186937-1932-Minutes-No-16 — Page 2

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JANUARY 29, 1932. 115

ABSENT:

His Excellency the General Officer Cominanding the Troops, (Major-General JAMES

WALTER SANDILANDS, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.).

The Honourable Dr. WILLIAM BROWNLOW ASHE MOORE, (Director of Medical and

Sanitary Services).

1. The Council met pursuant to adjournment. His Excellency the Governor

occupied the Chair.

MINUTES.

2. The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 10th December, 1931, were confirmed.

QUESTIONS.

3. The Hon. Mr. R. H. KoTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D., pursuant to notice, asked the

following questions:----

With reference to the remark made by the Hon. Colonial Secretary at the meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 22nd October, 1931, that the Government would give serious consideration to my suggestion that a committee be appointed to consider the general education policy of the Government, will the Government state---

(1) Whether such a committee will be appointed; and

(2) If not, what step does the Government propose to take to give

effect to the object in view?

The Colonial Secretary replied as follows:--

1. The Government does not consider that the appointment of such a committee is called for as there already exists, in the Board of Education, a body which is competent to advise on matters connected with education in the Colony.

2. In October, 1930, the Board was invited to review the existing system of education and to make recommendations in respect of future policy. Several of its recommendations have already been put into operation and others will be adopted shortly.

The recommendations deal with such matters as the distribution of funds provided for educational purposes, syllabuses English and Chinese, the possibility of improving the opportunities of the children in private schools, the school medical service, the difficult question of the extent to which public funds should be made available for other than Vernacular education, the University Local Examinations and the training of teachers, and, in fact, constitute just such an overhaul of the existing system as appears to be contemplated by the Honourable Member.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE,

4. The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee

(No. 13), dated the 10th December, 1931, and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

5. The Attorney General moved :

MOTIONS.

That the rule dated 27th day of October, 1931, made by the Registrar of Patