in England without the outlay attendant upon sending them thither for five or six years. It is much to be desired that parents, who can afford it, as many of them well can, should not take their sons away immediately upon their promotion to the First Class, but allow them to stay a year or two at the top of the School to really complete their education more thoroughly.\n\n12. The staff consists of twenty-nine in all; viz.: nine English Masters (four of whom are graduates), ten Chinese Assistants, three Pupil Teachers and three Monitors; and in Chinese School four Chinese Graduates, (Sau Tsoi). This is an increase of ten masters on the staff formerly at the Central School. Four new English Masters arrived in April and May last, Messrs. BARLOW, M.A., BOOTH, HASELDEN, B.A., and BOARDS; of these, three were extra, and one was to supply the vacancy caused by the appointment of Mr. MAY to be second master on the death of Mr. FALCONER. The six new Chinese Assistants were provided by six Pupil Teachers articled three years ago, and who during the last five months have given evidence of their ability to discharge their duties very satisfactorily. With the exception of Translation from Chinese in the two head classes the Head Master no longer takes a position on the teaching staff; his time being fully occupied in organisation and supervision, fortnightly inspections of each class, half-yearly and annual examinations with other multifarious duties. It is noteworthy that of the staff of eighteen, English and Chinese, I found on my arrival eight years ago, only two remain. As only two have been removed by death it is manifest that the remainder are those who have left in search of higher salaries elsewhere, some on promotion in the Colonial Service.\n\n13. A normal class and a special Examination Paper on Education and School Discipline for Pupil Teachers and Monitors are a new feature this year. Mr. BOARDS, who has been in charge of these junior assistants in front of the Preparatory Class, is on the whole able to give me only a moderate Report though he speaks highly of one or two Pupil Teachers. I trust that next year some marked improvement will be observed.\n\n14. With the necessarily increased staff for 21 classes, instead of 12, it could only reasonably be expected that the expenses would be increased, but it is satisfactory to observe that the average expense of each scholar calculated on the average daily attendance is lower than it has been for years. When it is remembered that for three months the expense of three extra English Masters was borne by the smaller number of boys at the Central School, it may reasonably be supposed that this figure will not be exceeded next year.\n\nAn average cost of $25 may be called £3 18s., per head, which sounds a large sum, but is far exceeded by our namesake in Australia where the cost per head is £4 15s.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-247 - Acting Governor Fleming Governor Des Voeus - 1890 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348644, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 377, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "## MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG\n\ntion to the previously existing native Schools in the villages. An article in the August number of the Chinese Repository of this year, discussing the subject of Schools at Hongkong, mentions, apart from the Morrison Education Society's School, which by this time had 21 scholars under training, that there were a few native Schools at Hongkong, perhaps eight or ten in various parts of the Island, chiefly in Victoria. In the same article, the Editor called the attention of the Government to these Schools and suggested the appointment, by Government, of an Education Committee. The death of Mr. J. R. Morrison (October, 1843) was a great loss to the educational interests of Hongkong and especially to the Morrison Education Society, whose Recording Secretary and Librarian Mr. Morrison had been, besides supporting four of the scholars by his own means. After his death, his well-stocked library was embodied in the Morrison Education Society's Library (now at the City Hall).\n\nThe funds of the Society, which were very low at this time, were at the end of the year opportunely increased by a grant made by H. M.'s Superintendent of Trade, Sir H. Pottinger, who promised (12 December, 1843) to give to the Morrison Education Society annually the sum of $1,200, 'being the amount of one year's allowance formerly assigned to the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca.'\n\nAbout this time, the London Missionary Society resolved to transfer its operations from Malacca, Singapore, and Penang to China and to establish its headquarters at Hongkong. This measure brought to Hongkong a man who was destined to exercise a most powerful influence on the future educational system of Hongkong. The Rev. J. Legge, having succeeded the Rev. J. Evans as principal of the Anglo-Chinese College (1841) at Malacca, removed, at the close of the year 1843, the students of that College, together with their principal teacher, the Rev. Ho Tsun-sheen, to Hongkong, where he formed them into a Seminary for the training of native ministers.\n\nThis Seminary, together with a Preparatory School started at this time in Hongkong, formed the nucleus of the establishment thenceforth known as the London Missionary Society's Anglo-Chinese College of Hongkong (`Ying-wa-shü-ün`).\n\n### 1844\n\nThe year 1844 was particularly fruitful in the way of educational efforts, put forth in Hongkong by Missionaries of all denominations. The Morrison Education Society's institution on Morrison Hill prospered under the energetic direction and able tuition of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and its funds were in a flourishing condition (25th Sept., 1844), there being a surplus of $3,000 in hand. The Rev. J. P. Happer, M.D., strengthened the staff of the School by giving his assistance to Mr. Brown for six months (November, 1844 to April, 1845). The London Mission's Anglo-Chinese College had an attendance of 18 Chinese boarders to be trained for the ministry, in 1844, all of whom were engaged during the forenoon of every day in English studies and devoted the afternoons to their Chinese lessons. The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Shuck of the Baptist Board of Foreign Mission opened (23rd September, 1844) a newly built two-storied house in Gough Street (on the premises of the future Government Central School) as an Anglo-Chinese School with 20 boys and 6 girls. The Rev. W. Deane of the same Mission had also started, in the year 1844, a small Chinese School in the Western District, and over 80 Chinese scholars, all taught and supported by the benevolence of the European community of Hongkong, were present at the opening of the Gough Street Schools. Another American Mission, the Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, represented by Dr. Ball, also commenced at this time a School in Hongkong with 6 Chinese pupils. The Roman Catholic Mission is reported to have had a School at work in Hongkong in 1844 and also a few theological students, but no details are recorded as to the actual date when this Mission commenced its educational operations in Hongkong.\n\nIn addition to the foregoing institutions already at work in Hongkong during the year 1844, the newly appointed Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. V. Stanton, made energetic efforts during this period to establish in Hongkong a School (subsequently known as St. Paul's College) for the training of a native clergy in connection with the Church of England. He was one of the most energetic Missionaries and Educationists of Hongkong's early history. With an intimate knowledge of Chinese life and character, much of which he acquired during a six months' close confinement in a prison in Canton, having been kidnapped by Chinese soldiers whilst acting as tutor in the Turner family in Macao and as Chaplain to the English community there, Mr. Stanton combined the indefatigable energy of a warm-hearted Missionary, and the methodical industry of a professional teacher, with the quiet dignity of a clergyman. Filled with the correct notion that the conversion of the Chinese must be the work of native preachers rather than of foreign missionaries, and having formed the design of a clerical training school which, whenever worthy of its name, should grow into a College, he raised, after his return to England, subscriptions to the amount of $3,070, to which he subsequently (1849) added from his own means $4,800 and a donation of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge to the amount of $1,020. These sums he formed into a Building Fund, which, together with the contemplated buildings and other property of the proposed School, were vested in the Earl of Chichester, the Earl of Harrowby (then Viscount Sandon, M.P.), Lord Ashley, M.P., and Sir R. H. Inglis, Baronet, M.P. Having secured the appointment of Colonial Chaplain and (as it seems) addressed the Colonial Office on the subject of his educational schemes, he returned to Hongkong and made (6th June, 1844) a formal application to Sir H. Pottinger for the grant of a site for the erection of a College and Schools for the education of Chinese youths in connection with the Established Church. In reply, he was informed (9th July, 1844) by the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. F. W. A. Bruce, that Sir H. Pottinger had already, in October 1843, addressed a dispatch on the subject to Lord Stanley, for whose instructions he must wait. But later on (2nd September, 1844), the Colonial Secretary, when writing to Mr. Stanton for detailed information as to the objects of the intended foundation and the locality which Mr. Stanton might wish to be assigned for the purpose, very appropriately pointed out to Mr. Stanton that the Governor would consider very favourably the claims of any institution which would embody a scheme to remedy the want of any means of education for the children of the European residents here, the Government considering this want as a defect which operated as materially against the prosperity and best interests of the Colony. It is indeed characteristic of the unselfishness of European philanthropy that so far all the efforts of Protestant and Catholic educationists in Hongkong and the liberality of the local European community and of the Government were exclusively devoted to the education of Chinese children, to the neglect of a number of European children left without the means of education. It redounds to the credit of Sir H. Pottinger that he drew attention to this radical defect in the educational movement.\n\n### 1845\n\nSir H. Pottinger's suggestion was not wasted upon a man like Mr. Stanton. He started, in 1845, by means of voluntary subscriptions supplemented, with the express sanction of the Governor (27 September, 1845), by the appropriation of the marriage fees due to the Colonial Chaplain, a **Children's School**.\n\nThis School, located in the central part of Victoria (Chungwán), was conducted by Mrs. Miller, as a Church of England School, under the supervision of ...\n\nPage 372", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348645, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 378, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG,\n\nMr. Stanton. Forty English children (23 boys and 17 girls) received here a purely English education, at an expense of $657. During the same year the R. C. Society de Propaganda Fide organized a School for English children, commencing with 7 scholars, taught by Mr. Cane, at an expense of $169. The Anglo-Chinese School of the Morrison Education Society, taught during this year by Mr. Brown assisted by Mr. Bonner and a Chinese Master, had this year (since 10 March, 1845) brought as many as 30 boys (all boarders) under instruction, at an expense of $2812. Mr. Donald Matheson undertook the treasurership, the popular Police Magistrate Mr. C. B. Hillier acted as corresponding secretary. But, although Sir John Davis, the new Governor, also lent his influence to the Society by becoming its Patron, the annual grant from the Superintendency of Trade (under direction of the Foreign Office) was discontinued at the close of the year 1845, and the ardour of the friends of this Society was considerably damped by a conspicuous falling off of local public subscriptions, ascribed to the depression of trade which set in about this time. The School, however, continued to make good progress and was examined month by month by a standing Committee appointed for the purpose. In the absence of Dr. Legge, the London Mission Society's Anglo-Chinese College was taught during this year by the Rev. W. Gillespie, assisted by a Chinese Master, and cost the Mission in 1845 the sum of $2025. In addition to these English and Anglo-Chinese Schools, 9 Chinese Schools were reported as at work in Hongkong, with a total of 149 Chinese boys in average attendance. Three of these native Confucian Schools were reported as located in the Western District (Sheungwan and Saipingpan) of Victoria and one School in each of the following villages, viz. Aberdeen, Little Hongkong, Stanley, Taitamtuk, Sookonpoo, and Wongnaichung. As to the future St. Paul's College, the Rev. V. Stanton was informed by the Colonial Secretary (8 April, 1845) that a site would be allotted for the College he intended to build, immediately behind the Harbour Master's Hill and between the part occupied by Lieut. Pedder's house, which had been set aside for the Church, and the upper road leading from the Government offices across the ravine to the western part of the town, and that the Surveyor General would be directed to mark off the boundaries as soon as Mr. Stanton's plans were sufficiently in progress to enable him to state distinctly how much ground he required for his establishment.\n\n## 1846\n\nUnder the tuition of the Rev. S. B. Brown, assisted by a new teacher obtained from America, Mr. G. Maey, who took Mr. Bonner's place, the Morrison Education Society's School, now attended by 22 Chinese boys, was favourably reported upon by the monthly examiners. The expenses of the School amounted in 1846 to $2812. The Anglo-Chinese College, under the Rev. W. Gillespie, added during this year a Girls School to its establishment and had 19 boys and 7 girls on its roll, costing the Mission the sum of $2025. Mr. Stanton's Children's School was throughout this year under the tuition of Mr. F. Drake and Mrs. Bright, with an average attendance of 18 boys and 15 girls, who received an English education at a cost of $661. The other English School in the Colony, that of the R. C. Propaganda, was likewise continued with a change of teachers, Dr. A. Balbiani having undertaken the tuition of the School which was attended by 21 European and Chinese pupils and cost the R. C. Mission $675. As to the elementary Chinese Schools, 12 Schools were at work during this year in the same localities as during the preceding year and included an average attendance of 181 Chinese boys.\n\n## 1847\n\nDuring this year, Mr. Stanton's English Children's School, under the tuition of Mr. F. Drake and Mrs. Lambert, and attended by 24 boys and 24 girls, continued to flourish. The cost of the School amounted to $900. The R. C. Mission discontinued its English School but continued their Seminary preparing Chinese and others for the Roman Catholic priesthood and giving to 20 boys, under the tuition of Mr. Theo. Turby and one of the priests, an ecclesiastical European education in the Chinese language with Latin in addition. The expenses of this Seminary, which has been continued ever since down to the present day, amounted in 1847 to $787. This School eventually succeeded in training a native clergy. As to the Anglo-Chinese School of the Morrison Education Society, the Rev. S. B. Brown left Hongkong for the United States (4 Jan. 1847) taking with him 3 scholars to complete their studies in America and was succeeded by Mr. W. Maey who continued to give to 23 Chinese boys efficient instruction. But the funds of the Society, whose expenses rose in 1847 to $2646, were now in such a state that grave apprehensions were entertained as to the stability of the institution. The Anglo-Chinese College, supported by the London Mission, continued its previous course under the direction of the Rev. J. T. Cleland, with an attendance of 19 boys and 8 girls, and at an expenditure of $873. As to the elementary Chinese Schools, there appears to have been a slight falling off in the number of Schools during this year, as only 9 Schools appear to have been at work with 175 boys in average attendance.\n\nBut the close of this year has become historically noteworthy for the establishment by the Government of a Grant-in-Aid System, which has come down to the present day, though with important modifications. On 6 November, 1847, the Governor, Sir John Davis, appointed Mr. C. B. Hillier (Chief Magistrate), the Rev. V. Stanton (Colonial Chaplain), and Mr. A. L. Inglis (Registrar General) a Committee for inquiring into the present state of the Chinese Schools at Victoria, Stanley, and Aberdeen, with the view to measures being taken to encourage one Chinese School at each of the three aforementioned places under Government supervision. The Committee were at the same time informed of the intention of the Government to grant a contribution of $10 a month for each School and requested 'to report upon the method which, in the opinion of the Committee, may be most beneficial for the appropriation of the said grant.'\n\nAs the principal educationist on this Committee, Mr. Stanton, was known to be in favour of no other but religious education, and as the chairman, Mr. Hillier, was understood to hold the same views, the Government added to their instructions the following vague caution: \"Care must be taken to impress upon the minds of the parents of the students that no interference is to be permitted with their religious prejudices, such being the terms on which the contribution (of $10 a month for each School) is to be made.\" The Committee were fully reminded that the two points to be ascertained by them were, first the most worthy objects for the contribution or grant, and second the most certain means of preventing an abuse of funds.\n\nThe issue of this remarkable document, signed by Colonel W. Caine, who was then Colonial Secretary, and addressed to Mr. Hillier, constitutes an important turning point in the history of local education. The action of the Government, in resolving to establish a system of Grants-in-aid and in assuming this peculiarly lenient attitude towards religious education, merely guarding its secular position in relation to the Chinese by an undefined caution in place of a distinct conscience clause, must be read in the light of what transpired in the Imperial Parliament during this same year. For it was in the year 1847, when the annual educational vote, which Lord Melbourne's administration had, in 1839, placed under the dispensation of the Educational Committee of the Privy Council, came before the House of Commons, that the question of religious education in Schools receiving a Government grant... \n\nPage 7 \nPage 3720", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348647, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 380, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.\n\n## Chinese community in town and in the villages.\n\n### 1849\nAs St. Paul's College commenced to develop, Mr. Stanton's Church of England School under Mr. F. Drake, began to decay, and though it commenced the year with 12 boys and 9 girls, it had soon to be closed for want of public support. Morrison Education Society also had by this time lost its hold upon the sympathies of the foreign community, and in spring 1849, a class of seven Chinese boys was transferred from the Morrison Education Society's School to St. Paul's College, thereby raising the roll of the latter institution to 34 Chinese boys under the tuition of Mr. J. Summers. These boys, divided into three classes, studied both the English and Chinese languages, besides receiving Christian instruction. It had been Mr. Stanton's design, from the beginning, to make his School a Training College which should supply native ministers for the Church of England for missionary work in China and which would therefore naturally come, sooner or later, under the entire control of the Bishop eventually to be appointed for Hongkong. His aim was never fulfilled as to any native minister going forth from this College, but the organization designed by him was completed when the Archbishop of Canterbury (15 October, 1849) approved the statutes of the Hongkong Missionary Institution known as 'St. Paul's College' which defined the objects of this College to be, training a body of native clergy and Christian teachers for the propagation of the gospel in China according to the principles of the Church of England.\n\nThe Anglo-Chinese College under Dr. Legge continued, in 1849, to flourish, but it also failed to produce a single native minister. The number of students rose during this year from 24 to 43, and the Chinese Girls' School was attended by 7 girls.\n\nAs to the educational labours of the Roman Catholic Mission, the Seminary was continued and yielded later on almost annual supplies of native priests. The Portuguese Boys' School was taught by Mr. J. Pereira and attended by 20 scholars, learning English. The French Convent School, under Sister Gabrielle, gave English and French instruction to 13 non-Chinese girls and 6 boys. Mr. Chun A-yee's Roman Catholic School for Chinese was attended by 17 boys, and a new Roman Catholic School for Chinese, taught by Mr. Tsui Sin-cheung, and attended by 43 scholars, received from the Government a separate Grant-in-Aid of $120 a year whilst exempt from the supervision of the Educational Committee. There was thus, in principle, a double system of Government Grants-in-Aid, viz. Grants for Schools under the supervision of a Protestant Committee and Grants for Schools under the Roman Catholic Vicar Apostolic.\n\nThe natural thing to be expected under these circumstances was that the Government Committee would sooner or later come under the direction of the Protestant Bishop. And so it happened in due time. Meanwhile the Protestant Committee, now consisting of Mr. C. B. Hillier, Rev. V. Stanton and Mr. A. L. Inglis, reported (3rd March, 1849) 95 boys in average attendance in the three Government Grant-in-Aid Schools, viz., 40 in Victoria, 20 in Stanley, and 30 in Aberdeen. They expressed their belief that the assistance granted to these Schools was properly appreciated by the Chinese inhabitants. The Committee took care to place gradually Christian teachers in charge of these Schools and definite Christian teaching was now regularly given by the teachers, whilst Mr. Stanton, on his periodical visits, gave special religious instruction to the boys and distributed tracts among the scholars and their parents.\n\n### 1850\nWith the arrival of the newly appointed Bishop of Victoria (29th March, 1850), St. Paul's College, though having lost the services of Mr. Summers, made a new start, Bishop Smith and Mr. Stanton acting themselves as teachers.\n\n| School | Teacher | Attendance |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Han A-wan's Roman Catholic Chinese School | Han A-wan | 18 boys |\n| Cheung Ki-chan's Roman Catholic Chinese School | Cheung Ki-chan | 21 boys |\n\nBoth of these Schools were exempt from the supervision of the Educational Committee and received a Government Grant of $10 per mensem.\n\nThe attendance at St. Paul's College, however, fell from 34 students in April to 25 at the close of the year. In place of the former Church of England School under Mr. Drake, a Miss Mitchell made a short-lived attempt to start a School for Protestant European children and gave to 3 boys and 4 girls an English education in a house in Hollywood Road. The Anglo-Chinese College under Dr. Legge, assisted by the Rev. Ho Tean-shiu, mustered 50 boys at the beginning and 60 at the close of the year. The expenses amounted to $605. The Chinese Girls' School of the London Mission was converted into an Anglo-Chinese School consisting of 13 Chinese girls, all boarders, under the supervision of Mrs. Legge.\n\nA futile attempt was made (13th February, 1850) to revive the Morrison Education Society's School or at least to wipe off the Society's debt of $2,167, by means of the interest accruing from the Morrison Testimonial Fund which, since 10th January, 1846, had been invested with Dent & Co., and the interest of which a meeting of subscribers, held in Canton (18th July, 1849), had resolved to devote to the interests of the Morrison Education Society.\n\nWhile the Protestant Schools thus hardly maintained their position owing to the want of public support, the Roman Catholic Mission Schools appear to have flourished during the year 1850. The Seminary, located in Queen's Road, was under the tuition of the present Bishop Enimondi, assisted by Father Rizzolati and numbered 14 students preparing for the priesthood. The expenses amounted to $900.\n\n| School | Teacher | Attendance | Expenses |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Portuguese Boys' School (Wellington Street) | Mr. R. Freire | 6 boys | $300 |\n| Portuguese Boys' School (Wellington Street) | Mr. J. A. Pereira | 20 boys | $90 |\n| Portuguese Boys' School (Stanley Street) | Mr. J. J. Souza and Mr. S. Souza | 8 boys | $270 |\n\nIn their annual report (8th March, 1850) the Educational Committee (Mr. C. B. Hillier and Rev. V. J. Stanton) reported 114 boys under instruction in 8 Schools (viz., 71 in Victoria, 17 at Stanley, and 26 at Aberdeen). In this official report the Colonial Secretary was informed, among other things, that Mr. Stanton occasionally distributed Christian books for the voluntary reading of the boys. The Committee also ventured the sage remark that the exhibition, on the part of the Government, of a desire to promote education and the establishment of Schools were means calculated to conciliate the native inhabitants and to render the Colonial Government popular.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary accepted this report without remark, but when a few days later he learned that a new Christian teacher had been appointed by the Committee, he curtly called the attention of the Committee to his letter of 7th November, 1847, cautioning any interference with the religious prejudices of the natives, but did not rescind the appointment of the Christian teacher.\n\nThe Rev. E. J. R. Moncrieff, Chaplain to the Bishop of Victoria, was now appointed a member of the Committee, and this energetic Missionary, seeing that two Roman Catholic Schools received the same Government grant as the three Protestant Schools, whilst absolutely free to propagate the Roman Catholic religion, now commended turning the three Government Schools into Church of England Schools and to work them as feeders of St. Paul's College. School had now to be opened and closed with prayer, portions of the Chinese translation of the Bible were used as regular School books and periodically expounded and...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348650, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 383, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG\n\nsatisfaction, to St. Paul's College to receive there a better education.' Another similar examination was held in summer (2 August, 1834) when $16 were distributed at St. Paul's College among 13 boys from 5 Government Schools. In two of these Schools (Victoria and Wonguaichung) English was taught throughout this year. The Government spent altogether on education during this year $695.\n\n## 1880\nThe records of the attendances at the Protestant and Catholic Mission Schools, during this year, are missing. But there is every reason to suppose that these Schools were continued as before.\n\nThe year 1855 marks a new departure in the history of our local education by the effort made by the European community, and successfully sustained for seven years—a longer time than such waves of popular enthusiasm generally last—to start the Public School of Hongkong. The Educational Committee being generally considered an inefficient measure, and disliked owing to the clerical character it had assumed, a Public Meeting was held (6th March, 1855) to consider means for the establishment of a **Public School** on a new basis. The movement was started by Mr. A. Shortrede (Editor of the *China Mail*), who stated at the meeting (Mr. Geo. Lyall being in the chair), that it was not very creditable to Hongkong that, though it had existed twelve years as a British Colony, it was without a Public School for instruction in English, so that the children of our Countrymen were less cared for, growing up in greater ignorance, than the Chinese. Subscriptions to the amount of $1,555 having already been secured by Mr. Shortrede, the following resolutions, moved and seconded by the principal European merchants of the Colony, were unanimously agreed to.\n\n1. That a Public School supported by voluntary contributions and fees be established at Hongkong for the education of children of whatever nation, religion, class, or condition.\n2. That the direction of the School be entrusted to a Committee of laymen, elected by subscribers of not less than $25 each.\n3. That the fees shall be small but no branch of education shall be taught gratuitously.\n4. That the Directors now to be appointed have full power to engage a teacher, rent premises, regulate the fees, determine whether or not Chinese shall be taught in addition to English, and otherwise to manage the School according to their discretion except as expressly provided by the present resolutions.\n5. That any two Directors or any three subscribers, of not less than $25 each, have the power of calling special general meetings of the subscribers.\n6. That these resolutions remain in force for one year from the opening of the School, at the end of which period a meeting of subscribers will be held to receive the Directors' Report and adopt such measures for the future management of the School as may be deemed advisable.\n\nThe following gentlemen were forthwith appointed Directors of the School, Messrs. J. F. Edger, M.L.C., A. Shortrede, James Smith, B. C. Antrobus, C. D. Williams, Douglas Lapraik, and F. W. M. Green, with Mr. Geo. Lyall as Treasurer and Dr. Harland as Secretary. Not one of them is now in the Colony. The Directors appointed Mr. Shortrede, Mr. Lyall, and Dr. Harland as a Working Committee, and the latter forthwith engaged the Rev. A. Taylor as teacher of the new Public School at a salary of $1000 (and quarters), and the School was opened a few days later under the name **St. Andrew's School** at the corner of Staunton, Peel, and Elgin Streets. The fees were fixed at $1 per mensem for reading and writing and half a dollar extra for arithmetic and geography. Mr. J. Smith, subsequently succeeded by Mr. Pereira, was engaged as writing master. The average attendance rose from 19 scholars in April to 40 in December.\n\nThe Educational Committee of the Government Schools, roused into new activity by the opening of St. Andrew's School, now recommended (16th February, 1855) that the Government should build additional School-houses, appoint paid apprentice teachers and assistant-masters possessing a knowledge of English, and an Inspector of Schools. These recommendations, emphasized by the complaint that 'the Government has neither suitable buildings, nor suitable masters, nor suitable supervision, and has expressed no intention of organizing an efficient scheme and voting the requisite funds.' But the Government made no reply to this deliberate charge of educational apathy. The Committee also reported 250 children as being under instruction in 8 private native Schools and obtained from the Registrar General the statistics showing that the total of Chinese children (of school-going age) in the Colony amounted to 8868, of whom 5210 were boys and 3658 were girls. In June, 1855, a teacher of English, Mr. Ho A-loy, a former student of the Anglo-Chinese College, was placed in charge of the Victoria School, and a new School was opened at Shaukiwan. The Committee now informed the parents of the scholars of Government Schools that 'no difference is made between English and Chinese, nor between one class of men and another, and if any one should make any objection to study Christian books, let him certify the same in writing, and the School-master will emit this line of instruction in such case.' This notice, the drift of which becomes more apparent when compared with former notices of this kind issued by the Committee, indicates a change of front made by the Committee with regard to the small importance now attached to religious education and presages the early advent of the reign of secularism.\n\nThe Anglo-Chinese College, under Dr. Legge, though rising in public favour as an Anglo-Chinese School, and attended by 85 boys, of whom about 40 were boarders, was closed at the end of this year, owing to 'the results not justifying its continuance.' The fact was, the Anglo-Chinese College was started, and its funds were annually raised in England, for the special purpose of training Chinese youths for the Christian ministry in connection with the London Missionary Society's work in China. There were always numbers of intelligent native youths anxious to go in for this training because the curriculum gave a prominent place to English studies, but as soon as any one of these youths had acquired a good grasp of the English language, he scorned the idea of becoming eventually a native Christian minister at $20 or $25 a month, seeing that there was a continuous demand for Chinese clerks in mercantile offices with salaries ranging from $25 to $100 a month and unlimited prospects of pickings. The experience of St. Paul's College was exactly the same. The two Roman Catholic Seminaries succeeded in raising a native clergy, but they carefully abstained from exposing their students to that temptation and taught them Latin instead of English.\n\n## 1856\nIn the absence of a tutor, St. Paul's College was conducted during this year by the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. J. J. Irwin, at an expense of $100 (for the salary of the Chinese assistant-teacher), there being 30 boys in average attendance.\n\nIn place of the Anglo-Chinese College, Dr. Legge substituted, at the close of the year 1856, an Anglo-Chinese Day-School, which is said to have been continued until the close of the year 1858. The School for Chinese girls, now attended by 7 girls, was, since 1852, under the supervision of Mrs. Chalmers. Both Schools, the College and this Girls-School, cost the London Mission, in 1856, the sum of $1750.\n\nSt. Andrew's School, now removed to Gough Street, continued to flourish during this year, having an average attendance of 49 boys and 12 girls, of whom 3 boys and 3 girls were boarders, the total cost of the School being $3,000. On the first anniversary of the foundation of this School (18th March, 1856), a public examination was... \n\nPage 377", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348653, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 386, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.\n\nEnglish instructress. The Government immediately placed one of the houses in Albany Terrace at the disposal of the Committee, and the Diocesan School was forthwith temporarily located there under Miss Wilson.\n\n## 1860\n\nIt is not a little remarkable that, immediately upon the revival of educational activity among the Protestant Missions, which characterized the close of the preceding year, the educational movement among the Catholic Missions also made a fresh start in the year 1860, displaying a sudden and quite extraordinary energy. The R.C. Society de Propaganda Fide commenced, in September 1860, an English Boys School in Staunton Street, under a Mr. Rowland, who had an average of 25 boys under instruction, at a cost of $960 to the Mission. This institution furnishes the first recorded example of a School enjoying exemption from payment of police and lighting taxes. The Propaganda Society started at the same time a Portuguese Boys School, in Staunton Street, under the tuition of Mr. Vincento Pereira, at a cost of $600. This School, likewise exempted from payment of rates and taxes, was attended by 35 Portuguese boys. To provide for Chinese Catholic youths, the same Society now re-opened also a Chinese Boys School in Wellington Street, taught by Jacobus Leang, and attended by 30 boys, at a cost of $141. In May, 1860, the Italian Sisters of the Convent in Caine Road started (with the assistance of Miss Bowring) three Girls' Schools in Caine Road at an expense of $2,400, viz., an English Girls School with 22 girls under Sister Aloysia, a Portuguese Girls School with 32 girls under Sister Giovannina, and a Chinese Girls School with 30 girls under Sisters Rachèle and Magdalena Fan, and further the Italian Sisters started in Spring Gardens (Queen's Road East) a Chinese Girls School with 22 girls under Sister Cecilia Leang, the latter School costing the Italian Mission $144. The French Sisters, of the Asile de la Sainte Enfance in Spring Gardens, also revived now their former Schools, viz., a Chinese Girls' School, bringing together 30 children under the instruction of Sister Benjamin, and a Chinese Boys' School with 14 boys under Mr. Joseph Lee. These two Schools cost the French Mission $384. The two Seminaries, formerly established, were now likewise revived. The Italian Mission re-opened their Seminary now in Pottinger Street, placing 12 students under the tuition of Fathers T. Raimondi (the present Bishop), J. Borgazzi, and G. Favini, and giving them a theological training in Latin, at an expense to the Propaganda Society of $600. The French Mission des Étrangères, at the same time re-opened their Ecclesiastical School at Soo-koup-ed under Père J. Jacquemin, with 20 students, at a cost of $840. Moreover, the Propaganda Society opened a Chinese School at Aberdeen, under Mr. Stephanus Chu, at a cost of $96.\n\nThis extraordinary revival of the Roman Catholic educational movement, though stimulated no doubt by the reviving energy of the Protestant Mission, is, however, principally due to the educational zeal and energy which ever distinguished the newly arrived Father (since Bishop) Raimondi, who at once occupied among Catholic Educationists about the same prominent and fruitful position which Dr. Legge, whom he much resembled also in character and shrewdness, occupied among the Protestants. Bishop Raimondi, however, has remained at the head of Catholic education ever since his arrival (in 1858), whilst Dr. Legge retired from the scene a few years after the establishment of his chef d'oeuvre in education, the Government Central School, which at this very time Dr. Legge had already designed in outline.\n\nAt the beginning of the year 1860 (January 21st), the Government Gazette announced the formation of a new and stronger **Board of Education** for the management of the Government Schools. We have no records showing how Dr. Legge's objections were overcome, but Dr. Legge did join this new Board, although the presidency of it was placed in the hands of Bishop Smith. The probability is that Dr. Legge had reason to expect that Sir Hercules Robinson, the new Governor, would eventually support his scheme of an entire re-organisation of the Government Schools. The other members of the new Board were the Rev. J.J. Irwin, Rev. W. Beach, and Messrs. J.J. Mackenzie, W.C. Robinson, and W.S. Bridges (Secretary). In a letter addressed to Bishop Smith, the Colonial Secretary defined the powers of the Board as including, besides the general supervision and control of all Government Schools throughout the Island, the appointment, transfer, suspension, and dismissal of Schoolmasters and the fixing of their salaries. The meetings of the Board were to be held in the Council-room. The Board were to appoint their own Secretary, but the appointment of the Inspector of Schools was to rest with the Governor. The Inspector was to report to the Board, but both he and the teachers had an appeal to the Governor. The proceedings of the Board, which were at all times to be subject to the veto of the Governor, were to be regularly reported to the Colonial Secretary. At the first meeting of this new Board (24th January, 1860), Mr. Lobscheid tendered his resignation, and the Board, after communicating with the Governor, was at once requested to recommend a successor. But at their next meeting (7th February, 1860), the Board, on receiving from Mr. Lobscheid a promise to recognize the Board's supreme authority, recommended that Mr. Lobscheid be re-appointed from 1st February. Mr. Lobscheid resumed his labours and continued them, though not without some friction, until the end of June, when he resigned finally, and the Board recommended that his resignation be accepted, but made no suggestion as to the appointment of a successor. The reason was that Dr. Legge now had matured his new scheme of merging the Inspectorate of Schools in the Headmastership of a grand Central School, which was to become the centre of the whole educational movement of Hongkong and to deliver the Government Schools from the bondage of St. Paul's College and its Bishop. Immediately after the Inspector's resignation had taken effect (1st July, 1860), Dr. Legge orally explained at a meeting of the Board (3rd July, 1860) his plan for the establishment of a Central School in the City of Victoria, to combine several at present separate Schools, involving an increase of expenditure estimated at £250. The Board at once resolved that Dr. Legge should be invited to reduce his plan to writing, and on 6th September, 1860, the Board, having received a written statement of what was henceforth popularly known as 'Dr. Legge's Plan,' unanimously resolved that Dr. Legge's suggestions be approved and that the document be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary for submission to the Governor with their cordial recommendation and an earnest request for pecuniary aid in carrying out the Plan. It may be noted, as explaining the easy success which Dr. Legge gained in the Board, that from after 24th January, 1860, until 7th January, 1862, Bishop Smith (being probably absent from the Colony) did not attend a single meeting of the Board of which he had been nominated President on 20th January, 1860. Dr. Legge, with his force of character and superiority of scholastic knowledge, practically ruled the Board with the ease and grace of a born Bishop. His Great Plan was subsequently condensed by himself in the following statements: (1) that several of the Schools should be collected in one large Central Institution where there should be accommodation for 400 pupils who should be taught their own language and the rudiments of English as hitherto; (2) that, instead of an Inspector, the Institution should be under the charge of a Headmaster who should reside in it and have all the native masters immediately under his eye; (3) that from the pupils who were taught English, the Headmaster should...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348656, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 389, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.\n\nlevel of the other Government Schools which remained, as purely elementary Chinese Schools, to act as feeders to the Central School as they had formerly supplied scholars for St. Paul's College. Children of residents were to be admitted into the Central School free of charge, outsiders only were to pay fees. All newly appointed teachers of the Central School were to constitute a definite lower class, and promotion to a higher grade of rank and pay was to be exclusively the reward of merit. All communications between the staff and the Board were to pass through the hands of the Headmaster who was to frame rules for the conduct of the teachers. In accordance with this last Regulation, Dr. Stewart, at the request of the Board, drafted Regulations for the better administration of the Government Schools (outside the Central School), which were amended by the Board on 17th November, 1862, and published in Chinese translation. These Regulations fixed the school-hours in the outside Schools at 7½ hours a day, with 4 hours for the study of the Bible on Sundays when desired by the parents of at least six scholars. Loud bawling at Chinese reading was (to the astonishment of the Chinese) forbidden.\n\nIn their report for the year 1862, the Board state that, by the absorption of 4 Schools in the formation of the Central School, the number of Schools under their superintendence was reduced to 16, showing an enrolment of 889 scholars among whom there were 34 girls. The report points out the low moral principle and careless indolence of most of the native School-masters and the difficulty Dr. Stewart had, in the absence of an English Assistant-Master, to give the Schools an effective superintendence. For this reason the Board resolved to discontinue for the present the Schools at Saiwan, Shankiwan, Shekó and Little Hongkong and to hand over the school-houses in those places to the respective village communities to continue the Schools under their own direction (with the aid, later on, of a small monthly grant from the Government) as Aided Schools.\n\n1863. Mr. Fryer having left for Shanghai, St. Paul's College School, with an attendance of 42 boys, was, during the year 1863, under the tuition of Mr. S. A. Reeve, who reported that he had adopted the monitorial system. The cost of the School was $2,400. The Diocesan Native Training School, under Miss Eaton, which, in autumn 1863, was moved into the newly-erected building on Bonham Road, had an attendance of 31 girls (all boarders) and cost $3,000. Miss Magrath's School, in Mosque Gardens, was attended by 22 children (of whom 17 were girls), cost $1,380. Miss Baxter's Schools included, this year, four separate institutions, viz., a Eurasian Boarding School in Mosque Terrace and another Eurasian Boarding School in Staunton Street, (the European staff of these Schools consisting of Mrs. Talbot and Miss de la Cour, and the boarders including 15 boys and 33 girls), a Chinese Boarding School in José's Lane (Chung-wan) under a Chinese matron with 20 girls, and a Chinese Day School in William Street (Wantsai) under a Chinese teacher and attended by 23 children (16 of whom were girls). The latter two Schools cost Miss Baxter $1,050, but the expenses of the Boarding Schools in Staunton Street and Mosque Terrace are not recorded. The London Missionary Society conducted, in the year 1863, three Schools, viz. a Chinese Mixed School, taught by Mrs. Kwan Tai-shi and attended by 6 boys and 4 girls, costing $84, a Boys School in Taipingshan where Mr. Ho Yuk-ts'ün taught 30 Chinese boys at a cost of $240 and another Boys School at Wantsai with 25 boys under Mr. Leung Cho-tong, costing $144. The Berlin Foundling House School, under Miss Heidsiek and a Chinese teacher, now numbered 11 girls under instruction.\n\nComing now to the Roman Catholic Schools of the year 1863, we find Mr. Rowland, assisted by Mr. T. Terry, conducted an English Boys School, attended by 32 boys, at a cost (to the Propagation Society) of $720, and a Portuguese School (reported as under Mr. Rowland's tuition) of 20 boys, at a cost of $192, whilst Mr. V. Pereira taught another Portuguese School, attended by 30 boys, at an expense of $720 and Mr. Chung Bin-lan a Chinese School of 30 boys at a cost of $144. The foregoing 4 Schools were all located in Wellington Street. The same Society continued also its School in Spring Gardens, attended by 48 boys under Mr. Yung Tim, costing $206, and the Aberdeen School in which 20 Chinese boys were under instruction at a cost of $144. The Seminary in Pottinger Street is again reported as under the tuition of Fathers T. Raimondi, G. Favini and G. Origo and numbering 10 students, the expenses being $600. The French Ecclesiastical School at Sookonpoo was under the tuition of Père J. Jaquemin, and attended by 22 students (expenses not recorded). A new School was opened during this year under the name 'Westpoint Chinese Day School,' under the tuition of Mr. Cha Hin. It was attended by 32 Chinese boys and cost $144. This was probably the germ from which later on the Westpoint Reformatory sprang up.\n\nNo School is reported, for the year 1863, as under the direction of the French Sisters, who would seem to have closed their two Chinese Day Schools. But the Italian Sisters continued their three Girls Schools in Caine Road for English, Portuguese and Chinese children, having altogether 120 girls under instruction, at an expense of $3,000. They continued also their Chinese School at Spring Gardens but transformed it into an Orphanage, where they had 30 girls under instruction, at a cost of $720.\n\nThe Board of Education in charge of the Government Schools consisted, at the beginning of the year 1863, of the Hon. (subsequently Sir) John Smale, the Hon. W. H. Rennie, Mr. J. J. Mackenzie, Rev. Dr. Legge, Dr. Kane and Mr. J. C. Power (Secretary)—all staunch secularists. Scripture portions (in Chinese only) continued to be used as school-books both in the Central School and in the outside Schools. At the beginning of the year the Board had a little squabble with the Colonial Secretary. They had sent in a notice of reprimand of the Master of the Aided School at Sheko for publication in the Chinese issue of the Government Gazette, and the Colonial Secretary had exercised his discretion in excluding the notice from publication. Thereupon the Board coolly informed the Colonial Secretary that they had unanimously resolved that, so long as the privilege of inserting notices in the Chinese Gazette is conceded to the Board, the Board alone are responsible for the effect produced by them. No doubt Dr. Stewart, who had quite lately (16th December, 1862) been authorized by the Government to sign all vouchers of educational expenditure as Head of the Education Department, as well as others, foresaw already that the Board of Education would not be of long duration.\n\nThe point which Mr. Mackenzie's Memorandum had left unsettled, viz. the standard test to be fixed for admission to the two branches of the Central School, was settled by a minute which Dr. Legge prepared and which the Board approved on 17th February, 1863. In this Minute primary instruction is defined to mean instruction in the **千字文** and **幼學詩**. Boys were to pass a viva voce examination in those books before they could be admitted into the Central School. As to those boys in the Central School, who had not yet passed into the English division, they were to study the **中庸** and **論語**, and only by passing a viva voce examination in these books could they enter the English division of the School. The boys in the English division were to study the **五經**, **古文文章** and **史記**. The Chinese examinations should be conducted by a Committee consisting of the Chinese teachers of the highest gradation, under the superintendence of the Headmaster.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348657, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 390, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "## MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.\n\nmaster. The studies in the outside Schools were to consist of the same books as above, including books prepared by foreigners, but this was to be done warily but firmly. While these rules, devised by Dr. Legge, were observed, the Central School turned out youths as well grounded in their own language as in English, but of late years these rules have unfortunately become a dead letter.\n\nThe strictness with which the Board kept the Headmaster in their leading strings will be seen from the fact that not only was the whole organization of the School under Mr. Mackenzie's Memorandum and Dr. Legge's foregoing Minute imposed upon the Headmaster, but the latter, though graciously allowed by the Board (7th April, 1863) to appoint monitors at his own discretion, could not admit new boys into the School except under Dr. Legge's approval. Yielding at last to the reiterated recommendations of the Board, the Government secured towards the close of the year, the engagement of an English Assistant-Master through the Colonial Office, which selected Mr. Willcox as Dr. Stewart's Assistant. A suggestion by Dr. Stewart (3rd November, 1863) to require the parents of scholars to enter into bonds for their attending school for a definite period was disallowed by the Board. In their report, for the year 1863, the Board refer to the separate establishment of Aided Schools in four villages and to the institution of a gradation of rank and pay among the Masters of all the Schools as having been found salutary measures. As the attendance of the Aided Schools is not reported now, the average attendance of the Government Schools in 1863 fell to 406 scholars, among whom there were but 20 girls in the Government Girls School which had been opened during the year 1863.\n\n### 1864\n\nSt. Paul's College School, attended by 42 boys (of whom 5 were Europeans, the rest Chinese), was under the tuition of Mr. Reeve, and cost $3,000 during the year 1864. At the Diocesan School there were 35 Chinese girls receiving an English education in the English language under Miss Euton (expenses not recorded). Miss Baxter placed her Staunton Street Schools, with 20 boarders, under the tuition of Miss Oxlad, assisted by Miss Ainsworth. Her Chinese School, with 27 girls, was continued as formerly, at an expense of $840. In Bonham Road (at the house which has ever since been known as Baxter House and at present is used as a Police Station) Miss Baxter, assisted by Mrs. Thompson, established her Eurasian Boarding School with 48 boys and 14 girls, costing her $3,600. The London Mission, having closed their Girls School, continued their two Boys Schools, one at Taipingshan with 40 Chinese boys, and the other at Wantsai with the same number of scholars, at a cost of $108. The Berlin Mission School now numbered 20 girls under Miss Heidsiek.\n\nThe three Roman Catholic Schools of the Propaganda Society in Wellington Street were continued as before. Mr. Terry had 45 boys in the English School which cost $840. The Portuguese School, under Mr. V. Pereira, was attended by 35 boys, costing likewise $840, and Mr. Tuen Lau gave 30 boys a purely Chinese education at a cost of $144. But a new School appears to have been added, in 1864, by the Propagation Society, as Mr. Yadia Geu (P) taught a R. C. English School for Chinese boys in Wellington Street at a cost of $210. The same Society continued also its Aberdeen School, with 18 boys under Mr. Stepbanns Chu, at a cost of $144. The two Seminaries were also continued. The one in Pottinger Street under Bishop Raimondi and Fathers Favini and Origo was attended by 11 students, costing $600. The other at Soukonpoo, under Père Jacquemin, counted 16 students and cost $720. A new institution, which has come down to the present day, was added, in the year 1864, to the list of Roman Catholic Schools, viz. the Westpoint Reformatory, under Ignatius Ip Uen, James How, Aloy Leang and Asam Wan. Here 45 Chinese boys were taught various Chinese industries (shoemaking, carpentering, tailoring, bookbinding etc.), at a cost of $1,400. This is the first and, up to the present, the only industrial School ever started in Hong-kong. The Sisters of the Italian Convent continued their three Schools in Caine Road at a cost of $1,800. The English School under Sisters Aloysia and Antoinetta was attended by 24 girls. The Portuguese School included 53 girls under Sisters Virginia and Maria. In the Chinese School, Sister Magdalena had 50 girls under instruction. The same Convent continued also its Home in Spring Gardens as a Chinese School under Sister Cecilia Leang at a cost of $144. Under the direction of the Asilo de la Sainte Enfance, Sister Magdalena taught at Spring Gardens 50 Chinese girls at a cost of $600, whilst Sister S. Lucien instructed 55 girls at a cost of $624. We observe that Roman Catholic educationists had by this time outstripped in activity their Protestant competitors, and the sequel will show that they continued to hold the first rank until the introduction of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme revived the energies of Protestant Missions.\n\nDuring the year 1864, the Board of Education, virtually under Dr. Legge's inspiration, passed several resolutions of interest. In reply to a complaint by the Headmaster of the Central School, who had observed that some of his most valued scholars left him to join the English classes of St. Paul's College and therefore made renewed suggestions as to preventing this defection, the Board resolved (5th January, 1864) that the prevention of boys leaving the Central School to enter St. Paul's College is beyond the powers of the Board and that the objects of the two institutions need not be regarded as dissimilar (a strange assertion, considering that St. Paul's College was started to raise a native ministry) or antagonistic and that the Board have no doubt but that the Central School will ere long acquire a sufficient status of its own. So it did, as soon as it was out of the leading strings of the Board. A month later (2nd February, 1864) the Board resolved (and this resolution has remained in force to the present day) that the sum of $200 be set apart for the purchase of prizes to be given among the Schools, and that such prizes be distributed after a public examination in the last month of every year, the appropriation of them being determined by proficiency in studies, general conduct and regularity of attendance. Another resolution (which has also remained in force ever since) was passed (13th July, 1864) to the effect that, in accordance with the Governor's suggestion, a system of fees should be introduced in the Central School and applied to all scholars attending the English classes from 1st January, 1865. Public interest in the doings of the Board appears to have been rapidly waning, for all through this year it happened frequently that no quorum could be obtained at the meetings of the Board. The Inspector of Schools was therefore informally asked to take a seat on the Board and was thenceforth its most regular attendant until the Board (12 months later) died of inanition.\n\nIn their Report for the year 1864, the Board recorded, besides 142 scholars in the Central School, a number of 469 scholars as attending eleven outside Schools, showing thus a great falling off as compared with the attendances of former years. The Board hardly recognized the significance of this falling off and attempted to explain it by referring to the low moral tone of many of the Masters, the extreme indifference (?) of the poorer classes of Chinese in this Colony to the education of their children, and to the prejudices they entertain against any change in their own system of education. The Board also point out that the more respectable Chinese seldom bring their families to the Colony (a fact happily changed now), and that so long as this is the case, it is greatly to be feared that education will not make that progress here which those interested in it could wish to see.\n\nPage 390\nPage 391", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348658, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 391, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "## MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.\n\nThe falling off in the attendance was caused chiefly by undue interference with the native methods of teaching the Chinese Classics and by the futile attempt to improve those methods by the application of European principles of teaching. A semblance of Bible reading was still kept up in all the Schools while the Board lasted. The Report states that the Bible is not used as a text book in English, but it is taught by the Chinese Masters in their own language to those scholars whose parents offer no objection.\n\n### 1865\n\nDuring the year 1865, St. Paul's College School continued under the tuition of Mr. Reeve, assisted by a Chinese Master, with an attendance of 38 boys, and an expenditure of $3,350. The Diocesan School also continued its established course, under Miss Eaton, with 35 girls, at a cost of $2,400, but it became evident that the results of an English Education upon Chinese girls drafted from families undermined by the peculiar temptations of Hongkong were not such as could justify a continuance of the School, which was accordingly closed at the end of the year and temporarily utilized to accommodate two Baxter Schools. The premature death of Miss Baxter (from Hongkong fever) caused a temporary disarrangement of the Schools established by her, but the work initiated by her was nobly resuscitated by Miss Oxlad and worthily continued later on by Miss Johnstone on whom Miss Baxter's mantle was destined to fall. Consequent upon Miss Baxter's death, her Staunton Street Boarding School under Miss Oxlad was transferred to the Diocesan School and virtually took the place of the latter School for some time. The remainder of Miss Baxter's pupils were removed to St. Paul's College under the charge of Miss Rodel. A short-lived new School, under the direction of the Church Missionary Society (now for the first time taking up educational work in Hongkong) was started, in April 1865, by the Rev. Ch. J. Warren, Acting Warden of St. Paul's College. The School commenced with 17 Chinese girls as a Boarding School, and had cost $470, when it was closed, in November 1865, for want of funds. The London Mission continued its two Chinese Schools, at Taipingshan and Wantsai, with an attendance of 80 boys at a cost of $400. At the Berlin Foundling House, Mrs. Hanspach and Miss Sties, assisted by 2 Chinese teachers, gave to 21 girls a German-Chinese education, at a cost of $1,480.\n\nThe Roman Catholic Mission made, in the year 1865, a great step in advance, by amalgamating, on the principle of the Government Central School, their several English, Portuguese and Chinese Schools, hitherto located under separate management in Wellington Street, into one institution thenceforth known as St. Saviour's College (in Pottinger Street). This new School assumed, however, a novel and, having regard to the peculiar educational demands of the Colony, most appropriate feature in constituting itself expressly as a Commercial School, specially designed to supply clerks for the commercial offices of Hongkong and the ports of China. Bishop Raimondi evidently took a leaf out of Dr. Legge's book, but it is equally evident, from the actual results obtained by St. Saviour's College, that it was an improvement upon Dr. Legge's creation. This new College, the rival of St. Paul's College as well as of the Central School, brought into play a healthy emulation between the principal local Schools, which has continued to the present day as a prominent factor in Hongkong's educational movement. St. Saviour's College commenced with a strong staff, consisting of Messrs. T. Terry, J. Mayer, V. Pereira, J. Baptista and C. Wagner, and with an attendance of 152 boys, costing $1,440. The Propaganda Society continued its Chinese Elementary School, under Mr. T. Leang, with an attendance of 24 boys, costing $84, but the Aberdeen School appears to have been closed this year. Two Chinese Schools at Spring Gardens are also recorded as Roman Catholic Schools, viz. a Boys School under Mr. A. Leang, with 39 Chinese boys, costing $96 (probably under the Propaganda Society), and a Girls School under Mrs. Chan, with 27 Chinese girls, costing $81 (probably under the direction of the Italian Convent). The two Seminaries, for the training of a native clergy, were continued as in former years: the one in Pottinger Street, with 9 students, being under the tuition of Father B. Vigano and Mr. Jehoshaphat Li, and costing $432, whilst the other, at Sookonpoo, continued under the direction of Père Jaquemin, who had 22 students under his charge, costing the French Mission $960. The Italian Sisters Aloysia, Antoinetta, Virginia, Giuseppina, Perrari and M. Pomen had in their three Schools (English, Portuguese and Chinese) a total of 192 girls, costing the Convent $1,560. The French Sisters, of the Asile de la St. Enfance, had 10 boys and 23 girls (nationality and expense not recorded) under the tuition of Sister M. Lucien.\n\n## MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.\n\nThe year 1865 was a most eventful one in the history of the Government Schools in particular and of local education in general, for it witnessed not only the establishment of the Education Department, as a branch of the Civil Service, but that which it involved: the supreme reign of secularism, for the next thirteen years, under the advice of Dr. Stewart. As the advent of a new Governor (Sir Hercules Robinson) had enabled Dr. Legge to re-organize the Government Schools and to found the Central School, so Dr. Stewart, soon after having gained the upper hand as Head of the Education Department, finding in the next two Governors (Sir Richard G. MacDonnell and Sir Arthur Kennedy) staunch supporters of his own secularistic notions, was enabled to give them full swing, and we shall find that this principle was carried so far that at one time the question was seriously considered of making St. Paul's College a secular School and that at another time the attempt was made to bring all the Mission Schools under the sway of the secular system.\n\nAt the beginning of the year 1865, the Board of Education held several meetings and passed various resolutions as if unconscious of its impending dissolution. For some time (January 12 to 26) Dr. Stewart acted in place of the Secretary (Mr. Power), and on the latter's resignation (27th March, 1865), the Board requested Dr. Stewart to undertake the duties of Honorary Secretary permanently. But on the same day Dr. Stewart received a communication from the Colonial Secretary, unbeknown to the Board, informing him that it is not the intention of the Governor to perpetuate the Board, but at the fitting time to place him (Dr. Stewart) at the head of the Educational Department. At the next meeting of the Board (4th April, 1865), summoned the day before, no quorum could be obtained, but on 2nd May, 1865, the last meeting was held (Dr. Legge, Mr. Rennie and Dr. Stewart being present), when several resolutions were passed and Dr. Stewart was instructed to report to the Colonial Secretary that the Village Schools are making encouraging progress. On 13th June, 1865, Dr. Legge and the other Members resigned their seats at the Board, and in doing so Dr. Legge expressed the opinion that the Headmaster of the Central School was now thoroughly fitted to supervise the Education Department. On 24th June, 1865, a Gazette Notification announced that Mr. F. Stewart had been appointed Head of the Education Department in place of the Board.\n\nThe Members of the Board, however, and especially Dr. Legge received the cordial thanks of the Government, accompanied by a handsome testimonial forwarded to Dr. Legge.\n\nIn his first report on the Government Schools, for 1865, Dr. Stewart, whilst regretting that he, being Headmaster and Inspector in one person, had to review the principal part of his own duties, gives on the whole a favourable account of the Schools. His principal complaint is... \n\nPage 32\nPage 33\nPage 385", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 352444, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12]", "page_number": 36, "title": "CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12]", "content_text": "; \n\n.. \n\n? \n\n¿ \n\nکیا ہے ان \n\nEnclosure \n\nInspector of \n\nSchools ro \n\nSir. \n\nC.0. \n\n17475 Rect \n\n35 \n\nColonial Secretary. \n\nEducation Department,\n\nHoughong 18th May, 1892 \n\nI have the honour to submit \n\nfor the consideration of His Excellency \n\nthe Governor a report \n\nand cost \n\nof \n\nthe \n\nGovernment Scholarship Scheme. \n\non the results \n\nof the Government \n\npermanent debenture. \n\nThe Government Scholarship \n\nScheme was \n\ndevised by Governor Sir George Bowen, in summer 1883, and \n\non 28 February 1884, the Governor, \n\nin laying the Regulations of that Scholarship on the table of the Legis-\n\nlative Council, stated (see Gazette of \n\n14 March, 1884, page 103) the object", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 352554, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12]", "page_number": 146, "title": "CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12]", "content_text": "145\n\nSecondary School of the Colony\n\nI have &c.\n\n(Signed) E. J. Eitel, Inspector\n\nof Schools.\n\nHon. G. S. M. O'Brien,\n\nColonial Secretary.\n\nEnclosure 7.\n\nList of some of the best Interpreters, Translators, Compradors, Clerks, &c. of Chinese Imperial Service &c.\n\n1. Interpreters, Translators and Clerks in Government Service.\n\nThe best native interpreter at Supreme Court - Li Song...\n\nThe best translator (and interpreter) of the Registrar General's Office - Kung Sing....\n\nOne of the best Clerks and Interpreters in the Colony at the Government Office - Wong Chun Danverara, or at the Gaol Office - Chan Yan, wh... Luise\n\nClerk and interpreter of Victoria Gaol - St Paul's Ling.\n\nInterpreter at Police Court - Luk Chan-po... (Singapore)\n\nSecond Clerk (next to English Chief Clerk) of the Police Court - Ng Kwai-sang.\n\nIndia", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 357795, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6]", "page_number": 652, "title": "CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6]", "content_text": "648\n\nOn these points is of great value.\n\nIn conclusion Mr Whitehead, in referring to the loyalty of the people of Hongkong says \"We are educating the Chinese by means of a number of schools, We are improving the Streets, We are carrying out useful and reproductive public Works and we are labouring to enforce Sanitary Rules in that Augean stable \"the Native portion of the city.\n\nBut our resources are limited and we are already taxed up to the limit of endurance\".\n\nIt would be interesting to know to whom Mr Whitehead was referring when he used the word \"We\" and what the Colonial party understood by it; for the Education of the Chinese is under the sole direction of a small but efficient Education Department. The streets and the useful and reproductive Public Works are under the absolute management of a most capable Public Works Department, and the Sanitary Rules", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 357797, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6]", "page_number": 654, "title": "CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6]", "content_text": "# THE HONGKONG PETITION.\n\nThe Hon. T. H. Whitehead has addressed the following letter to The Times :-\n\nThe meanest Roman citizen had the right of appealing to Caesar against official oppression. In the modern British Empire \"Caesar\" is the public opinion of the United Kingdom. Against that force happily no injustice can stand. Studied by statesmen as assiduously as the winds and currents by sailors, and it controls even Parliament itself. The people of Hongkong are suffering and writhing under injustice; and, as their delegate, I appeal on their behalf through you to public opinion for redress. We confidently rely on your courtesy and the traditions of your great paper for a full and patient hearing.\n\nThe inhabitants of Hongkong desire to be allowed to enjoy a privilege, which every Englishman looks for, but which is denied to them—that of managing their own local affairs and controlling their own local expenditure, where Imperial considerations are not involved. They intrusted me with a petition to this effect, signed by almost every British person in the colony, and this petition was presented to the House of Commons a few days ago by Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P.\n\nThe petitioners suggested that their aim—self-government so far as was consistent with Imperial interests—might be attained by allowing the free election of a majority of members of British nationality to the Legislative Council, freedom of speech, and the election of one or more unofficial members to the Executive Council. These concessions would give them the desired control of local affairs and local expenditure, as well as a consultative voice on Imperial questions, but their rights were to be, of course, subject to the Governor's veto, the paramount control resting with the Imperial Government.\n\nThere is nothing alarming or even presumptuous in this programme. The privileges are enjoyed by other Crown colonies, such as Malta, Cyprus, Mauritius, and British Honduras. But it is objected that Hongkong is a great naval and military station, that the bulk of the population consists of Chinamen, and that, therefore, the grant of self-government would be a dangerous experiment.\n\nWe answer that the limited degree of self-government desired by us, subject to the Governor's veto, could be no more dangerous in Hongkong than the much greater rights of self-government in Cape Colony, where also there is an overwhelming preponderance of the native element. Hongkong is a fortress, naval and military base; so is Malta, which has long controlled its own local affairs.\n\nWhat we propose is that only persons of British nationality should be electors. It is said that this means the government of 127,000 Chinamen by 800 Englishmen. Is that more shocking than the present government of 127,000 Chinamen by 12 Englishmen—namely, the Governor and 11 nominated councillors? It is not proposed to intrust the Chinese masses with voting power. The colony is British, it is the chief British naval and military centre in the Far East, and its trade, estimated at £40,000,000 a year, has been brought into existence and is mainly carried on by British merchants. But this does not prevent any Portuguese, Germans, Frenchmen, or Chinamen from acquiring British nationality, and so gaining the franchise. At this moment, and without naturalisation, a Chinese J.P. or a German member of the Chamber of Commerce is entitled to join in nominating to the Council with his brother merchants a representative for the Governor's approval.\n\nThe present Council is a mere mockery of representative government. A small secret Executive Council, or Cabinet, which obsequiously obeys directions from Downing Street, determines what legislation shall be carried. The proposals are then laid before the Legislative Council, which includes seven official members selected by the Crown, three unofficial selected by the Governor, and two unofficial selected by the magistrates and the Chamber of Commerce respectively. All the members have to be approved and appointed by the Crown, or virtually by the Governor and his advisers.\n\nWhat semblance of representative government can be found in such an arrangement? The unofficial members may protest against reckless extravagance or crushing taxation; the official members and the Governor himself may, as private persons, with hearts and consciences, join in that protest, and even (as in the case of Singapore last year) telegraph their protest to London. But orders must be obeyed and the official members, being always in a majority and acting under instructions, vote down all opposition.\n\nThe official members hold their posts or offices frequently, merely as stepping-stones to promotion elsewhere, and do not know so much of local needs as their unofficial colleagues, who have passed the best years of their lives in the colony, while the Colonial Office must know still less than the official members. Not long ago the London authorities censured the local Government for partially lighting certain streets with electricity at a cost to ourselves of our own money of about $2,000. At the same time, they were peremptorily ordering us to build a new gaol at a cost estimated at close upon £200,000, although it has been proved (and they have since admitted) that an extension of the old gaol at a cost of about £9,600 would amply suffice for all requirements.\n\nThere is no more loyal population in the Empire than that which I represent. We are educating the Chinese by means of great numbers of schools, we are improving our streets, we are carrying out useful public works, and we are labouring to enforce sanitary rules in that Augean stable, the native quarter of the town. But our resources are limited, and we are already taxed up to the limit of endurance. It is the fundamental principle of our Constitution that there should be no taxation without representation. We are anxious to do all in our power to safeguard the magnificent port and fortress committed to our keeping, but we earnestly plead for the privilege, the common birthright of our race, of settling our own local affairs in our own way and to our own mind.\n\nThat privilege we respectfully ask our fellow countrymen to confer upon us.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 360239, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-271 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [1-4]", "page_number": 435, "title": "CO129-271 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [1-4]", "content_text": "## Enclosure 7\n\n**The Daily Press**\n\nHONGKONG, FEBRUARY 7TH, 1896.\n\n## PRIZE DISTRIBUTION AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE\n\n## IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR\n\nAt noon yesterday His Excellency the Governor presided at the prize distribution at Queen's College. The spacious hall of the college was filled with scholars and their friends, and amongst those on the platform, in addition to many ladies, were - Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secretary), Hon. F. A. Cooper (Director of Public Works), Hon. E. R. Belilios, Hon. Ho Kai, the Right Rev. Bishop Burdon, and Dr. G. H. Bateson Wright (Head Master).\n\nThe HEAD MASTER read his annual report, which we publish below, after which he said - I have now to relieve my mind of a heavy incubus - a debt of gratitude incurred by myself, the masters, and the boys, first of all for the presence of your Excellency on this occasion, secondly, for the many valuable prizes so lavishly bestowed by persons of all nationalities, and thirdly, for the presence of so many kind friends here. It was rightly remarked at a recent prize distribution that a heavy task is imposed upon your Excellency in expecting you to make speeches year after year at so many schools in the colony, but it is very evident that if the task is heavy your Excellency succeeds in making everyone believe it is a pleasure. (Applause). In a lesser degree a similar remark applies to those of our guests who are not parents of the boys. To many of them there must be a certain amount of self-denial in coming here to cheer the boys and masters by publicly showing their interest in the welfare of this Government Institution. (Applause).\n\nHis EXCELLENCY then distributed the prizes, after which he said - My Lord Bishop, ladies and gentlemen, and members of the Governing Body, this is the fourth occasion upon which I have distributed the prizes from this platform, and the duty has, I confess, been a somewhat difficult one, because I cannot say that I am fully satisfied with the results which accrue to the Government and to the public generally from this institution. Nevertheless, it has given me the greatest possible pleasure to come here this morning to give away so many valuable prizes to so many boys who deserve the prizes they have received. (Applause). Now your popular Head Master, Dr. Wright (applause), knows very well that I am not quite satisfied with the results of this institution, and therefore it is very kind of him to ask me to come here year after year to give away the prizes. It shows that although he holds very strong opinions himself, he is perfectly ready to hear adverse opinions, and to weigh them fairly (applause), and though I may, metaphorically speaking, have occasionally trodden upon his toes, yet he realises that \"to err is human, to forgive divine.\" I hope, therefore, that Dr. Wright will forgive me if I say anything this morning which may displease him. I know that his heart is in his work, I know that his work is very hard and continuous; yet as an honest man, I must speak to-day what I conceive to be the truth. You have heard Dr. Wright's report read. I do not intend to make any comment upon it. To-morrow you will see it in print, and you will also see in print the report of the Examiners of this College. That report seems to me to be a very able and lucid document. (Applause). It reached me on Tuesday evening last, so that the remarks I intend to make this morning are perfectly independent of it, as they were written out on Sunday and Monday last.\n\nI will now proceed to give you a brief summary of the Examiners' Report. They are of opinion that, although there were many cases of conspicuous success in the recent examinations, there was a lamentable amount of weak and inaccurate work. They state that the teaching of colloquial English by means of conversation seems quite neglected. That there were several perfect papers in classes IV, VII, and VIII. That there were 2 or 3 excellent essays from class 1A. That in History and Geography there had been evident cramming. That in Latin only one boy came anywhere near the standard. That in arithmetic a few boys did well, but the average was poor. That Euclid was disappointing. That freehand drawing gave evidence of sound and careful teaching. That in many cases Algebra had been fairly taught. They are of opinion that the boys are pushed on too rapidly. They suggest that more attention, much more, should be given to English, and that the energy and ability of the European staff should be directed more to the Chinese boys. That Chinese masters should not be allowed to teach English, and they are against the separation of Chinese boys from the non-Chinese boys. In conclusion, they bear favourable testimony to the ability of the masters and to the discipline and orderly behaviour of the boys. (Applause). Upon that, I wish to most sincerely congratulate the boys. (Applause).\n\nNow I have to point out that this Governing Body was only appointed by me a year ago, and therefore it was impossible for them to make my changes in the directions they advocate until they had held the first examination of all the boys. As I said two years ago, I am not an educationist, and I really am very glad of it, but I believe I possess some practical common sense, and I want to tell you this afternoon what this College was established for, and to ask you whether it is fulfilling its object. As I told you before, my remarks are absolutely independent; they were written before I received either the report of Dr. Wright or the report of the Examiners.\n\nNow when this College was opened by Sir George Bowen, who, as you know, was one of the most eminent scholars ever sent out from Oxford, he made the following remarks: \"I hope that Victoria College, to be developed at some future date into Victoria University, may endure throughout the great future of China, and may be a source whence will flow the streams of education and knowledge to generations yet unborn.\" He added - ... \"Many of the leading statesmen of England trust with me that a long succession of our Chinese students, after completing their education in England, may have the honour of introducing into their native land the results of the humane and enlightened jurisprudence and of the improved medical science of modern Europe, or may as Surveyors or engineers help to cover the vast Empire of China with a network of railways and telegraphs.\" A year later he averred that Victoria College would render an important service to the neighbouring Empire of China, and would prove a powerful and honourable method of extending British influence.\n\nHave these expectations, ladies and gentlemen, been in any way realised, or are they in course of realisation? In February 1892, when quite a stranger here, after giving away the prizes, I stated that one of the things which struck me most forcibly was that the efforts of the Government to promote the spread of the English language had resulted in a complete failure in making any impression on the Chinese-speaking residents of the Colony. I added that we had been more than fifty years in possession of Hongkong, and yet what was known as an English education was the luxury of the few. Under the then existing system, as under the present, many boys attended school for only a short time, and then they leave school unable to speak English or understand English colloquially, or written English properly. Dr. Wright himself has confirmed this, for in his report for 1892, he said... \n\nPage 433 \n`C.O. 7905`\n`RESP (Recd 15 APR 36)`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-271 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 372642, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8]", "page_number": 637, "title": "CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8]", "content_text": "-25 \n\nV\n\nSub-enclosure\n\nThe Daily Press.\n\nHONGKONG, July 14th, 1899.\n\nIs the letter addressed to Lord CHARLES BERESFORD by the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai and Hon. WEI YUK attention was drawn to the position of Chinese British subjects in China, the difficulty they experience in securing recognition and protection, and the objections they entertain to the observance of the rule of distinctive dress, which has been offered to them as a means of overcoming this difficulty. His Lordship's sympathy was excited and in his book, \"The Break-up of China,\" he says:--\" The statement with regard to the position of those Chinese who have become British subjects is not generally known, and, I submit, calls for the earnest attention of the Associated Chambers. It cannot add to the prestige of the British Empire, nor can it improve British trade and commerce, if this state of affairs is allowed to continue. There can be no possible reason why a Chinese who becomes a British subject should not enjoy all the privileges and advantages which are available to any other British national. Why should a Chinaman who wishes to become a British subject be compelled to submit to what he considers degrading and humiliating regulations a bit more than those other nationalities and creeds who wear the dress of their people, and who form the larger proportion of the millions who are proud to be the subjects of the Queen of England?\" The distinguished writer does not appear to have made enquiries as to the arguments on the opposite side, or, if he ascertained that there were such arguments, to have thought them worthy of mention. The question, however, is one of considerable importance, and although, as Lord CHARLES BERESFORD says, there can be no possible reason why a Chinese who becomes a British subject should not enjoy all the privileges and advantages which are available to any other British national, there are reasons, which have been repeatedly stated officially, and which appear to possess considerable force, why Chinese who desire to enjoy the advantages of British nationality should be required to clearly proclaim their nationality.\n\nIn November, 1866, a notification was published that British subjects of Chinese descent had by treaty no right of residence in the interior of China, and that if they were found so residing they were liable to be brought to the nearest port by the Chinese authorities as British subjects to be dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulations in such cases made and provided. In 1868 a circular was issued by the Minister at Peking which laid down that in the event of persons of Chinese descent electing to sink their British nationality they could not claim any exemption from the jurisdiction and laws of the country they adopted of their own free will, and enjoined all British subjects of Chinese descent while residing or being in Chinese territory to discard the Chinese costume and adopt some other dress or costume whereby they might be readily distinguished from the native population.\n\nIn the case of a Straits born Chinaman who recently claimed British nationality upon getting into trouble at Amoy the position was stated in an official despatch by the Colonial Secretary of the Straits as follows: \"Her Majesty's Government cannot allow persons of Chinese race born in this colony to enjoy the benefits of a double nationality, that is to say, it cannot permit them, after acting as the petitioner has done as if they were subjects of the Emperor of China by residing and owning property in the interior forbidden to British subjects, afterwards to deny Chinese nationality and obtain as British subjects that full protection and countenance which can be accorded only to those who have consistently from their birth conducted themselves and been registered as British subjects.\" In a letter to the Times suggested by this case Mr. PICKERING, formerly Protector of Chinese at Singapore, pointed out that in China the very fact of shaving the head and wearing a queue is an acknowledgement of subjection to the dynasty which reigns at Peking, and any Chinese official is justified in considering such a person under his jurisdiction; for years after the appearance in China of the Tsing dynasty the Chinese were willing to suffer persecution rather than submit to the tonsure, but for a century past the Chinese have come to look on the pigtail as a vital mark of distinction between the \"man\" and the barbarian.\" The Straits born Chinese, Mr. PICKERING went on to say, \"when in China wear the queue for fear lest they may be identified with Europeans or with any race not Chinese. Whatever these people, born under our rule, educated in our schools, and made wealthy by our protection, may say or write, in their heart of hearts they consider themselves Chinese, despise all other races as being inferior foreigners, and only plead British nationality to enforce a claim or when they are in trouble. If Straits born Chinese wish for the protection of our Minister and Consuls when in a foreign land they must be prepared to submit to such Foreign Office regulations regarding dress, coiffure, etc., as will enable both Chinese and British officials in China to distinguish British subjects from Chinese who own allegiance to Peking.\" These remarks apply equally to Hongkong Chinese.\n\nPage 14\n\nPage 14\n\nPage 14\n\n#1\n\n#\n\n家\n\n£4\n\n634\n\nhese\n\nV.0.\n\n25027\n\nRece\n\nPEG2 18 SEP 09\n\ncent", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 373152, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9]", "page_number": 509, "title": "CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9]", "content_text": "1898.\n\n20\n\nCOLONIAL REPORTS--ANNUAL.\n\nHosa Kono, equal as far as possible to the demand for admission, the rate of fees was increased from the 1st April. The total amount of fees was $21,593, being an increase of $8,138 upon the receipts for 1897, and more than double the receipts for 1896. Owing to various departmental economies, and to a reduction of $1,200 in the Crown Agents' account, the actual nett expenditure amounted to $16,305.91, as compared with $25,623.52 in 1897. Two additional English masters and one native mathematical master were appointed during the year.\n\nThe results in the Oxford locals showed marked improvement, the percentage of passes being 59 instead of 18 in 1897.\n\nThe lower and preparatory schools were examined by the headmaster, and out of 550 boys, 457 or 83 per cent. passed. The upper school was examined by independent examiners appointed by the Government, and showed satisfactory results.\n\nVI.—GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.\n\n(A.) HOSPITALS.\n\nThere are several hospitals in the Colony, of which only one, the Civil Hospital, is entirely a Government institution, though the Tung Wa Hospital is also under Government supervision. These, of course, are in addition to the military and prison hospitals. Further information as to the cases treated in the two hospitals named will be found under the head of Public Health VII. (B.).\n\nAmong the patients treated by the Government Civil Hospital there were 469 deaths, of which 103 were British and foreign and 366 Chinese. 319 of the deaths recorded were due to plague. The Tung Wa Hospital treated 3,019 in-patients and 90,880 out-patients. The total number of deaths was 1,187, of which 243 were due to plague and 280 to phthisis. The percentage of deaths to admissions was 35.05, as against 35.24 in 1897 and 38.80 in 1896. It may be mentioned that the provision of free burial and the restoration of destitutes to their homes are regarded as two of the most important functions of this institution.\n\n(B) ASYLUM.\n\nThe lunatic asylum is managed in connection with the Government Civil Hospital, and is divided into European and Chinese wards. There were 82 patients admitted in 1898, of whom 73 were cured and relieved, Six patients died during the year.\n\nCOLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.\n\n21\n\n(C) POOR HOUSES. There is no poor house in the Colony, but the Tung Wa Hospital does good work in relieving and sending destitutes back to their native villages.\n\n(D.) REFORMATORIES.\n\nHitherto there has been no properly organized reformatory in Hong Kong, but the Government has for some time been engaged in making arrangements for the establishment of such an institution in the near future. A building has been generously presented by Mr. Belilios, which is in course of construction, and should be ready for occupation before the middle of 1900.\n\n(E) SAVINGS BANKS.\n\nThe Hong Kong Savings Bank, started on 1st May, 1885, is conducted by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and receives deposits from $1 up to $250 in any one day, with a maximum of $2,500 in any one year. The deposits bear interest at the rate of 3.3 per cent. per annum on the daily balance. Withdrawals are paid on demand, upon production of the pass-book by the account holder, or his duly appointed agent.\n\nThe following figures will give an idea of its growth :---- On 30th June, 1886, the deposits amounted to $122,000. On 30th June last there were over 3,000 accounts with a total of some $1,100,000, as against $900,000 on the corresponding date last year and $800,000 in 1897.\n\nCorrespondence relating to business of the Hong Kong Savings Bank, if marked \"On Hong Kong Savings Bank Business,\" is forwarded free of charge by the various British post offices in Hong Kong and China.\n\n(F.) SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.\n\nThe Po Lung Kuk is a society, under the supervision of Government, for the protection of women and girls. The number of cases dealt with by the society during 1898 was 412, which is 27 more than the previous year. The receipts of the working committee amounted during 1898 to $5,054.17, and the expenditure came to $4,778.72, leaving a balance in hand of $275.45. The society co-operates with the benevolent societies of Canton, Macao, and other places in restoring women and girls to their relations, and in other ways. No money grant is received from the Government.\n\nHosa Kono,\n\n1898.\n\n506", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 381991, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-306 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [8-9]", "page_number": 704, "title": "CO129-306 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [8-9]", "content_text": "(4)\n\n4. Ordinances were also passed for the establishment of a hospital for infectious diseases in connection with the Tung Wa Hospital; for the imposition of fees for the issue by the Government of Hongkong of certain certificates to certain Chinese; and for the provision of more effectual means to ensure the observance, by those in charge of certain steam-launches, of reasonable precautions against piracy and robbery.\n\nIV. EDUCATION,\n\n1. At the close of 1900 there were in this Colony 13 Government Schools and 91 Grant-in-aid Schools, purporting to give an education to 7,481 children. Of this number, no less than 1,440 scholars are claimed by Queen's College. The remaining 103 schools are thus left with an average of not quite 59 pupils each, the smallest number in any given school being 12. This state of affairs cannot be considered satisfactory, and it seems desirable while diminishing the number of educational centres to cultivate greater uniformity in the system and object of teaching adopted by the various scholastic establishments.\n\n2. There are 5 schools in the Colony—Queen's College being by far the most considerable—which give an education both in English and in Chinese. Twenty-one schools offer an education in English only, while in the remainder only Chinese is taught.\n\n3. No satisfactory provision for the Education of European children exists in Hongkong. Whilst European parents prefer to have their sons and daughters educated at home, a preference dictated by climatic and other reasons, there are not a few Europeans new in the Colony who are unable to afford to send their children to Europe. It would seem only just that educational facilities which are at present wanting should be afforded for such children.\n\n4. The education of Chinese should have as its two objects the instruction of the native pupils in their own language, and in English. Anything further would seem at present to be premature, save in the case of a very few exceptionally clever scholars. If the Chinese boy on leaving school is equipped with a sound knowledge of English, his so-called \"secondary\" education may confidently be left in his own hands, and its evolution will depend on circumstance and opportunity. It is more than doubtful whether this principle is at present realized with sufficient clearness.\n\nV.—PUBLIC WORKS.\n\n1. The total expenditure on Public Works during the year was a sum of $683,946.74. This shows an increase of $232,581.23 over the expenditure under this head in 1899.\n\n2. The designs for the new Law Courts were prepared in England by the Consulting Architects to the Colonial Office. The plans for the piled foundations were prepared locally, a satisfactory contract for the work was let in July, 1900, and good progress has since been made.\n\n3. A new Police Station was built on a site selected above the Cattle Depôts on the road leading to the Pokfulam Road. The work was completed on the 1st October. Police Stations are also being built at Saikung and Shatin Kok in the New Territory.\n\n4. The Public Works Department Store at Wanchai was completed early in the year. All stores previously deposited at Crosby Store in Queen's Road and in a rented building on Praya East were then removed to the new store, where they were arranged and catalogued.\n\n5. The construction of two new latrines was completed during the year, while three more are being built. A chair shelter for coolies has also been constructed at the Peak Tram Station.\n\n6. Good progress was made on the Pokfulam Conduit Road during the year, and plans and estimates are ready for its completion as far as a junction with Robinson Road. It has been decided that the Harlech Road at the Peak should be taken over and completed by the Military Authorities, to give access to sites for batteries on the High West and for buildings beyond to the North of the hill's saddle. The trunk road to Táipó in the New Territory is still in course of construction.\n\n7. A contract for building a Peak Residence for the Governor has been let and fair progress was made during the year. The stone foundations of the main building are well advanced, and the woodwork of the doors and windows was in course of preparation.\n\n8. On the 29th November the Governor opened to the public a new pier opposite the end of Pedder Street, 200 feet long by 40 feet wide, now known as Blake Pier. The base was designed to carry the new Clock Tower which it is proposed to erect to take the place of that which stands in Pedder Street, and which has become an obstruction to the traffic.\n\n(5)\n\nVI.—GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.\n\n(a.) Hospitals.—1. A total number of 2,913 cases were admitted into the Government Civil Hospital during the year 1900, showing an increase of 1% over the number of admissions in the previous year. Two hundred and twenty-five operations were performed, of which only seven ended fatally.\n\n2. Fifty-four (54) cases were admitted into the Maternity Hospital as against 36 in 1899. Six deaths occurred among the patients.\n\n3. The Hospital Hulk Hygeia was not used during the year as the accommodation at Kennedy Town Hospital is now sufficient. It is proposed to use the Hygeia for quarantined passengers under examination.\n\n4. One hundred and seven (107) cases of plague were treated at the Kennedy Town Infectious Hospital during the year with a mortality of 77.5 per cent., 83 cases ended fatally. Fifteen cases of Beri-beri, with one death, were also treated.\n\n5. The admissions to the Gaol Hospital numbered 495, as compared with 503 in 1899. Six deaths occurred from natural causes, and there were two executions.\n\n6. The number of patients in the wards of the Tung Wa Hospital at the beginning of the year was 154; 2,981 were admitted during 1900, making a total of 3,135 cases treated. 1,267 deaths, the high rate of mortality being due to the fact that the lower classes of the Chinese community regard this hospital as not alone a place for the treatment of diseases, but also a refuge in which to die. A free site has been granted on the western side of Inland Lot 1,082 for the erection of a permanent branch hospital for the treatment of contagious diseases. This new hospital will take the place of the temporary matsheds which have hitherto been built for the reception of infectious cases.\n\n(b.) Lunatic Asylum.—7. The Lunatic Asylum is divided into European and Chinese wards. 109 patients were admitted. There was an increase in the number of Chinese patients treated, viz., 97 as against 59 in 1899.\n\n(c.) Reformatory.—8. The Belilios Reformatory was opened during 1900, but at the close of the year no case had been admitted.\n\n(d.) Public Mortuary.—9. During the year 1,712 bodies were removed to the Public Mortuary.\n\n(e.) Vaccine Institute and Government Laboratory.—10. The Vaccine Institute has been working throughout the year under the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, and the lymph has, as usual, given satisfaction. 321 articles were examined during the year in the Government Laboratory.\n\n(f.) Po Leung Kuk.—11. I append a return (Table showing the work of the Po Leung Kuk, a Society for the Protection of Women and Children, for the year 1900. The number of persons admitted to the home was 337 as against 252 in 1899. The balance to the credit of the fund was $13,697.99 at the close of 1900, and the subscriptions for the year show an increase of $1,459.80 over the subscriptions for 1899. At the beginning of the year the services of a female teacher were engaged, and the inmates now receive regular elementary instruction.\n\n(g.) Fire Brigade.—12. At the commencement of the year, the Nam Pak Hong Fire Brigade was reorganized and placed under the immediate supervision of the officers of the Government Fire Brigade, which is itself a sub-department of the Police and under the control of the Captain Superintendent of Police. The Nam Pak Hong now maintains, at its own cost, six trained firemen, while two firemen of the Government Brigade reside in the station house with them.\n\n13. There were 51 fires and 74 incipient fires during the year, causing an estimated damage of $130,599.73 and $729.10 respectively. The Brigade turned out 61 times during the year.\n\n(h) Police.—14. The total strength of the Police Force, which stood at 630 in 1898, and at 827 in 1899, has been increased to 929, an increase necessitated by additional work in connection with the New Territory. To keep pace with this increase in the numbers of the men, the staff of officers, which had previously consisted only of a Captain Superintendent of Police and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was doubled by the appointment of two Assistant Superintendents of Police, though only one of these was actually employed in Police Work during the year.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-306 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 389032, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6]", "page_number": 539, "title": "CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6]", "content_text": "# VI.—GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS\n\n## (a.)-HOSPITALS\n\nGovernment Hospitals consist of the Civil Hospital, to which is attached an isolated Maternity Hospital; Kennedy Town Infectious Diseases Hospital, and the hulk Hygeia.\n\nThe Civil Hospital contains 150 beds in 20 wards; the Maternity Hospital 6 beds for Europeans and 4 for Asiatics; and Kennedy Town Hospital 26 beds in the main building. In 1902, 206 cases were treated at Kennedy Town, of which 94 were cases of plague, 10 of small-pox and 52 of cholera.\n\n3,108 in-patients and 11,815 out-patients were treated at the Government Civil Hospital in 1902. There was a decided decrease in the number of admissions from malarial fever, the figures being 349 as compared with 787 in 1901.\n\nThe Tung Wa Hospital is mainly supported by voluntary subscriptions, and only receives a small contribution from the Government. It takes the place of a Poor-house and Hospital for Chinese sick and destitute. Chinese as well as European methods of treatment are employed in accordance with the wishes expressed by the patients or those who are responsible for them.\n\n## (b.)-ASYLUM\n\nThe Lunatic Asylum is under the direction of the Principal Civil Medical Officer. European and Chinese patients are separated, the European portion of the Asylum containing 8 beds in 8 separate wards, and the Chinese portion 16 beds. Patients of all races were treated during 1902, and there were 13 deaths.\n\n## OTHER GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS\n\nThe Prison, Observatory, Post Office, Educational establishments and other Government institutions are dealt with under separate heads.\n\n## VII-INSTITUTIONS NOT SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT\n\nAmong institutions recognised and encouraged but not to any considerable extent supported by Government may be mentioned the Po Leung Kuk and the College of Medicine for Chinese. The Po Leung Kuk is an institution presided over by the Registrar-General and an annually elected Committee of twelve Chinese gentlemen, for the protection of women and children. They receive daily instruction in elementary subjects and sometimes earn pocket-money by doing needle-work. During 1902 a total of 617 persons were admitted, made up of 494 women, 93 young girls, and 30 small boys. Of these, 201 were restored to their parents or sent to charitable institutions in China, 27 were sent to missionary schools and convents, 19 were married, 10 adopted, and 310 allowed to leave. The Home is medically attended by one of the Colonial Surgeons.\n\nThe Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese was founded in 1887, for the purpose of teaching surgery, medicine and midwifery, especially to Chinese. The Government of the College is vested in the Court, of which the Rector of the College, who has always been a Government official, is President. 76 students have been enrolled up to 1903, and of these 18 have become qualified licentiates and have obtained various posts under Government and elsewhere. The institution is of great value in spreading a knowledge of Western medical science amongst the Chinese; and in addition to the employment of certain of the licentiates in the public service, the senior students have frequently been made use of for various purposes during epidemic seasons. A Government grant-in-aid of $2,500 is made to the College, to be used as honoraria to the lecturers.\n\n# VIII-CRIMINAL AND POLICE\n\n## STATISTICS\n\nThe number of convictions in the Superior Courts during the last five years is as follows:\n\n| Year | Offences against the Person | Offences against Property | Other Offences | Total |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1898 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 38 |\n| 1899 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 58 |\n| 1900 | 49 | 7 | 12 | 68 |\n| 1901 | 54 | 7 | ... | 61 |\n| 1902 | 54 | ... | ... | 54 |\n\nThe total of all cases reported to the Police was 10,421, as against 9,172 in 1901. This shows an increase of 13.61 per cent. In the division of these cases into serious and minor offences there appears an increase, as compared with 1901, of 594 cases or 17.45 per cent. in the former, and of 655 cases or 11.35 per cent. in the latter.\n\nThe serious offences in which the increase was most noticeable were burglary and larceny.\n\nThe increase in crime in the Colony is no doubt largely due to the restlessness of the neighbouring districts in China, and the influx of Chinese paupers who were the victims of bad harvests and spasmodic rebellions in the two adjoining provinces.\n\nThe Police Force is composed of 133 Europeans, 367 Indians and 419 Chinese, and has thus increased, largely owing to the necessities of the New Territory, by nearly 300 members during the past five years. The executive staff consists of a Captain Superintendent, a Deputy and two Assistant Superintendents.\n\nThe daily average of prisoners confined in the gaol during 1902 was 576. The average may be said to have been raised by about 25 per cent. during the past ten years.\n\nConstant attention is given to the instruction of long-sentence prisoners (first offenders) of good conduct, who are employed at industrial labour, viz.: Boot and Shoe-making, Tailoring, Mat-making, Carpentry, Tinsmithing, Net-making, Mattress-making, Rattan work, Knitting, Printing and Book-binding, the knowledge of which is useful and educational, rendering many of them much better adapted to earn an honest livelihood after their discharge from prison.\n\nThe total number of forms printed at the Gaol during the year 1902 was 3,050,828, and 11,949 books were bound. The value of work done by the Printing and Book-binding Department was $29,039.13. Deducting the cost of paper, leather, etc., used during the year, from the net earnings, the total profits on all industrial labour amounted to $29,439.91 for year 1902.\n\nThe Chinese inhabitants contribute by a voluntary assessment among themselves to the pay of District Watchmen, a native force which is of material assistance to the regular Police. During the year 1902 over $17,000 was contributed for this purpose.\n\n# IX-VITAL STATISTICS\n\n## (a).-POPULATION\n\nThe last Census was taken in January, 1901, when the population was found to be 283,975, exclusive of the Army and Navy. The estimated population at the beginning of the year under review (the naval and military forces being similarly excluded from the estimate) was 311,824, including 18,524 non-Chinese. Exclusive of the New Territory, the population of which is probably slightly under 110,000. The total population of the Colony may therefore be estimated in round figures at 421,000 of all nationalities. The total number of births registered in the Colony was 1,200 and of deaths 6,788. This gives an annual birth-rate of 3.8 and a death-rate of 21.7 per 1,000. The excess of deaths over births is explained by the fact that thousands of Chinese families are represented in Hongkong by men only, and that a large proportion of the population of the Colony is a floating population of adult males.\n\nIt should also be remembered that a large proportion of births among the Chinese remains unregistered. The preponderance of male over female births is very marked among the Chinese community, being in the proportion of 190 males to every 100 females. The proportion among the non-Chinese community was 111 to 100 as compared with 107 to 100 in 1901.\n\n## (b)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION\n\nThe Colony was again visited by Plague in the Spring and Summer of 1902, though the outbreak was much less severe than in several former years. 546 Chinese are known to have died of this disease in the Colony, and 26 members of the British and Foreign community, which includes Asiatic Portuguese. 57 cases ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 404787, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4]", "page_number": 525, "title": "CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4]", "content_text": "# 522 — 6 —\n\nIn Imports there is a decrease reported of 280,888 tons.\n\nIn Exports there is a decrease reported of 262,160 tons.\n\nIn Transit Cargo there is an increase reported of 263,492 tons.\n\nIn Bunker Coal there is a decrease of 15,349 tons.\n\nThe total reported Import Trade of the Port for 1905 amounted to 25,764 vessels of 11,328,015 tons, carrying 7,830,424 tons of cargo, of which 4,415,006 tons were discharged at Hongkong. This does not include the number, tonnage, or cargo of vessels in Local Trade.\n\nSimilarly, the Export Trade from the Port was represented by 25,814 vessels of 11,325,601 tons, carrying 3,011,305 tons of cargo, and shipping 651,523 tons of bunker coal.\n\n64,341 Emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year; of these, 48,289 were carried by British Ships and 16,052 by Foreign Ships; 140,483 were reported as having been brought to Hongkong from places to which they had emigrated, and of these, 113,796 were brought in British Ships and 26,687 by Foreign Ships.\n\nThe total Revenue collected by the Harbour Department during the year showed a decrease of $366.19 on that of the previous year and was as follows:\n| Category | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. Light Dues | $74,233.45 |\n| 2. Licences and Internal Revenue | $62,668.45 |\n| 3. Fees of Court and Office | $163,665.86 |\n| Total | $300,567.76 |\n\n## (c.) INDUSTRIES\n\nDuring 1905 supplies of all Sugars were greater than during 1904, and in sympathy with other markets local prices continued to decline throughout the year. There was however a good demand for Refined Sugar in China, resulting in a profitable business for the two local Refineries, but demand from other markets fell off owing to their being overstocked with European Sugars.\n\nAs was anticipated at the end of 1904 the Cotton Spinning industry worked under very satisfactory conditions during the whole of 1905, and the comparatively low price of Cotton, combined with an active demand for Yarn, allowed of good profits being realized all through the twelve months.\n\nThe increased demand for Cement from the \"Green Island\" Company's factory at Hok Un necessitated the raising of further capital and the provision of new plant to increase the output from 150 to 240 tons a day.\n\nThe Rope factory at Kennedy Town did good business but was not working to its full output of 20,000 lb. a day throughout the year.\n\nThere was some falling off in the repairing and docking of ships at Hongkong probably due to increased competition from other places.\n\n43 steam-launches and other vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 3,695 were built during the year.\n\nA new industry under European direction—that of silvering mirrors—was started at Causeway Bay.\n\n## (c.) FISHERIES\n\nA considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and many others in the New Territory are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.\n\n## (d.) FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE\n\n116,780 trees were planted in Hongkong during the year, and 50,052 in the New Territory. Further experiments were initiated with a view to utilising the more barren portions of the Colony, notably with the Tea Oil tree (*Camellia oleifera*) and the Wood Oil tree (*Aleurites cordata*). Cotton was tried in various representative situations but with very meagre results. Control of the plantations of Pine licensed to Chinese in 1904 was maintained; the few breaches of the rules that occurred were dealt with by withdrawal of the licence.\n\nOn the whole the licensing scheme seems to have suited the Chinese.\n\n## (e.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND\n\nThe amount received from sales of Crown Land was $392,259.76, being some $94,000 less than the receipts for the previous year. This falling off may be attributed to the general depression of business throughout the year and the consequent tightness of the money market.\n\nIn the early part of the year the intricate questions connected with Military lands and reserves in the Colony which since 1883 had formed the subject of continual discussion between the Military and Civil authorities were comprehensively dealt with by Major J. F. LEWIS, late R.E., deputed for that purpose by the War Department. An equitable settlement was proposed by that Officer, based on principles of which the adoption should minimize the chance of similar difficulties arising in the future. This settlement, accepted by the Governor and the General Officer Commanding, was approved by the Colonial Office, War Office and Treasury.\n\nBuilding land in the urban portion of the Colony and in the Peak District is limited in extent with the natural consequence that house-rents, especially on the higher levels, have advanced to an extent probably unknown in other British Colonies.\n\n## III—LEGISLATION\n\nTwelve Ordinances were passed during 1905, the most important measure being the New Territories Land Ordinance, No. 3 of 1905, which together with an amending Ordinance, No. 9 of 1905, is designed to facilitate the transfer of land in the New Territories and to provide a simple and inexpensive procedure for settling land disputes therein.\n\nAn amendment of the Vagrancy Ordinance, No. 2 of 1905, increases the liability of shipowners and masters who bring undesirable persons into the Colony, and enables rules to be made for the more rigorous treatment of vagrants in the House of Detention.\n\nProvision is made under the Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance, No. 5 of 1905, for the carrying of suitable lights by junks, and the same Ordinance extends greater facilities in respect of the navigation of steamships of small size plying between Hongkong and the neighbouring ports of the Canton Province by lightening the somewhat onerous conditions hitherto imposed.\n\n## IV.—EDUCATION\n\nThe number of Government and Grant Schools including Queen's College, is 83 of which 25 are Upper Grade Schools with a staff competent to give instruction in all the subjects of Standard VII, and 58 are Lower Grade Schools, under purely native management. Broadly speaking the Upper Grade Schools are taught in English, and the Lower Grade Schools are taught in the Vernacular.\n\nThe total number of pupils in average attendance at Government and Grant Schools was 5,353 against 4,970 in 1904. Of these, 1,797 were in Government and 3,556 in Grant Schools; 3,207 pupils received instruction in English, and 2,146 in the Vernacular. The proportion of boys to girls was 3,401 to 1,952.\n\nThe Victoria School for children of British parentage was opened at Caroline Hill, in 1904. The average attendance at this and the corresponding British School at Kowloon, taken together, was 93.\n\nLower Grade Anglo-Chinese Schools were opened at Tanglungchau and Aberdeen,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412583, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 343, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n340\n\n2\n\nChinese. However, like all Chinese, they are of an inflammable nature, and, as in the case of peaceful natures, when once aroused they may go to further extremes than more turbulent spirits, as happened in 1900.\n\n4. Opium Smoking.--Shan-hsi is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of the opium-smoking provinces of China. Mr. Sowerby assured me that in and around Tai-yuan Fu, though there might be a slight decrease, it was not very appreciable. He said that sometimes, when he goes into a village and asks how many non-opium smokers it contains, an inhabitant will smile and point to one or two small children, whilst in another a native will state with some pride that 110 per cent. [sic] are opium smokers. He thinks, however, that less opium is grown in the district.\n\nGoing north, I found at Ta-tung Fu that the evil was much less, and in that city the Magistrate stated, and the local missionary corroborated, that under 50 per cent. were opium smokers. The Magistrate, himself an inveterate smoker and possibly unreliable (I had no means of checking his statement), stated that only one-fifth of the area given up to the poppy in his district last year was now utilized for the same purpose.\n\n5. The Irish potato was introduced by Dr. Attwood, an American missionary, residing at Feng-chou Fu, some twenty years ago and has proved a great success. I found them in abundance in the Ta-t'ung Fu region.\n\n6. Secret Societies. The great anti-dynastic Secret Society known as the Ko-ming-tang is, local missionaries assured me, very strong in the parts of the province I visited, and many of the officials are believed to belong to it. At Hsin Chou, 47 miles to the north of T'ai-yuan Fu, it was rumoured that there would be a great rising in Southern China this August, that the troops in the north would be dispatched to put it down, and that when they were gone the north would seize the opportunity to rise. This, of course, is only a type of the sensational and ridiculous rumours one hears at times in the country, but it shows that the feeling of unrest is very extended.\n\n7. Robbers flourish in the hills to the north-east and to the west of Ta-t'ung Fu, but they usually avoid the main road, and, as is always the case, they are not likely to attack a passing foreigner. It is only a matter of surprise that with such poorly trained soldiers as the provincial troops (the Hsun-fang-tui) the robbers are of such minor local importance.\n\n8. Poorness of the Province. Shan-hsi is a very poor province, and T'ai-yüan Fu is very inferior in population and importance to any provincial capital I have yet visited. (I have visited fourteen out of eighteen.) I estimate the population at between 50,000 and 70,000 inhabitants, whilst the officials put it at only 40,000. I believe that as regards population Ta-tung Fu has the largest population of any city in the province. The railway is, however, attracting people to Tai-yüan Fu, and it is bound to improve on its present stagnant condition. Through the energy of Taotai Ting, the Judge, a fine new road is being made, and they are even reported to be in possession of a steam-roller, which, however, I did not personally see.\n\n9. Russian Colony at Kalgan.--Consists of one Russian clerk in the Russo-Chinese Bank, and three Siberian Russians (viz., one postmaster and two tea merchants), who have not much in common with their European compatriot.\n\n10. Japanese Instructors at Tai-yuan Fu.-There are ten in the various schools, including one officer in the military school and one sergeant-major.\n\n(Signed) G. PEREIRA, Lieutenant-Colonel, Grenadier Guards, Military Attaché.\n\nPeking, August 24, 1907.\n\n## CHINA TRADE\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[36185]\n\n[November 2.]\n\n### SECTION 3.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received November 2.)\n\n(No. 443.) Sir,\n\nPeking, September 17, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 260 of the 4th July transmitting copy of a letter from the Colonial Office respecting a suggestion by the Hong Kong Government that, in view of the acute currency crisis existing in Canton and Hong Kong, the Chinese Government should be urged to carry out its obligation under the Mackay Treaty to establish a proper currency in China and instructing me to report, should no practical steps have yet been taken, whether the time is opportune for making further representations to the Chinese Government on the subject.\n\nIn my despatch No. 363 of the 24th July, I had the honour to transmit to you copies of a note which, in pursuance of a representation received from the Chambers of Commerce of Hong Kong, Shanghae, and Tien-tsin, the doyen of the Diplomatic Body addressed to Prince Ch'ing and of His Highness's reply that a Commission had been appointed to deal with the question and report to the Throne. Since that time I have frequently asked the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu whether the Commission had presented its report, and have been informed that, owing to the divergent views of its members, no satisfactory scheme for a uniform currency has yet been decided upon.\n\nWhile the want of a uniform silver coinage is a serious obstacle to the foreign and internal trade of China, the difficulties attending its introduction, although not insuperable, are by no means light. That a suitable coin in the shape of a silver dollar can be made in China is evidenced by the fact that the dollar issued by the Pei-yang Mint at Tien-tsin holds its own here with the British dollar and that both are at a premium as compared with the Mexican dollar; but the aim of the Chinese provincial mints is not so much to coin as to make money, and this object is facilitated by the lax way in which they are controlled by the Central Government. A dollar coined in one province is accepted in the next only at a considerable discount. The coining of a dollar of the proper fineness, weight, and finish is not a gain but a cost to the mint from which it comes, and it is not unnatural that the mint should wish to recoup itself by the profitable coinage of subsidiary silver coins, the over issue of which, combined with the natural law that the coin of less will always oust the coin of greater intrinsic value in a country where the coinage is not sufficiently protected by law, has been specially felt in South China. What has occurred in the silver coinage of the south is at present taking place in the copper coinage all over the Empire, the new copper coins are fast displacing the old copper cash.\n\nBy the laws of China land and other taxes are payable in Treasury (Kuping) taels, while the Treaty Tariff calls for Customs duties in Haikwan taels, so that, if the proposed silver dollar is to be the uniform coinage of China, it will be necessary to fix the rate of exchange between it and Kuping and Haikwan taels, and, what is still more desirable, between it and the new copper coinage which is the retail trade currency of the Empire.\n\nThese are some of the difficulties with which China has to grapple, and, although from a European standpoint they are not insurmountable, the ignorance of even the highest officials on the subject of finance and currency is so great that their speedy solution can hardly be looked for; but I shall continue to make representations to the Chinese Government for the fulfilment of its Treaty engagement.\n\nWere the coinage of this new dollar restricted to three or four mints under the direct control of the Ministry of Finance, identical dies supplied to them, the defacement or destruction of the coin made a penal offence, the issue of subsidiary coins restricted as in the case of copper with a fixed legal tender, and only the new coins accepted in payment of...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416639, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 804, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "4\n\nKiangsu, with a view to the suppression of piracy. Four shallow-draught gun-boats, eight Chinese gun-boats, and ninety small patrol-boats ('red boats') are to be purchased.\n\n\"Railway for Ili.—The Military Governor has reported in favour of constructing three lines: one from Ti-hua Fu to Ili, one from Ti-hua Fu to Urga, and the third from Ti-hua Fu to Lanchou. He proposes that the gold mines in Ili should be developed with a view to raising capital for the construction of these railways, and that a loan should be made by the Board of Revenue.\"\n\n'Railways in Manchuria.—The Tsi-tsi-har—Hei-lung-chiang Railway is to be commenced next spring, and the Chinese Eastern Railway branch line from Tsi-tsi-har to Old Tsi-tsi-har this summer.\n\n\"Kirin-Ch'ang Ch'un Railway. The survey of this line has been completed, and the estimated cost of construction is 5,500,000 to 5,600,000 dollars. Work will be commenced on the conclusion of the Loan Agreement with Japan.\"\n\nProposed Admiral for Hupei.—The Grand Council contemplate the appointment of an officer as Admiral of Hupei, to be stationed at Hankow and co-operate with the Admiral of the Yang-tsze.\n\n**\n\nProposed new Naval Harbour.—The Viceroy of Canton has forwarded to the Army Board a Report on the harbour of Hsia Yung in Kwangtung, with regard to its suitability as a naval harbour. The question is to be referred to Admiral Sa.\n\nYang Shih Ch'i's Mission.—In a Memorial to the Throne Yang Shih Ch'i gives brief account of his mission to inquire into the condition of Chinese settlers in the Philippines, Siam, Singapore, Java, Annam, and other countries. He describes the climate and productions of the various places visited, and states the number of Chinese settlers in each. He praises the Administration of Singapore and Penang, where the Chinese have attained much wealth and influence, but states that in Java the Chinese, especially those employed in the mines, are badly treated. Everywhere he went he was well received, and found that the Chinese settlers still retained a strong feeling of affection for their native country. He addressed meetings of Chinese merchants in various places, and visited schools and other institutions, to some of which he gave scrolls presented by the Empress Dowager.\n\n\"Steam Navigation on the Upper Yang-tsze.\" (See Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 157, of the 1st April) In a Memorial the Acting Viceroy of Szechuan reports that he proposes to establish a Company with a capital of 200,000 taels, to run steam-ships on the Upper Yang-tsze between Ichang and Chungking, and later to Suifu and Kiating, one-third of the capital to be subscribed by the Government and two-thirds by the public. An officer sent to investigate the matter has reported that by blowing up some of the obstructions in the river and using windlasses at some of the more dangerous rapids, navigation by steam vessels would be quite feasible. Three small steamers are to be purchased abroad, and the service will afterwards be extended.\n\n46\n\nFires in Peking.—It is reported that Na Tung has given special orders to the police with reference to the fires which have been very numerous recently. He states that, although the frequency of these fires is chiefly to be attributed to the exceptional dryness of the atmosphere, there is reason to suspect that some have been the work of incendiaries who wished to take advantage of the fires to commit thefts. He directs the police to exert themselves to bring all such criminals to justice.\n\n\"The Ching Hua Shih Pao reports that there was a fire at the Wai-wu Pu on the 4th, but that it was promptly extinguished.\"\n\nThe Ching Hua Shih Pao also reports that there are at present a large number of revolutionaries in Peking who have come here from Japan. The Board of the Interior are reported to have given orders for the arrest of fifty-five of these persons.\n\n\"Naval Harbour in Hainan.—The Viceroy at Canton has reported in favour of making a naval harbour at Yu Lin, in Hainan, and states that the water supply and climate are good. He recommends the construction of a railway for the purpose of transporting troops and supplies there when necessary.\n\nChengting-Te Chou Railway.—The Government have decided to proceed with the construction of this railway at once. Engineers have been sent by the Peking-Hankow Railway Company to survey the line, and work will be commenced next month. The construction will be under the direction of the French.\n\n\"Tsitsihar-Angangchi Railway.—A Chinese Company with a capital of 320,000 taels has been formed for the construction of this short line (a distance of 50 li). The contract for building the line has been given to a German firm, Messrs. Telge and Schroeter. Work will be commenced in June.\n\n**\n\n5\n\n'Proposed Appointment of Judicial Officials.—The provincial authorities of Kwangtung, Yunnan, and Kweichow proposed some time ago that judicial officers (Pu Huo Ts'ai P'an) should be appointed in the interior with a view to preparing for the withdrawal of the right of exterritoriality at present enjoyed by foreigners. The Government, with the assistance of Wai-wu Pu and Hsien Cheng Kuan, are engaged in drawing up Regulations for the purpose.\n\n\"Proposed Railways in the North-west.—The Shen-Kan Viceroy has recommended the construction of two lines, one from Kalgan to Urga, a distance of 2,450 li, the other from Sui-yuan along the north bank of the Yellow River to Ning-hsia; thence to Liang-Chou, Hami, Ti-hua, and Ili, a distance of 8,000 li. These railways could not be constructed as a commercial enterprise, but would be of great importance for military purposes.\n\nMining in Shansi.—Since buying out the Peking Syndicate, the Taiyuan Fu Mining Company have obtained permission to raise capital to the amount of 5,000,000 taels to develop the mines, and the capital has already been over-subscribed, only Chinese being permitted to purchase shares. A Chinese mining engineer has been engaged at a salary of 600 taels a-month, machinery has been ordered from Europe, and 1,000,000 taels of the capital is to be devoted to the establishment of an iron foundry.\n\nThe \"Universal Gazette,\" in an article on the danger of ignorance of the limits of foreign relations, proceeds to argue that, while the limitation of India's export of opium is a diplomatic question, China's monopoly of sale of the prepared drug is an internal Government step with which England has no concern, since the nature of the drug has been altered, and so the Treaty with England does not apply. At present the shops charge at will, irrespective of the duty and li-kin, and England has nothing to say. Similarly, Chinese prohibition of rice export does not affect cakes and biscuits made of it. Moreover, a rise in price is not a customs duty; the aliens might as well claim to interfere with the proposed stamp duties, which will be charged on native and foreign goods alike.\n\nThe distinction between diplomatic and non-diplomatic matters is quite easy. Another instance, the Soo-Hang-Ning Railway. The Tsung-li Yamên's agreement with the British Envoy might be brought within the scope of diplomacy, but, as regards construction, the publication of the Railway Regulations took that out of the Wai-wu Pu's sphere, and the Wai-wu Pu should have told Sir J. Jordan to bid his nationals petition the Board of Communications direct, and have declined to interfere, quoting as precedents the American exclusion, which its State Department insisted pertained solely to the Labour Department; the Manchurian troops question, which Russia said pertained to her War Office; the Touquin Consuls, which the French Foreign Office put on its Colonial Department, and all the other precedents of recent years. Unfortunately, the Board waited till it got a bad name by resisting popular opinion before it got the Board of Communications to make the loan,\n\nThen trade-marks: all China promised was rules like other Powers, yet foreigners are allowed to interfere with their tenor. And the Mining Rules, which were drafted with the aid of foreign advisers, were still less open to foreign revision.\n\nIf attention is paid to their protests on more and more questions, China's independence will be lost through Chinese heedlessness.\n\nThe trouble has come from the fact that the Wai-wu Pu is not bound, like other posts, to report to the Throne and quote precedents. It has assumed unlimited powers, and, with a Prince and Grand Councillors at its head, ignores all control, and, without knowing it, is a danger to the State. Could folly go further?\n\nTo recover from the consequences will take many years' struggles and constant supervision, which latter is beyond the Throne, the Council and the Ministers, and to be found only in an elected Parliament. This is the only means to safety.\n\nThe \"Eastern Times\" of the 25th March professes to give the gist of a secret report by the Chinese Delegates to The Hague Conference on the European position. He describes the Peace Conference as a covert struggle for each Power's private objects. England dislikes Germany, which, since its victory over France, has increased in military pride above not only England, but the whole world, and is now developing a navy. So Russia fell in with England's request, in order, it is said, to safeguard her Asiatic possessions after Japan's victory over Russia. So Russia and Japan nearly came to rupture over the naval question, who five years ago started the limitation of armaments proposal, now refused to sign such an Agreement. The Conference reminds him of Sung's abortive assembly of the States (in B.C. 545), when the Ch'u men wore armour under their clothes.\n\n797", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 419860, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9]", "page_number": 406, "title": "CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9]", "content_text": "Any further information which may be considered necessary should be written on this page, and not in a separate letter.\n\n2\n\nApplication for Promotion in the Colonial Services\n\nForm to be filled up by the Applicant himself, and returned to the Governor for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.\n\nI have held the post of Acting Normal Master, Queen's College, Hong Kong, in full since April 1908, and have been entirely responsible for the training of not only the Queen's College pupil-Teachers, but also those appointed by the Education Department for service in the District Schools.\n\nIn January 1907, I was appointed lecturer to a special \"teachers'\" class, instituted then in connection with the Technical Institute.\n\n \n Date of Application\n August 12th, 1909\n \n \n Present Appointment\n Acting Normal Master, Queen's College, Hong Kong\n \n \n Father's Name\n John Hankivel Smith Banner\n \n \n Profession or Occupation\n Naval Pensioner\n \n \n Address\n 'St Ives' Coronation Drive\n \n \n Place of birth\n Great Coraly, Lancashire\n \n \n Day and year of Birth\n October 19th, 1840\n \n \n Whether single, married, or a widower\n Married\n \n \n Number of children...Sons\n \n \n \n Daughters\n 8\n \n \n Age last birthday\n \n \n \n Age respectively\n \n \n\nI have been engaged in various departments of Educational work in Hong Kong for the last 11 years and have become thoroughly acclimatized to life in the Tropics, being at present in sound health.\n\nDuring this time, and especially while Acting Normal Master, I have had a large and varied amount of experience in organization, in the selection and arrangement of work with regard to the special requirements of Chinese masters and pupils; and this experience would naturally be of very great advantage to me in the event of my having to deal with other native races.\n\n \n Colleges at which you were educated, and the date of entry and leaving\n St Mary's School, Bootle, Liverpool, until 14 years of age. Then articled as \"Pupil Teacher\" at same school. 4 years apprenticeship (1885-1889).\n \n \n Professional qualifications (if any), and the date at which each was obtained\n Passed Queen's Scholarship (1890). Obtained Archbishop's Divinity Certificate (Dec. 1891). Teachers' 'D' Certificate (about 1895).\n \n \n Employment from 1889 to Feb. 1898\n Assistant Master, St Mary's School, Bootle, Liverpool.\n \n \n July 1898 - left St Mary's, having been selected to fill the post of Second Assistant Master, Diocesan School and Orphanage, Hong Kong.\n \n \n \n Afterwards promoted to First Assistant\n \n \n \n In January 1900, recommended by the Governor of Hong Kong (Sir Henry Blake) and appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the post of Assistant Master at Queen's College.\n \n \n\n[TURN OVER]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428232, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 157, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "2+\n\norganisation office, with the provincial treasurer, chancellor of education, and judge as heads, and the president and vice-president were appointed deputies under them. Being soon impressed with the difficulties of carrying out the new rules, he set the chiefs of the organisation office the task of investigating the different systems of colonial government in East and West and elaborating a modification suitable to his territory.\n\nViceroy and Provincial Government show Deficiencies in proposed Electorate. ---- The nature of the difficulties is well brought out in the report of the organisation office, a copy of which was inclosed in his memorial. It was pointed out, for instance, that education having always been under official management in the New Dominion, there were no electors qualified under (1) of article 3; that there was not a single person in the territory qualified under (2); that the provincial quota under the old system of examination being only two graduates, there were few persons qualified under (3), and the greater number of these were disqualified under articles 7 and 8; that there were no civil officials of the 7th rank or higher, and only a few of the necessary military rank, most of whom were uneducated, and therefore, under article 6, lay under the disability that they could neither vote nor offer themselves for election; and that as for the property qualification, the region had frequently suffered from the ravages of war, and the number of persons qualified under articles 3 (5) and 4 was very limited. There were a few wealthy merchants from other provinces, but they were not on good terms with the natives. In the Northern Marches (Sungaria) the Mahommedans far outnumbered the Chinese, and the two were as \"fire and water.\" In the South Marches (Kashgaria) conditions were even worse: the Mahommedans were proportionately more numerous, of less tractable disposition, and differences of religion and usages were more marked. Few knew or spoke Chinese, and experience had shown that the native begs were not to be trusted with authority.\n\nSuggestion of modified Scheme based on Crown Colony system placed before Chinese Government.-A dissertation on Western methods of colonisation and rule of colonies follows, with the object of showing that the government of Turkestan, under representative institutions, should begin by the crown colony system, or something similar, and gradually progress to the full programme of the rest of the Empire. The scheme suggested by the organisation office, and supported by the governor, was a limited council composed of officials and of notables elected by persons possessing the franchise and approved by the provincial authorities. At the same time education was to be vigorously spread and schools founded with the object of increasing the proportion of persons knowing Chinese.\n\nThe governor's memorial, which wound up with excuses for delay on account of the distances and slow communications, received the Imperial rescript, \"Let the board concerned take note.\"\n\n39\n\nNothing further has appeared in the press.\n\n(Reports on the assemblies of Chekiang, Anhui, and Kuangsi have not yet reached the legation. They will be forwarded separately.)\n\nGeneral Remarks.-A few general remarks may be offered in conclusion. The extent of the Empire and the diversities of population, climate, and usages have driven the Chinese Government to seek their solution of the problem of popular government along the lines of the existing political divisions, and, to some extent, after the model of a federation of States. That they have done this with caution and in a hesitating spirit, and solely because they feel that the plunge must be taken, is evident from the almost universal attitude of the officials, who really govern the country, and from an examination of the franchise.\n\nApathy of Higher Officials of Central Government.-The reserve or apathy of the higher officials of the central Government has been striking. Not one has, by any overt act, shown interest in the elections or proceedings of the assemblies, which are rarely mentioned in conversation unless the foreigner expresses curiosity; and a resident in Peking in 1909 could not have known without special enquiry that such a thing as an election was proceeding during the greater part of the year, or that there was an electorate of any kind, or that the capital had any concern in the assembly which met at Tien-tsin on the 14th October. A Peking official of high rank, who was reminded on that day by a secretary of legation of the ceremonies then taking place at all the provincial cities, confessed that he had not given them a thought.\n\n* See précis translation of rules appended to this report.\n\n25\n\nSimilar Attitude in Provinces.-This attitude of indifference has prevailed widely in the provinces. It is true that the responsible provincial authorities, spurred by repeated decrees and warned by the removal of the Kansu Viceroy, have in a few instances zealously, in most perfunctorily, endeavoured to carry out the Imperial designs, but nowhere has there been any popular enthusiasm, and the opinion of the masses is one of expectancy or unconcealed distrust. In Shantung, where the official propaganda was most thorough, the elections were practically confined to the educated classes, though unavailing efforts were undoubtedly made to extend the interest lower down. At Shanghae it was not known how many persons voted, and from the general ignorance of what happened it appeared that the elections were largely in the hands of a clique of gentry and semi-official persons. Little public interest was aroused in what seemed to be considered an \"additional set of talons and teeth\" rather than the creation of an organ for the expression of the people's wishes. His Majesty's consul-general at Hankow states that, apart from the educated class, the public showed little interest in the proceedings, and that there was great difficulty in inducing sufficient voters to support the required number of candidates. The native press on the Yang-tsze perceive that finance is the point on which the success of the assemblies depends, and are by no means confident that the mass of the population will respond to extra levies at the bidding of the new bodies any more readily than to the exactions of the regular officials. From Foochow Mr. Playfair reported (27th October) that little appeared to be known on the subject by Europeans or natives whom he had questioned. At Chengtu (Szechuan) slight attention was paid to the elections, and there was difficulty in inducing a sufficient number of voters to go to the poll. Mr. Sly's experience at Chungking may be given in his own words-\n\n\"It was at first only with the greatest difficulty that I was able to obtain even a very general and imperfect idea of the franchise proposals, and a mere questioning of Chinese, who should have been fully acquainted with the main facts, was quite useless. Chungking is the great trading and distributing centre of Szechuan; it is a big city and has a large population. It might, then, have been expected that a measure which is in principle so great an advance upon any previous concession, and which carries with it the promise of popular government, would have excited a wide interest. It does not appear that such has been the case, and there would seem to be considerable apathy and indifference. It is doubtful whether the system of recording votes has been altogether regular, and there has been no little difficulty in obtaining the desired number of representatives. In some instances persons possessing the required qualifications were not to be found, and in others men able to serve have refused to come forward or to accept office even when elected.”\n\nRestricted Character of the Franchise. Assemblies merely the \"Gentry.\"--The caution of the Chinese Government is displayed in the franchise, the practical effect of which is to restrict the conceded privileges to the literati, officials, and property-owners, who have in the past always exercised the powers of local government in conjunction with the executive. Under the conditions laid down in articles 3 to 8 of the assembly rules, a précis of which is appended for reference, it is possible for provincial governments to see that no one outside the narrow circle of those who are now privileged registers a vote or enters an assembly. In other words, the assemblies are merely the \"gentry,\" of whom we have heard so much of recent years, but the gentry of different localities brought together in one building and acting coherently may have political force very different from the more or less independent bodies hitherto scattered over areas the smallest of which is larger than Ireland.\n\nApprehensions of Chinese Officialdom. That the Chinese Government are apprehensive is evident from the stress laid upon the limited powers of assemblies in the decrees and speeches of the Viceroys and governors, who do not let the members forget that their deliberations must not wander beyond the boundaries of their provinces; and it is commonly anticipated that the \"local bully\" type of notable, who has always been a thorn in the flesh of governors and governed, will prosper as demagogues under the new régime and acquire a wider and more baleful influence than was possible before.\n\nAssemblies so far appear to have Worked in Harmony with Provincial Governments.— There have been a few signs that the assemblies are not disposed to content themselves with purely local affairs, but as a rule the cases are not serious, and the members appear so far to have fulfilled their appointed rôle of working in harmony with the executive authorities in the interests of their respective provinces.\n\n[2605 -2]\n\nH\n\n155", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429049, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 390, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "4\n\nthe railway board to agree to the formation of a company to collect shares and work the Hupei sections of the railways west and south. \"Now our trust in the delegates' patient persistence and the fiery spirit of our people has been vindicated, and we have attained a purely mercantile management and prevented our rights being drained abroad.\" Such was the tone of exhortations to the people to subscribe and to the directors to eradicate abuses in management. From Ichang it was reported that subscriptions had been invited for the Hankow-Ichang Railway, and that some 60,000 taels had been promised at that port. Considerable activity was displayed on the Ichang-Wanlisien section, where work under Chinese engineers was begun in December last. His Majesty's consul at Ichang reported that 3,000 workmen were being employed, and the number was soon to be raised to 20,000.\n\nThe line was to embankment was almost completed, with two large stone culverts. run inland from Ichang some 30 miles, and come out at the River Hsiang Chi, following the river for 7 or 8 miles to Kueichow. Thence the route was not yet determined on. At a point some 30 miles from Ichang two tunnels of 6,000 and 10,000 feet respectively were to be bored by hand.\n\nReforms.\n\nThe quarterly reports from several provinces state that the new so-called reforms, especially the new police, schools, and courts, are proving expensive luxuries beyond the means of the provincial Governments. His Majesty's consul at Kiukiang reported that some interest had been shown locally in the Government college and primary school at Jaochow-fu, where the old method of teaching had been entirely changed in favour of western methods. Schools were being established throughout that district, but in general the results obtained were not in proportion to the money spent. At Newchwang, His Majesty's consul stated that the revenue available for police purposes alone was still 3,000 dollars a-month short of expenditure, in spite of the recent reduction of the pay of the police by 20 per cent. The scale of fees in the new courts had been raised to meet the increased expenditure on their account, and an unsuccessful attempt had been made to provide money for schools by the creation of a sampan monopoly, which had to be abandoned on a riot being threatened by the boatmen thrown out of employment.\n\nTien-tsin Native Piece-goods Debtors,\n\nThe clearing of old stocks has considerably relieved the creditors of the native firms, and His Majesty's consul-general has induced the new Viceroy Ch'en to agree to follow the same principle as his predecessor, and treat British cases separately on their merits. Two of these cases have been settled during the quarter, leaving only three supposed solvent firms against whom British claims are being pressed.\n\nJapanese bid for Trade via Dalny (Dairen).\n\nHis Majesty's consul at Newchwang reports that a feature of the trade during the winter months was the comparatively large quantity of foreign goods which arrived at Newchwang from Shanghai and elsewhere via Dalny. A British merchant who made an experimental importation by that route was delighted with the result. He found that in no case was there any examination of goods by the Dairen Customs, and not only did the railway company go out of their way to give him every possible assistance, but he was verbally informed that if he continued to ship his goods by that route he would be given a special rebate on application. The same merchant also shipped several consignments of goods from Shanghai to Mukden and Tiehling via Dalny, leaving it to the railway to pass them through the Customs and forward them to their destination. No exemption certificate was taken out to cover them, and the consignees experienced no difficulty in consequence. This would appear to indicate that the Imperial Maritime Customs are defrauding the Chinese Government in the interests of Japanese railway enterprise.\n\nLolos.\n\nThe Chinese authorities of Szechuan report that, as the result of last autumn's campaign, 70 miles of territory have been subjugated at Erh-pan Fang, and that over eighteen tribes have submitted; eighty-one Chinese captured and enslaved by the Lolos were rescued, and an indemnity was exacted for three who had died in captivity; the Chief Tsuta was captured and many strongholds were destroyed. Among the tribes dealt with in the course of the campaign are included the Chi-ti, Ma-chia, A-hou, and Suga, the last two being those concerned in the murder of Mr. Brooke in December 1908. In a memorial to the Throne, the Governor-General, while showing great ignorance of the region and the relative positions of such important centres as Ning-yuan and Mapien, gave some interesting figures. In the space of three years the aborigines of the Liang Shan country are stated to have slain 1,660 odd Chinese and kidnapped over 4,300. Of these some 630 have been recovered, leaving a balance of over 3,650 in favour of the Lolos, who have also carried off 20,000 head of cattle. The report said the work of reorganising the subjugated country was being taken in hand. The former military post of P'u-k'o was to become the centre of government in the reclaimed country south-east of Ning-yuan, and an earthen wall had already been built round the town and a yamên erected. With regard to the central region, reports seem to indicate that troops operating from the east and west of the Lolo country have effected a junction at Niu-niu-pa, north-east of Ning-yuan, thus opening up the Liang Shan country. It is, however, impossible to say how far the results of the operations in question correspond to the statements made in the memorial of the Governor-General, and it must be remembered that the information comes from purely Chinese sources.\n\nFrench Politics in South China and Tonquin.\n\nHis Majesty's consul at Pakhoi reports that the French colonial government have decided to withdraw the subsidised ships connecting Pakhoi and Hoihow with Haiphong and Hongkong. The Messageries Fluviales, owned by Messrs. Marty and Co., were subsidised to run this fortnightly service some ten years ago, when Kuangchouwan was acquired, and hospitals, schools, and post offices were established by the French Government at Pakhoi and Hoihow in the hope of extending French influence in Kuangtung, to prepare for the then apparently impending partition of China. This withdrawal, which was to date from the 1st June, would seem to indicate that any hopes which may have been entertained in the past of absorbing the province of Kuangtung must now be considered as abandoned or relegated to the unknown future. It will prove most inconvenient from the postal and residential point of view in Pakhoi, which will now be left without any assured means of communication with Hongkong and the outside world. Deprived of its regular fortnightly boat, the port will now have to be content with occasional visits from a German or British ship when freight offers sufficient inducement for a call.\n\nHis Majesty's consul at Pakhoi has also forwarded such information as he has been able to gather regarding events on the French side of the frontier, which may be of interest, though it reflects scant credit on the methods of French colonial administration. In his report for the last quarter of 1909, His Majesty's consul stated that after a campaign of more than a year's duration, conducted against the brigand chief Ti-tsan, the French military authorities had to confess their inability to effect either his capture or submission. The colonial government of Indo-China then had recourse to the doubtful expedient of invoking the aid of the native King of Annam. The latter appointed a Count Le-Hoan as his Envoy Extraordinary to accompany the French forces and conduct operations against the brigands. The action of the Governor-General in thus appealing to the Annamite Court provoked much adverse criticism in the colony, where it was pointed out that even were the expedition successful, the natives would attribute the result not to the prowess of the French arms, but to the natural submission of the rebels to the authority of their ancient ruler. After prolonged and futile negotiations which permitted Ti-ts'an to revictual his band, the pursuit was resumed, and on the 5th October the French troops met with a severe repulse in an attempt to storm the rebel stockades at Nuilang. The wily chief evacuated his position before the French reinforcements came up to restore the day. In the absence of full details, the serious nature of the reverse is shown by the fact that the French newspapers confessed to a casualty list of some sixty killed and wounded, while the Chinese authorities gave the loss at over 200 of the rank and file. The expedition, however, clung to the heels of Ti-ts'an, till at the end of resources he disbanded his men and disappeared. In the meantime, the envoy contrived to bring about the surrender upon favourable terms of his principal lieutenant, who was brought with his following in triumph to the French authorities. M. Picquié, the new Governor-General of Indo-China, has since adopted energetic measures for the complete ...\n\nPage 390\n\nPage 391", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 463552, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11]", "page_number": 644, "title": "CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11]", "content_text": "# Estimates for 1917\n\nThe COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Hon. Mr. POLLOCK - Sir, I have been asked by the Unofficial Members of Council to speak on their behalf in reply to your Excellency's speech on the Estimates for 1917.\n\nOn the one hand, we desire to express our gratification that the Revenue of the Colony has proved to be of an expansive nature and has thus enabled us to have a fairly full programme of Public Works. On the other hand, we cannot, in view of the precarious nature of some of our sources of Revenue, afford to launch out with too great freedom, especially in view of possible unforeseen expenditure which may have to be met in connection with the War and other matters.\n\nIn the footnote (2) on page 8 of the Estimates, we notice an estimated expenditure of $13,000 for 1916, and hope that that sum represents the last payment to be made to the contractor and shall be glad to know if this is so. As regards the suggested increase in the Staff of the Exports and Imports Department, we agree that such an increase is urgently required for the purpose of obviating delay, and we would urge that it would be a great convenience to the mercantile community if a Branch Office could be established in a central position, such as the Post Office Building. In connection with the searching of passengers at the wharves for arms and opium, we desire to state that serious complaints have reached some of us, and we trust that means may be found to remedy such abuses, which are a hindrance to the river-traffic of this Colony.\n\nWe would also suggest that it is a great inconvenience for travellers to be obliged to go up to the Central Police Station, which is somewhat out of the way, for their passes, and the Post Office Building appears to be most conveniently situated for this purpose.\n\n| Matter | Comment |\n| --- | --- |\n| Improvement of Lunatic Asylum | We think it regrettable that the present Estimates contain no provision for the improvement of the Lunatic Asylum, which is highly discreditable to the Colony, because its cramped accommodation and restricted space for exercise must tend to have an injurious effect upon the inmates. |\n\nOn the subject of Education, we desire to state that we consider that the teaching of the English language to Chinese boys in the schools of this Colony is not so good as it ought to be.\n\nPassing on now to the subject of Public Works, we have naturally some comments to make and questions to ask in connection with this important Department, on which we are spending 20 per cent. of our Revenue.\n\nWith regard to item 7 on page 97 \"For improvements to roads and bridges outside the City,\" we desire to express the opinion that this item, which stands at the same figure as in former years, is not sufficient in amount. While we approve of the motor road being extended beyond Deep Water Bay on its way to make a circuit round the Island, we consider that it is of far more pressing and urgent importance that the present roads out to Deep Water Bay - namely, the Pokfulam Road, and the Jubilee (or Victoria) Road, which are now so much used by motors - should be improved both as regards blind corners and some of the bridges. We think, also, that the roadway between the paper-works at Aberdeen and the road to Deep Water Bay should be widened and improved.\n\nComing now to Buildings (on page 99), we are glad to note that the quarters for Subordinate Officers at Happy Valley are to be completed in 1917, and that the Extension to the Central Police Station is to be more vigorously proceeded with. As regards the next item of $35,000 for accommodation for the Imports and Exports Office, we should be glad to know what is the estimated total cost of the work, and we would ask a similar question with regard to item 5 for $15,000.\n\nFrom item 39, on the same page, we are glad to note that the Government intends to resume the Ferry Piers on the Victoria and Yaumati-Samshuipo runs, and we trust that steps will be taken, by throwing the ferry service open to public competition, to secure an adequate and regular ferry service to the public.\n\nBefore leaving the subject of Public Works, we should be glad if the Director could give us some information when the Praya East Reclamation is likely to be begun. The foreshore on Praya East, at low water, has been increasingly disagreeable to the sense of smell for some years past, and, if this Reclamation is not likely to be begun soon, we would suggest that the drains and sewer pipes might be led further out along the foreshore. Another point which seems to require watching, from the Public Health point of view, is the raking about by poor Chinese in the stuff deposited in dust-boats on the Praya and in dustbins in the streets.\n\nWe approve of the re-casting of the system of accounts of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, and we hope that it may be found possible to reduce somewhat the working expenses of this costly undertaking. We would also most strongly urge upon the Government the desirability of vigorously pressing upon the Chinese Authorities the necessity for fulfilling their agreement to link up this line with the Railway which is now being built from Canton to Hankow.\n\nAnother point upon which we would ask your Excellency to take action is in connection with the site for the erection of the new building for the Hongkong Branch of the European Young Men's Christian Association. It is most advisable that a central site, which is easily accessible by ricksha from the landing-stages, should be acquired, and we would, therefore, ask you to approach the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon the subject of a grant of a site in a Central situation being made to the Association upon easy terms.\n\nIn conclusion, we would venture to express the hope that the residents of this Colony will continue to give liberal financial assistance for the prosecution of the War, and that the local War Loan, which has recently been offered for subscription, may prove to be a very great success, and we would suggest for consideration that the Sinking Fund might be invested by the Government in 6 per cent. Exchequer Bonds, so as to yet further aid the War Funds.\n\nHon. Mr. LAU CHU PAK - Sir, speaking on behalf of my senior Chinese colleague and myself, I beg to emphasize the remarks relative to the searching of Chinese passengers leaving or arriving in this Colony. From the nature of the complaints brought to the notice of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, through the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and from similar representations to ourselves, it is evident that the system of searching by the native police is capable of much improvement. In our opinion, there should always be present some responsible officer to whom the Chinese, when searched, could report in case of irregularities and to whom they could turn for guidance when a dispute arises.\n\nUnder the heading of Water Works, on page 101, we are glad to see that the additional Service Reservoir at West Point and the Tytam Tuk scheme (2nd section) are to be both of them completed in 1917. Under the heading of Kowloon Works, on the same page, we should like to know whether the sums of $35,000 and $30,000 under items 29 and 30, represent the estimated total expenditures on those works, and, if not, what are such totals. We should, also, like to know what are the \"General Works\" on roads in Kowloon, costing $22,000, which are mentioned in item 34 (b).\n\nIn connection with Kowloon, we suggest that the small children's playground near Hunghom Railway Station ought to be improved by the erection of a shelter from the weather and by the planting of shrubs and shade-trees round the edges.\n\nUnder the heading of Supreme Court, on page 44 of the Estimates, we notice that a 1st grade Translator has been replaced by a 2nd grade Translator, and we would urge upon the Government the desirability of steps being taken for the improvement of the translation branch of the Service, because in the Supreme Court sometimes the whole decision turns upon the correct translation of a single word.\n\nWith regard to item 8 (b) on page 99, of $37,500, for the improvement of that section of the Deep Water Bay to Tytam Tuk section of road which goes from Deep Water Bay to Repulse Bay, we should like to know what will be roughly the cost of making the remainder of that section fit for motor traffic, and similarly, in connection with item (c), we should like to know, roughly, what would be the cost of a motor road from Tytam Gap down to Shaukiwan.\n\nIn connection with the administration of the Government Civil Hospital, I intend shortly to bring a resolution before this Council, and it is, therefore, unnecessary to discuss such administration upon the present occasion.\n\nIn connection with the small saving on page 67 of the Estimates, under the heading \"Support of Lunatics Abroad,\" we would ask why the Government has reverted to the old practice of sending Chinese lunatics to the Chinese Authorities at Canton, instead of to the John Kerr Hospital at Canton.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 478911, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918", "page_number": 376, "title": "CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918", "content_text": "## Schur Teachers (Superannuation) Act 1918\n\nThe Schur Teachers (Superannuation) Act 1918, which has been assented to, but printed copies have not yet been issued. I annex the Act in its final form.\n\n18.1.1.18.\n\nMr. Castell\n\nThe qualification is set out in §1. The terms \"Recognized Service\" are defined at the End. I suffice to say he is told to qualify.\n\nH.G.B. 2/12/18 to forward, as proposed, saying it is presumed he refers to Act no... received, enclosing Bill.\n\n3.12.18 acknowledges\n\nSir,\n\nC.O. 40 Memorandum CO2 £5074\n\nRoad East Ham.\n\nREC'd 372\n\nRE: 21 Nov 18th Nov 18th, 1918.\n\nWith reference to my visit to the Colonial Office today to explain my position in relation to the Teachers' Superannuation Act recently passed by Parliament, I beg to state that from 1885 to 1894, I was engaged in schools in Hong Kong, during 1885-6 as headmaster of the Anglo-Chinese, established by a committee of native merchants, and from 1887 to 1894 as an Assistant on the staff of Queen's College. In 1896, I was invalided home in consequence of a severe attack of malaria, and in the following year, resigned my position on the urgent advice of Dr. Cantlie, receiving a compassionate allowance of about $260; an amount in relation to my pay when on leave ($200, including personal allowance for knowledge of the Chinese language) almost exactly equivalent to the lump sum now granted to teachers in addition to pension.\n\nMy residence in Hong Kong I now find precludes the possibility of my teaching in England for the qualifying period of thirty years under the new Act, and I venture to request that as an act of grace, I may be granted by the Government of the Colony the proportion of my pension for the time I served there - probably about £30 per annum - otherwise, I fear that I shall be debarred from participation in the benefits of the scheme.\n\nI may add that I am now in my sixty-first year and have been advised by my doctor to give up...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 527577, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-530-2 Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies- Hong Kong education report 1930 23-12-1930 - 12-10-1931", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-530-2 Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies- Hong Kong education report 1930 23-12-1930 - 12-10-1931", "content_text": "## 91\n\n\n2 \n\nThe newly-opened Kadoorie Agricultural School at Tulkarem, the appointment of a special instructor on the staff of that school, the establishment of a hostel for the students, the award of scholarships, and expenditure on the improvement of school gardens.\n\n**(d)** **MR. MAYHEW** drew attention to the Report of the Colonial Films Committee circulated with the papers for the meeting. They would find in it suggestions regarding ways in which the services of this Committee might be used for the development of the cultural and educational use of films in the colonies.\n\n**(e)** He also drew attention to a preliminary announcement that had just been placed before them regarding a Conference to be held in April between educationists at home and overseas. The list of names on the Advisory Council which had approved of the Conference included three members of the Advisory Committee. It was proposed to circulate information regarding this Conference to Directors of Education overseas, as it was thought that officers on leave might like to take advantage of this opportunity for discussing general educational topics with Home educationists and educationists from other parts of the Empire. Though the Conference dealt essentially with Christian education, it would cover many topics concerned with education generally.\n\n**(f)** Sir Edward Denham, now Governor of British Guiana, had asked that thanks might be communicated on his wife's behalf and his own to the Advisory Committee for their kind appreciation of their work in the Gambia. This appreciation had been recorded at the Committee's meeting of the 19th June.* \n\n## A \n\n**(g)** He stated that replies had been received from all Colonial Governments to whom, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, a questionnaire had been addressed regarding the delegation of educational powers to local authorities. A summary of the information thus obtained was being prepared for the use of the Committee.\n\n**(h)** The Advisory Committee's Memorandum on English Reading Books had been communicated by the Secretary of State to all Colonies where there was a large number of non-English-speaking pupils, as well as to educational publishers and other bodies likely to be interested. In addition to the 800 copies thus circulated, 238 copies had subsequently been asked for, many of the requests coming from the West Indies, where the Memorandum had also been found useful.\n\n**(i)** **MR. MAYHEW** (in Mr. Vischer's absence) reported that Mr. Rivers-Smith was due to retire from his post of Director of Education, Tanganyika Territory, early in the coming year. The heads of the local Catholic missions had asked the Government to use their influence to prolong his services until the educational scheme had gained full strength and maturity. They had been informed in reply by the Government that His Excellency was gratified to receive this testimony to the value of Mr. Rivers-Smith's services, but would not feel justified in standing in the way of his desire to take a well-earned pension on completion of more than twenty-five years' public service in Africa.\n\n**(j)** As regards the London Club for African Students he stated that a meeting of various persons interested was held under the chairmanship of Sir Percy Nunn on Wednesday, the 15th of October, and an Organizing Committee was set up to endeavour to get the club started. It appeared that Mr. Lapido Solanke, the Secretary of the West African Students' Union, had obtained promises of some support for a club, and it was considered essential to obtain his co-operation. He was shortly returning to this country. There was likely to be an annual deficit on the club of between £1,500 and £2,000, and initial expenditure of some £5,000 or £6,000 would probably be necessary. Means of obtaining this money were now being considered, and it might be necessary to issue a public appeal. The African Governments were expected to make annual contributions in the neighbourhood of £1,000 a year.\n\n**(k)** Action had been completed by the Colonial Office on the previous recommendations of the Committee in practically every instance.\n\n## 4. Annual Report of Kenya Education Department, 1929\n\n**THE CHAIRMAN** informed the Committee that the Annual Report of the Kenya Education Department for 1929 had been circulated and that he understood some members wished to comment on it.\n\n**SIR JAMES CURRIE** drew the Committee's attention to certain passages on pages 7 and 8 regarding the \"Policy of Missionary Assistance\" and \"Native Aspirations.\" He considered that the Report was a very challenging document and that it ascribed to the Committee an educational policy which the Committee had never held. In support of this view he read a note on the subject prepared by Mr. Mayhew. He had also received a letter to a similar effect from Lord Lugard. This letter was read to the Committee.\n\n**MISS BURSTALL** associated herself with the protest raised by Sir James Currie.\n\n**THE CHAIRMAN** said that no statement had ever been made by the Committee which would justify Mr. Scott's views.\n\nWith regard to a point raised in Lord Lugard's letter to the effect that the Kikuyu tribe had quarrelled with the Missions generally on the matter of female circumcision, he thought that in fact they had quarrelled only with the Scottish Mission and that the influence of the Church Missionary Society had not been weakened at all.\n\n**MR. PARKINSON** was in no doubt, from other reports to which he drew attention, that the Kenya Government had correctly understood the policy of the Committee, and it was therefore unlikely that the Director of Education should misunderstand it; and he had wondered whether the mis-statement in the paragraph referred to could be due to bad drafting. In reply to a question by Sir James Currie, he said that the practice of female circumcision was part of initiatory tribal rites, and he summarized briefly the Government policy in the matter.\n\n**MR. OLDHAM** said that the policy as stated by Mr. Scott was not the policy advocated by the Missions who were entirely in favour of the policy laid down by the Advisory Committee. It might be that his mistake had arisen owing to the fact that before going to Kenya, he had had long experience in the Transvaal where the educational policy was that all educational work should be done by Missions.\n\nThe best Missionary opinion was in favour of the recognition and, as far as possible, the retention of native customs, but in regard to the extreme form of female circumcision there was a body of competent opinion which held that it was a barbarous custom which ought to be discouraged in every possible way.\n\nAfter some further discussion it was decided that Mr. Mayhew and Mr. Parkinson should together draw up a statement regarding the policy of the Committee for immediate communication to the Government of Kenya, and that copies of the statement should be circulated to the Committee, for information at their next meeting.\n\n## 5. Form of Annual Education Reports\n\n**SIR GEORGE MAXWELL** referred to the circulated abstracts of the Trinidad and Hong Kong Reports, and considered it unfortunate that the suggestions of the Committee (relating to the form and content of Annual Education Reports) had not been communicated to Colonies which were not participating in the Advisory Committee's affairs. The whole aim and object of the suggestions made was that the reports of all the Crown Colonies should be uniform. If a certain number of Colonies was omitted, the value of the co-ordination and of the statistics available fell to the ground. He suggested that the Secretary of State should be invited to send a copy of the Committee's suggestions for such Education Department Reports to all non-participating Colonies.\n\nHe also pointed out that Hong Kong, which had received the suggestions, had not complied with them.\n\n**MR. MAYHEW** explained the objections to sending the suggestions to non-participating colonies. So far as Hong Kong was concerned, it was decided that Mr. Mayhew should write privately to the Director of Education.\n\n## 6. The Development of Indigenous Art in Tropical Colonies\n\nMemoranda on this subject by Mr. Ainsworth and a covering note by Mr. Mayhew relating to the views of Professor Rothenstein and Mr. Stevens had been circulated to members of the Committee.\n\n**PROFESSOR ROTHENSTEIN** informed the Committee of his experiences as a member of a Selection Committee of the Board of Education, appointed to select a candidate for the direction of art in the Straits Settlements. The cultural obligations of this country were very great and should take an important place in our responsibility for the Colonies.\n\n**MR. STEVENS** emphasized the difficulty of carrying out the proper research work on indigenous art in the Colonies. It could only be done in school holidays, owing to the fact that an officer attached to one particular institution would at other times be fully occupied by his ordinary teaching duties. He pointed out that there were two attitudes towards art teaching—the academic attitude and the experimental attitude; for the subject of indigenous art, the experimental attitude was the better one.\n\nIn education, any change took two or three generations to work out. There were still schools in the Gold Coast which the new influence had not yet reached.\n\n\n\n## 92", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-530-2 Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies- Hong Kong education report 1930 23-12-1930 - 12-10-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 527578, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-530-2 Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies- Hong Kong education report 1930 23-12-1930 - 12-10-1931", "page_number": 68, "title": "CO129-530-2 Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies- Hong Kong education report 1930 23-12-1930 - 12-10-1931", "content_text": "# \n\nHe recommended a systematic survey of the present state of indigenous arts and crafts, and considered that such a survey should be more closely allied to anthropology than to education.\n\n**SIR MICHAEL SADLER** expressed the gratitude of the Committee to Professor Rothenstein and Mr. Stevens for their stimulating papers which had appeared in Oversea Education.\n\nIn Tropical Africa there were strong signs of natural genius in various branches of art. He suggested that Mr. Mayhew, in consultation with Professor Rothenstein and others, should first of all draw up a short list of English, French and German books (both illustrated and otherwise) which would give information as to particular tribes and areas that called for an early survey to be studied. The International Institute of African Languages and Cultures had already made a beginning in this direction. In studying the question regard should be had not only to the plastic arts, but also to weaving, music and dancing. The natives themselves should be given a deep insight into their great cultural traditions and taught to carry these traditions forward so as to achieve something which the whole world would respect and admire.\n\nHe asked if the Committee could recommend to the Secretary of State that a suitable artist student should be sent out to Tropical Africa to make a survey of indigenous art in two or three of these selected regions to show what official encouragement was possible, and also encourage an interest therein on the part of unofficial European residents.\n\n**LORD LUGARD** mentioned that an Arts and Crafts School had been started 25 years ago in Kano purely for the preservation of indigenous art; but had since degenerated into a technical school.\n\n**MR. STEVENS** argued that before any Arts and Crafts school in Tropical Africa could be successful, a certain amount of research work was necessary. At present there was not sufficient knowledge about the matter.\n\n**MR. OLDHAM** suggested that two or three months would have to be spent in London, Paris, and Berlin exploring the field to find out what action should be taken. The International Institute of African Languages and Cultures would be in a position to help.\n\n**MR. MAYHEW** said that the Committee would doubtless wish to consider Sir Michael Sadler's proposition with regard to sending out an artist student, but that the question of his status and relation to the Education Department would also have to be considered. He also drew attention to an existing vacancy for an art superintendent in Malaya, and said that the question of status and relationship had arisen in connection with recruitment for this vacancy.\n\n**PROFESSOR ROTHENSTEIN** maintained that the present status of such an officer did not allow him to have a proper influence, and did not encourage really first-rate men to apply for such posts. Under the present conditions he would have to deal with Inspectors of Education who might have no knowledge of art. Under more favourable conditions first-rate men could be found.\n\n**MR. HARMAN**, in reply to a question by the Chairman, said that from an administrative point of view in respect of actual teaching work it was essential that such a man should be in close touch with the Education Department and also in touch with an Inspector.\n\n**MR. ANNETTS** said that arts and crafts were being carried on in a village school in Nigeria, of which Mr. Beminster was in charge. He quite agreed that anyone in Mr. Beminster's position would be fully occupied with his ordinary school duties, and that for the wider scope now contemplated a full-time specialist was required. He added that under the present system when a boy went on to a higher school, he ceased to study arts and crafts.\n\n**THE CHAIRMAN** reminded the Committee that the demand of the natives themselves for Western education had to be borne in mind. As regards the matters now before the Committee, he suggested that the particular question of the status of the officer for whom a vacancy existed in Malaya should be considered separately from the more important general questions of future policy. The appropriate Departments of the Colonial Office could probably settle the former in consultation with the Governor without a further meeting of the Committee.\n\n**SIR WM. GOWERS** suggested that the proposed survey could be better carried out with the assistance of administrative officers than with that of the Education Department.\n\n**MR. STEVENS** considered that the survey appointments should be analogous to that of the Government anthropologist. The officer should have freedom of movement instead of being tied down to any one school or institution.\n\n**SIR GEORGE MAXWELL** thought there should be no difficulty in having a separate branch of the Education Department, to consist, in the first instance, of the survey officer alone, who should have direct access to the Director of Education. He suggested that this should be done in Malaya.\n\n**MR. ELLIS** said that if an officer was appointed simply to investigate native art, there was no reason why he should not be under the Chief Secretary; but if he was to have any executive control or power in schools, he must be subordinate to the Director of Education. There did not, however, seem to be any reason why he should report to an inspector. He agreed that a survey of art in the various native communities was very desirable, but recorded his own opinion that it was useless for Government to undertake education in art. Government should only concern itself with the practical issues, such as technical training for pupils for particular crafts or professions. \"Art\" should not be subject to any interference from Government officials.\n\n**MR. TOMLINSON** agreed that it was essential to have a survey of native art as it existed today. This must be undertaken by very carefully chosen men. Such men should have a free hand and be given a roving commission. One question to be considered was whether in Professor Rothenstein's opinion such a man could and should afterwards fit into the machinery of the Education Department and translate the results of his survey into a definite policy.\n\n**THE CHAIRMAN** considered that the preliminary survey officers whom Sir Michael Sadler contemplated would be men of an entirely different status from the people whom it was desired to retain in the Education Departments.\n\n**SIR MICHAEL SADLER** agreed.\n\nAfter further discussion it was decided to appoint a Sub-Committee (a) to prepare a short bibliography of indigenous African art and a list of books and illustrations that might be recommended to the Governments for the use of their educational and other services; (b) to consider the desirability of undertaking one or two special surveys of part of the field of indigenous African art, and of giving the investigators freedom and official help in their inquiries and in the preparation of their reports; and (c) to report to the full Committee.\n\nThe Sub-Committee was to be composed as follows: \n- **Sir Michael Sadler**\n- **Sir James Currie**\n- **Mr. Oldham**\n- **Mr. Vischer**\n- **Mr. Mayhew**\n\nProfessor Rothenstein, Mr. Stevens and Mr. Ainsworth were to be kept in close touch with the activities of the Sub-Committee.\n\nIt was also decided that the question of the status of the Malayan post could be settled by Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Ellis, with reference to the Malayan Government and in the light of the foregoing discussion; and that they should consult Professor Rothenstein and Mr. Ainsworth in the matter.\n\n**MR. MAYHEW** drew attention to the question of the influence of the art and drawing examinations on the general development of art and suggested that this was not a question which could be decided at the end of a meeting, but that an abridged version of Mr. Ainsworth's memorandum might perhaps be sent to the various Directors of Education, with a request for their views.\n\nMr. Mayhew was asked to prepare a memorandum on these lines which would be sent out to the various colonies; such memorandum to be laid before the Committee at a subsequent meeting.\n\nThe date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday, 20th November.\n\n94 \n\nEND", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-530-2 Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies- Hong Kong education report 1930 23-12-1930 - 12-10-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 528077, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931", "content_text": "## Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies\n\n### Minutes of the 28th Meeting\n\n(d) **Indigenous African Art**. (27th Minutes, Item 7, and previous references.) Further progress had been made in the preparation of material for the book on African Art. It had already been reported that the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures was prepared to meet the expense of printing and publication. Further assistance had now been promised by the Empire Marketing Board, which was prepared to meet the charges incurred in photography, and also to supply expert photographic assistance. Mr. Grierson, of the Empire Marketing Board, had been most helpful with advice. Sir William Rothenstein, Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Carline were also assisting.\n\n(e) **British Commonwealth Education Conference**. This Conference, organized by the New Education Fellowship, was being held from 23rd July to 30th July at Bedford College, London. Sir Percy Nunn, who was President of the Conference, was to speak on \"an Imperial Institute for Education\"; Mr. Ormsby Gore on \"Problems of Tropical Education,\" with Major Church in the Chair; and Mr. Rivers-Smith and Mrs. MacGregor Rose were also to speak at a meeting with Miss Burstall in the Chair. Further information could be obtained from the New Education Fellowship, 1, Tavistock Square, W.C.1. Arrangements were being made for the display of copies of *Oversea Education*.\n\n(f) **Education functions of local authorities**.-(cf. 25th Minutes, Item 4) Progress was being made by the Sub-Committee in investigating questions connected with the delegation of educational powers to local authorities. The Sub-Committee had interviewed Mr. Hussey (Director of Education in Nigeria), Mr. Lacey (Director of Education in Nyasaland), and Mr. Wakeman, of the Colonial Medical Service, Nigeria. It had been arranged to have interviews in August and September with Mr. Mitchell, Secretary for Native Affairs, Tanganyika; Major Harman, Director of Education, Gold Coast; Mr. Latham, retired Director of Education, Northern Rhodesia; and Mr. Rivers-Smith, the retiring Director of Education in Tanganyika.\n\n(g) The **International Committee on Christian Literature for Africa** proposed to publish, with the financial support of the American Committee on Christian Literature, a magazine for village people and school children in Africa. The first number would appear in January next and there would be six issues in the year. It was intended to provide those who knew the languages used by the Governments with materials for school and home reading, and editors of vernacular magazines would be allowed to use any matter that appeared in it. Each issue would contain a religious article, an article for the village teacher, an article for women, as well as information on hygiene and the world outside Africa, and folk-lore or stories. The published price per copy would be one penny. Permission had been given for use to be made of extracts from *Oversea Education* in this magazine.\n\n### Report by Mr. Poynton\n\n(a) **Educational Commission to the West Indies**. Some time ago Trinidad, now a participating Colony in the upkeep of the Committee, and Barbados had expressed a wish that a member of the Advisory Committee should pay a visit in order to advise them on local educational matters. It had now been arranged, with the permission of the Chairman of the Committee and the approval of the Secretary of State, that Mr. Mayhew should visit Trinidad, Barbados, and such other islands of the West Indies as had expressed a desire for advice and were ready and able to participate in the expense of the tour. Mr. Marriott, Director of Education, Trinidad, would be associated with him. It was possible that Mr. Mayhew might also pay a short visit to British Guiana. He would probably be absent from about the beginning of November to the end of January on this business.\n\n(b) Mr. Vernon, of the Colonial Office, who had promised to be present and say a few words about the Conference at Geneva on African Child Welfare, had been unavoidably compelled to take the chair at another meeting.\n\nSee page 33\n\n### 4. Education of African Women\n\n(A.C.E.C. 9/31.) (Discussion resumed from 27th Meeting Minutes, Item 4.) THE CHAIRMAN drew attention to the draft Resolution regarding Group IV of the School Certificate, copies of which were laid on the table. This Resolution, drawn up by Sir Michael Sadler and Miss Burstall, read as follows:-\n\n\"In view of the use of the School Certificate in schools overseas for non-European pupils, and of the increasing need and demand for qualified English women as teachers and inspectors in tropical Colonies where music, crafts, and the arts of home life are important or even essential elements of the curriculum, the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies recommends that the attention of the University Examination Boards and of the Secondary Schools Examination Council be drawn to the desirability of recognizing a pass in Group IV (which includes the subjects above mentioned) as equivalent to a pass in Group II (languages) or Group III (Sciences) to secure the School Certificate.\"\n\nMISS BURSTALL said that the memorandum had been written for the Committee, and it would have to be redrafted before it could have a wider circulation. The opinion of the Colonial Governments was required on the first part of the memorandum, while the second part dealing with Personnel would naturally have to be considered by the Colonial Office.\n\nMISS BURSTALL further said that she had come to the conclusion that there should be a section on the education of Mohammedan girls. Mr. Matthew had wonderful materials in the Sudan and Miss Fegan in Nigeria might help.\n\nBoth she and Miss Whitelaw felt that in drawing up regulations for the appointment of women for Government posts abroad the Colonial Office should seek the advice of educational women in this country. A woman should also be on the Appointments Board when it was formed. There should also be a woman with executive powers in each Colony and at some future time there should be a woman expert in the Colonial Office. A good deal more might be done by bringing African girls over to this country and giving them a good education in teaching or medicine in order that they might act as bridges between this country and African women. They would in this way receive something of the best of our civilization and then go back with it to their own people.\n\nMR. MANN, in replying to a question by the Chairman regarding the draft Resolution, said that the Board of Education was not particularly concerned, but that the Resolution on general grounds seemed very desirable. The same attitude was being taken in some educational circles. The Examination authorities in this country were independent of the Board of Education, though there was a co-ordinating committee. He considered, however, that the Board of Education should be consulted about the Resolution.\n\nSIR GEORGE MAXWELL suggested that undue importance was attached in the draft Resolution to \"music, crafts, and the arts of home life.\"\n\nSIR JAMES CURRIE said that before the particular question of any Resolution was considered it was important to settle the general principle whether it was a good policy to entangle the Africans in an English examination system.\n\nMR. MAYHEW said that this question had already been discussed and that the Secretary of State, on the advice of the Committee, had sent out a memorandum to the Colonial Governments, asking them to consider the advisability of local examinations. But there were great and obvious difficulties.\n\nTHE CHAIRMAN observed that African girls who came to England to take training courses must be given facilities for passing an examination in their own country which would be accepted here for Matriculation purposes.\n\nSIR JAMES CURRIE preferred that education should be completed locally and mentioned the encouraging results which had been obtained in the local medical school in the Sudan.\n\nTHE CHAIRMAN agreed that it was desirable to train the natives in their own country, but until such facilities were available he was very anxious that some other avenue of higher education should be open to the African man or woman.\n\nMR. MAYHEW reminded the Committee that the draft Resolution did not only apply to the Africans themselves; it also applied to English women who wished to go out to Africa as teachers.\n\nPage 33", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 528297, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-531-11 Hong Kong University- general and financial points 14-9-1931 - 8-11-1931", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-531-11 Hong Kong University- general and financial points 14-9-1931 - 8-11-1931", "content_text": "## 2 \n\n(6) Mr. Mayhew referred to the Annual Education Reports, and Abstracts of Reports, which had been circulated with papers for the Meeting:\n\n(i) Gambia. - Though the Gambia Report showed an encouraging development of vocational training and of teacher training, it was unfortunate that since the Report was written, Commander Shuter, the headmaster of the Armitage School, Georgetown, and his first assistant, had left the school. Their places were not at present to be filled and Mr. Hamlyn, Superintendent of Education, was taking charge of the school, in addition to his other duties.\n\n(ii) Hong Kong. Mr. Mayhew referred to the form and content of the Hong Kong Report and hoped that the Committee would agree to recommend that copies of one or two of the best Reports should be sent to the Director of Education as specimens.\n\nThe Committee agreed.\n\n(iii) Northern Rhodesia. - With reference to the Report on European Education, Northern Rhodesia, Mr. Mayhew pointed out that the increase in enrolment from 564 to 774 was the largest annual increase that had been recorded there. The increase had been mainly in the mining areas. Pending the provision of secondary school facilities, 29 grants were being paid by Government for secondary education outside the Colony.\n\n(iv) Palestine and Federated Malay States. Mr. Mayhew drew attention to the encouraging features of the Palestine Education Report and the Report of the Federated Malay States, which had been emphasized in the Abstracts (`ACEC 24/31` and `ACEC 26/31` respectively). *Oversea Education* contained a considerable number of articles on various aspects of education in those areas and the current October number contained an account of compulsory education in Malaya, while the January number would contain an account of an experimental child village in Palestine. He also drew attention to the fact noted in the Federated Malay States Report that Dr. Winstedt had recently terminated his ten years' service as head of the Department. Most important developments had taken place during that period and Dr. Winstedt acknowledged gratefully the loyal co-operation of his staff.\n\n(v) Trinidad and the Falkland Islands. Annual Reports from these had also been received, but it was not thought necessary to circulate either the Reports or Abstracts thereof. Copies would be circulated to members who might wish to see them.\n\n(c) Nigeria. - An Education Ordinance for the Northern Provinces, 1931, had been received. Mr. Mayhew referred briefly to the more important features of the Ordinance, and said that a few spare copies were available which could be sent to any members, who might desire to see them, for perusal and return.\n\n(d) Swaziland. Referring to the Note on Education by the Resident Commissioner (`ACEC 21/31`), Mr. Mayhew said that this Note would presumably be taken into consideration by the sub-committee which was investigating educational proposals for Bechuanaland and Swaziland.\n\n(e) West Africa. - Mr. Mayhew reported that Miss Heath, who had recently been touring West Africa as the World's Young Women's Christian Association representative, had placed a copy of the report of her visit at the disposal of the Committee and had also given information regarding the Young Women's Christian Association plans for development of their work in West Africa. This report could be supplied to any members of the Committee who might wish to see it in connexion with women's education in Africa.\n\n(f) Mr. Vischer's Report on his Visit to Tripoli. - Mr. Mayhew said that this report was practically complete but that submission of it to the Committee had been delayed pending Mr. Vischer's return and final revision. Meanwhile, Mr. Vischer had kindly given permission for certain portions of it to appear in *Oversea Education* if required. Mr. Mayhew asked whether the Committee saw any objection to such publication, pending submission of the full Report to the Committee, if due acknowledgement was made.\n\nThe Committee saw no objection.\n\n(g) Kenya. - Referring to the Governor's despatch of the 10th July (`ACEC 25/31`), regarding certain Government African schools, Mr. Mayhew said that in view of certain comments which had been made by the Committee on proposals for re-organization of African education, it was satisfactory to have an assurance from the Governor that the schools were essentially experimental and that there was no intention of entrusting their control or the control of similar schools in whole or in part to the local Native Councils. The assurance regarding subsidies to Mission schools in paragraph 4 of the despatch should also be noted.\n\n## 3 \n\n4. **Cultural Relations with China (Hong Kong University)**. - Discussion of the Report of the British Economic Mission to the Far East (circulated with `ACEC 16/31`) was resumed from the 29th Meeting (minutes Item 6). A memorandum by Lord Lugard (`ACEC 20/31`) had been circulated.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN thanked Lord Lugard on behalf of the Committee for his memorandum. He pointed out, however, that this memorandum had been written in July, since when the financial situation in this country had changed considerably. This affected particularly Lord Lugard's recommendations for applying for assistance from the Empire Marketing Fund and the Colonial Development Fund. The Chairman very much doubted whether the Secretary of State would be prepared to adopt these suggestions; or whether, if he did, there was the smallest prospect that assistance would be given. He explained that he was expressing his personal opinion and was without explicit instructions in the matter.\n\nSir JAMES CURRIE considered that if the suggestions commended themselves to the Committee they should be recommended to the Secretary of State irrespective of their chance of being adopted.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN mentioned in this connexion that in so far as the Colonial Development Fund was available for educational purposes, advances could be made for technical education only.\n\nMr. HORRABIN added that he had obtained a promise from the Secretary of State in the House of Commons that applications of this kind would not be rejected out of hand on account of the reduction in the Grant. They would be considered on their merits though those schemes which would give the greatest and speediest benefit to the United Kingdom would stand the best chance of success. Lord Lugard in his memorandum had made out a strong case from the commercial point of view, which should operate in favour of this proposal.\n\nSir JAMES CURRIE said that he had heard that the young Chinese were unable to read a British engineering specification and could only read United States specifications. They were also beginning to go to Soviet Universities.\n\nProfessor SOOTHILL said that the Chinese were jealous of Hong Kong University and would oppose any proposals for further subsidizing out of the Indemnity Fund. Efforts should be made to establish the reputation of the University in special lines of study. This could be done by improvements in the faculties of engineering and medicine. In addition, the arts faculty, an essential element in any University, should be strengthened, especially on the Chinese side. The development of medicine and engineering involved increased facilities for physics and chemistry. Improved in this way, Hong Kong University could be made the leading force in China in engineering, and in medicine would be rivalled only by Shanghai.\n\nLord LUGARD, referring to the suggestion that Hong Kong University was unpopular in China, said that he had understood from Professor Forster that the reverse was the case.\n\nMr. SEWELL said that the United Committee for Christian Universities of China were very anxious that more of their students should go to Universities in Great Britain, instead of the United States of America, but that it was difficult to get them into Universities in this country. Most of the Christian Universities in China had been registered in America and their degrees were accepted by Universities in the Dominions. There was a strong move to get students to go to the Dominions rather than to the United States. For the undergraduate medical students whom he had taught in China, the natural centre for academic work seemed to him to be Hong Kong. In general, the parents of the boys wished them to go to Hong Kong, but for political reasons, strong pressure was often brought to bear and the students went to Pekin. This was a difficulty which would not be overcome while there was a strong Nationalist feeling in China. In Western China, there was little knowledge of Hong Kong University, which should be the leading University. The Chinese Government had ordered that a school of engineering should be established in Canton and had selected the Christian College. The money had been provided and the building established. Hong Kong University should be linked up with China and developed so as to occupy an authoritative and influential position in the Chinese academic world.\n\nIn reply to a question from Sir James Currie, Mr. SEWELL said that there was pressing need for agricultural education.\n\nMr. BEALE said that during the last twenty years, British trade with China had fallen considerably, and the whole trend of China had been towards the United States. Equipment was almost entirely of United States origin. China was on the eve of a greater industrial development than ever before, and Great Britain was in danger of not having her fair share of trade with China. Any students sent to Great Britain should be carefully selected and it should be ascertained that they would ultimately return to China. There was a real need for an educational and cultural contact between Great Britain and China.\n\nMr. FARRER said that, while recognizing these considerations, the view taken in the Department of Overseas Trade had hitherto been that the evidence accumulated by Lord Buxton's Committee showed that it was more desirable that education should be cultural rather than technical. In so far as technical education was concerned, the greatest value appeared to arise from actual training in the workshop, but there were considerable practical difficulties in the way of arranging this. With regard to cultural education for foreigners, it had originally been proposed to refer such questions to a committee to be set up by the Foreign Office, but owing to the pressure of economy, the institution of that committee was understood to have been dropped.\n\nProfessor SOOTHILL said that a University must be judged by the character of the pupils which it sent out. He asked whether Hong Kong University came up to standard in this respect and if it was definitely giving the engineering students more than they could receive from the other Universities. If not, then it would only be regarded as a second-rate University.\n\nMr. CALDER explained that the Hong Kong Government contributed nearly $400,000 per annum to the University and were not in a position to give more money. A certain amount was received in fees, but the majority of the students had scholarships. The University had always been struggling against financial difficulties.\n\nSir JAMES CURRIE asked if any financial help could be obtained from Europeans in Hong Kong. There was a general feeling that not much additional help could at present be expected from that quarter.\n\nLord LUGARD, in reply to a question from the Chairman, said that those Chinese students who had returned to their own country from the United States brought back a genuine enthusiasm for and belief in all things which emanated from there.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were agreed that it was most desirable to do anything that could be done to increase British trade and influence in China, but he felt some doubt as to how far this general question came within the Committee's ambit. The difficulty on which they were asked to advise was that of finding, through educational means, a way of achieving the desired end. One suggestion was that provision should be made for scholarships from China to Hong Kong University and post-graduate scholarships from China to British Universities. He asked Dr. Lindsay whether such scholarships could be given out of the £200,000 placed at the disposal of the Universities China Committee from the Boxer Indemnity Fund.\n\nDr. LINDSAY said that the Universities China Committee could not come to any decision until a deputation, which was visiting China to examine the situation, had returned home and reported. This would probably not be till about June, 1932. At present, therefore, it was impossible to say how the £200,000 would be expended. It was intended for the benefit of Chinese Universities as a whole, but, speaking for himself, he thought that a certain amount might be allocated to Hong Kong University, while some of it would probably be used for the benefit of Chinese students in Great Britain. The deputation, of which Sir Reginald Johnstone was a member, would visit Hong Kong.\n\nTurning to another question that had been raised, viz. :-the supervision of Chinese students in this country, the CHAIRMAN drew attention to the fact that a sub-committee had been appointed at the last meeting to consider what steps could best be taken to ensure the proper supervision of students from all parts of the Colonial Empire. He suggested that in so far as students from Hong Kong were concerned, it... \n\nPage 10 \nPage 11 \n12", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-531-11 Hong Kong University- general and financial points 14-9-1931 - 8-11-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 528298, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-531-11 Hong Kong University- general and financial points 14-9-1931 - 8-11-1931", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-531-11 Hong Kong University- general and financial points 14-9-1931 - 8-11-1931", "content_text": "## 5 \n\nIt might be desirable for the sub-committee to keep in touch with the China Universities Committee. Dr. LINDSAY, for the latter body, agreed.\n\nIt was finally agreed as follows:-\n\n(i) The Committee supported Lord Lugard's memorandum generally. In view of the important commercial issues involved they felt that it was essential to improve the technical faculties of the University, especially engineering.\n\n(ii) In particular, they hoped that the Secretary of State might find it possible at a later date to support an application for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund for buildings, and also that it might be possible to secure an allocation from the £200,000 at the disposal of the Universities China Committee for the benefit of Hong Kong University and Hong Kong students in the United Kingdom. They recognised, however, that no concrete proposals could be made pending the report of the deputation now in China, and the receipt of any recommendations thereon by the University authorities and the Hong Kong Government.\n\n(iii) They agreed that, in dealing with the question of the supervision of Hong Kong students in this country, the sub-committee might appropriately keep in touch with the Universities China Committee.\n\nMr. Beale, Mr. Farrer, Dr. Lindsay, Mr. Sewell, and Professor Foothill then withdrew.\n\n5. Biology and Education. (Compare 26th Minutes,* Item 5.)-A final report by the sub-committee appointed at the 21st Meeting (see 21st Minutes,† Item 5) had been circulated to members (`ACEC27/31`).\n\nAfter a brief discussion, the Committee adopted the sub-committee's Report.\n\n6. Other Business.-The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Lacey if he would make a short statement regarding education in Nyasaland generally.\n\nMr. LACEY said that trade schools had now been established in Nyasaland for two or three years and were being successfully carried on at Livingstone and Blantyre. Both bookbinders and metal-workers were successfully trained at these schools. Skilled and unskilled labour was exported in large numbers from Nyasaland. Tanganyika Territory and Northern Rhodesia were producing more and more artisans of this kind and Missionary Societies in Nyasaland had to consider the danger of producing too many trained artisans. The labour that went north was skilled labour and comparatively small in number. Most of the unskilled labour preferred the south. The Nyasaland native was at a premium in Southern Rhodesia. It was important that he should be taught the importance of running his own country before he considered employment in other territories. A Native Affairs Department had recently been formed.\n\nThe native could easily live in his own country on small wages. For sixpence a week he could provide food for his wife and family. When the natives left Nyasaland they generally left their wives and families behind and this gave rise to serious difficulties. Nevertheless, the wives and families could not accompany the natives as the journey, which was a long one, had to be accomplished on foot. Most natives possessed a plot of land which was cultivated by the women and children and on which they relied if they lost their employment.\n\nIn reply to a question regarding the high rate of infant mortality, Mr. LACEY said that there was a maternity centre at the Jeanes School. Midwifery was taught. There were only four trained African midwives. The attitude taken by the Missionary Societies was that a child of 12 years of age could not be given instruction in infant welfare work. Mr. Lacey did not agree with this. The African child matured early and usually married at the age of 14 to 16. Pupils aged about 10 years old or even younger should be instructed in child welfare. Nothing could, however, be done in this matter until the syllabus for girls, which was under discussion at present, had been settled.\n\n7.\n\nThe next meeting of the Committee was fixed for Thursday, 19th November.\n\n*See page ... in Miscellaneous No. 397.*\n†See page ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-531-11 Hong Kong University- general and financial points 14-9-1931 - 8-11-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 529750, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-533-12 Additional revenue proposals- revision of postal rates 2-3-1931 - 8-10-1931", "page_number": 62, "title": "CO129-533-12 Additional revenue proposals- revision of postal rates 2-3-1931 - 8-10-1931", "content_text": "# I. INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL NOTE\n\n## (a)\n\nThe Colony of Hong Kong consists of the Island of that name, with an area of 283 square miles, ceded to Great Britain in 1841, of the Kowloon Peninsula, ceded in 1860, and of a certain further portion of the mainland, known as the New Territories, leased to Great Britain by the Government of China in 1898 for 99 years. The total area of the Colony is about 890 square miles.\n\nBefore 1841 the island was occupied by the inhabitants of a few fishing villages.\n\nThe Census taken in 1981 recorded a total population in the Colony of 849,751, of whom 821,429 were Chinese. It is estimated that in the middle of 1988 this total had risen to 922,648, though since then, owing to the economic depression, the increase may have disappeared. The figure last mentioned includes 368,789 Chinese in the City of Victoria and 286,896 Chinese in the towns of Kowloon and New Kowloon. In other words, well over two-thirds of the Colony's population is urban.\n\nThe importance of Hong Kong has grown with the increase of China's trade with foreign countries. It is now, in respect of tonnage entered and cleared, one of the largest ports in the world. It is the most convenient outlet for the produce of South China and the natural distributing centre for imports into China from abroad. The Colony is not primarily a manufacturing centre, the most important of its industries being those connected directly or indirectly with shipping, such as dock and warehouse, banking and insurance undertakings. Sugar refining and cement manufacture are also major industries, and in recent years considerable quantities of knitted goods, electric torches and batteries, and rubber shoes have been produced and exported.\n\nThe following occupational figures are taken from the 1931 Census: Fishermen 5 per cent.; Agriculture 9.4 per cent.; Transport 18 per cent.; Personal Service 17 per cent. (49,000 males—28,000 females); Clerks, Typists, and Draughtsmen 5.9 per cent.; Textiles and Clothing 3.9 per cent.; Workers in Wood and Furniture 4.3 per cent.; Commerce, Finance, and Insurance 12.9 per cent.\n\nAdding the clerks, typists, etc., to those engaged in commerce, finance, and insurance, we have a total of 18.8 per cent. in white-collar occupations, not including a further small percentage employed in public administration. The percentage for males only is 24.7 instead of 18.8. The Census also showed that one-third of the Chinese population had lived not more than five years in the Colony.\n\n## (b)\n\nA short summary of the history of education in the Colony may help the reader to understand the rest of this Report. The following is taken from **The Educational System of Hong Kong**, a pamphlet written by the Director of Education in 1914 and published by the Government Printers:\n\nNot from the first day of its cession could Hong Kong complain that its educational and religious wants were unheeded. During the Governorship of Sir H. Pottinger (1841-1844) the Church of England and the Roman Catholics and Nonconformists were already at work. The Morrison School was founded by the late Rev. Dr. J. Legge, subsequently famous throughout China for his edition of the Classics, and late professor of Chinese at Oxford. At about the same time the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. V. Stanton, founded St. Paul's College as a training College for native clergy. It still exists after various vicissitudes as a Secondary School for boys.\n\nIt is interesting to note how frankly in these early days the Government accepted the part of proselytiser. At about this time a small Grant of $5 a month was given to ten small schools, and a Committee of Education formed to control it. To the Bishop of Victoria, the Chairman, wrote Sir John Davis, the Governor, \"If these schools were eventually placed in the hands of native Christian teachers bred up by the Protestant missionaries, it would afford the most rational prospect of converting the native population of the Island.\" And during his administration (1844-1848) this policy was steadily pursued.\n\n*Quoted from the Annual Report on the Social and Economic Progress of the People of the Colony of Hong Kong during the Year 1939.* (Government Printers, Hong Kong.)\n\nPage 61", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-533-12 Additional revenue proposals- revision of postal rates 2-3-1931 - 8-10-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 545687, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-549-19 Education Department- system and organisation 11-7-1934 - 6-12-1934", "page_number": 50, "title": "CO129-549-19 Education Department- system and organisation 11-7-1934 - 6-12-1934", "content_text": "# Hong Kong \n## I. INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL NOTE.\n\n### (a)\n\nThe Colony of Hong Kong consists of the Island of that name, with an area of 284 square miles, ceded to Great Britain in 1841, of the Kowloon Peninsula, ceded in 1860, and of a certain further portion of the mainland, known as the New Territories, leased to Great Britain by the Government of China in 1898 for 99 years. The total area of the Colony is about 390 square miles.\n\nBefore 1841 the island was occupied by the inhabitants of a few fishing villages.\n\nThe Census taken in 1981 recorded a total population in the Colony of 849,751, of whom 821,429 were Chinese. It is estimated that in the middle of 1988 this total had risen to 922,648, though since then, owing to the economic depression, the increase may have disappeared. The figure last mentioned includes 368,739 Chinese in the City of Victoria and 286,896 Chinese in the towns of Kowloon and New Kowloon. In other words, well over two-thirds of the Colony's population is urban.\n\nThe importance of Hong Kong has grown with the increase of China's trade with foreign countries. It is now, in respect of tonnage entered and cleared, one of the largest ports in the world. It is the most convenient outlet for the produce of South China and the natural distributing centre for imports into China from abroad. The Colony is not primarily a manufacturing centre, the most important of its industries being those connected directly or indirectly with shipping, such as dock and warehouse, banking and insurance undertakings. Sugar refining and cement manufacture are also major industries, and in recent years considerable quantities of knitted goods, electric torches and batteries, and rubber shoes have been produced and exported.\n\nThe following occupational figures are taken from the 1981 Census:\n| Occupation | Percentage |\n| --- | --- |\n| Fishermen | 5 per cent. |\n| Agriculture | 9.4 per cent. |\n| Transport | 18 per cent. |\n| Personal Service | 17 per cent. (49,000 males-28,000 females) |\n| Clerks, Typists, and Draughtsmen | 5.9 per cent. |\n| Textiles and Clothing | 3.9 per cent. |\n| Workers in Wood and Furniture | 4.3 per cent. |\n| Commerce, Finance, and Insurance | 12.9 per cent. |\n\nAdding the clerks, typists, etc., to those engaged in commerce, finance, and insurance, we have a total of 18.8 per cent. in \"white-collar occupations,\" not including a further small percentage employed in public administration. The percentage for males only is 24.7 instead of 18.8. The Census also showed that one-third of the Chinese population had lived not more than five years in the Colony.\n\n### (b)\n\nA short summary of the history of education in the Colony may help the reader to understand the rest of this Report. The following is taken from \"The Educational System of Hongkong,\" a pamphlet written by the Director of Education in 1914 and published by the Government printers:\n\n\"Not from the first day of its cession could Hong Kong complain that its educational and religious wants were unheeded. During the Governorship of Sir H. Pottinger (1841-1844) the Church of England and the Roman Catholics and Nonconformists were already at work. The Morrison School was founded by the late Rev. Dr. J. Legge, subsequently famous throughout China for his edition of the Classics, and late professor of Chinese at Oxford.\n\nAt about the same time the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. V. Stanton, founded St. Paul's College as a training College for native clergy. It still exists after various vicissitudes as a Secondary School for boys.\n\nIt is interesting to note how frankly in these early days the Government accepted the part of proselytiser. At about this time a small Grant of $5 a month was given to ten small schools, and a Committee of Education formed to control it. To the Bishop of Victoria, the Chairman, wrote Sir John Davis, the Governor, 'If these schools were eventually placed in the hands of native Christian teachers bred up by the Protestant missionaries, it would afford the most rational prospect of converting the native population of the Island.' And during his administration (1844-1848) this policy was steadily pursued.\n\n*Quoted from the Annual Report on the Social and Economic Progress of the People of the Colony of Hong Kong during the Year 1933. (Government Printers, Hong Kong.)\n\nPage 50\nPage 51", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-549-19 Education Department- system and organisation 11-7-1934 - 6-12-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 548108, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-553-12 Education- report of Mr Burney's visit 28-3-1935 - 7-8-1936", "page_number": 61, "title": "CO129-553-12 Education- report of Mr Burney's visit 28-3-1935 - 7-8-1936", "content_text": "# I. INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL NOTE.\n\n(a)\n\nThe Colony of Hong Kong consists of the Island of that name, with an area of 283 square miles, ceded to Great Britain in 1841, of the Kowloon Peninsula, ceded in 1860, and of a certain further portion of the mainland, known as the New Territories, leased to Great Britain by the Government of China in 1898 for 99 years. The total area of the Colony is about 890 square miles.\n\nBefore 1841 the island was occupied by the inhabitants of a few fishing villages.\n\nThe Census taken in 1981 recorded a total population in the Colony of 849,751, of whom 821,429 were Chinese. It is estimated that in the middle of 1933 this total had risen to 922,643, though since then, owing to the economic depression, the increase may have disappeared. The figure last mentioned includes 368,789 Chinese in the City of Victoria and 286,896 Chinese in the towns of Kowloon and New Kowloon. In other words, well over two-thirds of the Colony's population is urban.\n\nThe importance of Hong Kong has grown with the increase of China's trade with foreign countries. It is now, in respect of tonnage entered and cleared, one of the largest ports in the world. It is the most convenient outlet for the produce of South China and the natural distributing centre for imports into China from abroad. The Colony is not primarily a manufacturing centre, the most important of its industries being those connected directly or indirectly with shipping, such as dock and warehouse, banking and insurance undertakings. Sugar refining and cement manufacture are also major industries, and in recent years considerable quantities of knitted goods, electric torches and batteries, and rubber shoes have been produced and exported.*\n\nThe following occupational figures are taken from the 1931 Census:- Fishermen 5 per cent.; Agriculture 9.4 per cent.; Transport 18 per cent.; Personal Service 17 per cent. (49,000 males-28,000 females); Clerks, Typists, and Draughtsmen 5.9 per cent.; Textiles and Clothing 8.9 per cent.; Workers in Wood and Furniture 4.3 per cent.; Commerce, Finance, and Insurance 12.9 per cent.\n\nAdding the clerks, typists, etc., to those engaged in commerce, finance, and insurance, we have a total of 18.8 per cent. in white-collar occupations, not including a further small percentage employed in public administration. The percentage for males only is 24.7 instead of 18.8. The Census also showed that one-third of the Chinese population had lived not more than five years in the Colony.\n\n(b)\n\nA short summary of the history of education in the Colony may help the reader to understand the rest of this Report. The following is taken from \"The Educational System of Hong Kong,\" a pamphlet written by the Director of Education in 1914 and published by the Government Printers-\n\nNot from the first day of its cession could Hong Kong complain that its educational and religious wants were unheeded. During the Governorship of Sir H. Pottinger (1841-1844) the Church of England and the Roman Catholics and Nonconformists were already at work. The Morrison School was founded by the late Rev. Dr. J. Legge, subsequently famous throughout China for his edition of the Classics, and late professor of Chinese at Oxford.\n\nAt about the same time the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. V. Stanton, founded St. Paul's College as a training College for native clergy. It still exists after various vicissitudes as a Secondary School for boys.\n\nIt is interesting to note how frankly in these early days the Government accepted the part of proselytiser. At about this time a small Grant of $5 a month was given to ten small schools, and a Committee of Education formed to control it. To the Bishop of Victoria, the Chairman, wrote Sir John Davis, the Governor, 'If these schools were eventually placed in the hands of native Christian teachers bred up by the Protestant missionaries, it would afford the most rational prospect of converting the native population of the Island.' And during his administration (1844-1848) this policy was steadily pursued.\n\n*Quoted from the Annual Report on the Social and Economic Progress of the People of the Colony of Hong Kong during the Year 1938, (Government Printers, Hong Kong.)\n\nPage 61", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-553-12 Education- report of Mr Burney's visit 28-3-1935 - 7-8-1936.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 551444, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-558-1 Education Department- staffing and re-organisation 22-4-1936 - 7-4-1937", "page_number": 30, "title": "CO129-558-1 Education Department- staffing and re-organisation 22-4-1936 - 7-4-1937", "content_text": "## 4\n\nIt is considered desirable to appoint a Senior Inspector of English Schools with some experience of education among native races over one that has none, and also the desirability of finding a man whom, if it is later decided to remove the post of Director of Education from the cadre of the Colonial Administrative Service, it might be possible to promote to that important position. I am, however, strongly against giving the person to be selected any reversionary claim to the higher appointment (wherein I differ from Mr. Burney) because it is never possible to foretell how an officer will react to the atmosphere, climatic and cultural, of the Far East. He would have to prove his suitability for the promotion by marked success as Senior Inspector of English Schools.\n\n## 40\n\nA paper of particulars of the post is enclosed in the usual form, but I presume that if you should decide to fill the appointment by the transfer of an officer from the Educational Service of some other Colony the three-year probationary period mentioned under heading 9 would hardly be possible.\n\n5.\n\nI regret the necessity of having had to allude to the current levy on salaries under headings 3 and 4 of the paper of particulars and to the uncertainty which attaches to rent and lodging allowances under heading 5. The present state of Hong Kong's public finances and the call to economy and retrenchment which has been sounded in Legislative Council and the local press render a review of our salary schemes and allowance regulations inevitable, but it is a difficult and complex subject on which I am not yet in a position to put forward any concrete proposals.\n\nI have the honour to be, \nSir, \nYour most obedient, humble servant, \n**Calder** \nGovernor, &c.\n\nPage 30 \nPage 31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-558-1 Education Department- staffing and re-organisation 22-4-1936 - 7-4-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 563109, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-573-7 Education- government grants to vernacular schools 30-5-1938 - 28-7-1938", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-573-7 Education- government grants to vernacular schools 30-5-1938 - 28-7-1938", "content_text": "## ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION IN THE COLONIES\n\n**A Memorandum on Educational Grants-in-Aid**. A Memorandum on grants by Government in aid of certain kinds of educational institutions was forwarded by the Secretary of State to Colonial Governments for consideration in 1930. The comments of the Colonial Governments were referred to the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies. In the light of these comments the Memorandum has now been revised. An attempt has been made to bring out more clearly the full significance of such portions of the original Memorandum as seem to have been misunderstood or to be capable of misinterpretation. Here and there effect has been given to criticism in the application of principles. The general principles set forth in the original Memorandum remain unaltered, as the comments indicate a general readiness to accept them. We have been impressed by the generous and appreciative attitude towards aided education revealed in the replies from the various Governments.\n\nThe Memorandum deals with grants made to schools under private management, of which the schools conducted by Christian missions are at present the most numerous. It applies only to those Colonies, Mandated Areas, and Protectorates which have been included in the Committee's terms of reference by the Secretary of State. Local conditions in the West Indies area, Mauritius and Seychelles, have not been taken into account, and the application of what is said in the Memorandum to the denominational schools in these areas might call for considerable qualification and safeguards. Somaliland, Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate, Swaziland, and the Western Pacific Islands, other than Fiji, are also excluded, since the replies relating to these areas, though they indicate no opposition to the principles of the original Memorandum, suggest that the time has not yet come for defining a policy. The Memorandum is not concerned with the relations between the education departments and schools conducted by local authorities, such as municipalities, district councils, or native administrations. Nor is it intended to apply to schools maintained for private profit. We observe that in some areas such schools are expressly excluded from the benefits of grants-in-aid. We are not aware of any principles on which they could be admitted to a grant-in-aid system.\n\nThe primary aim of this Memorandum is the establishment of principles for guidance in the use of such funds as may be available for educational grants-in-aid. The importance of voluntary effort in education and its claims to generous support have already\n\nPage 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-573-7 Education- government grants to vernacular schools 30-5-1938 - 28-7-1938.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 580088, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-593-1 Future policy- unofficial views 18-6-1946 - 28-12-1946", "page_number": 44, "title": "CO129-593-1 Future policy- unofficial views 18-6-1946 - 28-12-1946", "content_text": "44\n\nterms in Hongkong's housing vocabulary. (3) The \"cubicle\" ten feet or so square is often the home of a family of six. Tens of thousands of homeless \"street sleepers\" have been a municipal problem for many years, without perceptible improvement.\n\nAttempts at Denationalization\n\nHongkong was one of the first objectives of the new Chinese nationalism in 1924-27 and its administration has never recovered from the shock. Since then many efforts have been made, unsuccessfully, to denationalize its people and create a particularist psychology linked with loyalty to the British crown. In official dealings in the Chinese language the residents must describe themselves not as Chungkuo Jen, like the other people of China, but as Hua Jen, which is supposed to have a racial rather than national connotation. Government schools teach all higher subjects in English, ignore Chinese culture and political history, and produce, at best, competent bilingual clerks and monolingual (English) lawyers, doctors, engineers and junior civil servants.\n\nThe general strikes that tied up the colony in the early 1920s have left a heritage of fear of labor. The leading workers' organizations of the time, ranging from the seamen's to the barbers' unions, have been proscribed ever since as \"illegal secret societies.\" A paternalistic government Labor Office exists and arbitrates disputes.\n\nAs a byproduct of British democracy at home, many of these phenomena have been carefully described and often denounced in official Commission of Enquiry reports. But colonial realities and the power of local \"interests\" have prevented any remedies. The young civil servant coming out from England full of reforming zeal and changing, within a few years, into a defender of the status quo or automatic functionary escaping after office hours into cultural studies, is a typical and repeated symbol of this contradiction. (4)\n\n(3) The Annual Report of the Social and Economic Progress of the People of Hongkong, published by the Colonial Office in London, uses the following identical words to describe the typical Hongkong tenement in all issues from 1927 through 1938: \"The usual frontage of each house is fifteen feet ... and a depth of thirty-five feet, while each storey consists of one large room with a native type kitchen in the rear. This room is separated by thin partitions seven feet high into three cubicles, each of which may accommodate a family. A latrine is built at ground floor level, one to each house irrespective of the number of occupants, and is common to all. The houses are divided by scavenging lanes six feet wide.\"\n\n(4) Edmund Burney in his Report on Education in Hongkong, published on behalf of the Government of Hongkong by the Crown Agents for the Colonies, London, 1935, describes school premises as \"usually inadequate and sometimes abominable.\" He points out that graduates of Hongkong schools know neither Chinese nor English and pours scorn on institutions he visited in which Chinese boys were \"being taught not without some detail, about the religious wars in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries\" but nothing about China. One of his major criticisms is the insufficient expenditure on primary schools, which are \"all that the poorer Chinese can afford, and the government is giving least help to those who are least able to help themselves.\" For a description of Hongkong's economy and economic policy, see Report of the Governor's Commission to Enquire into the Causes and Effects of the Present Trade Depression in Hongkong, 1934-35.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-593-1 Future policy- unofficial views 18-6-1946 - 28-12-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]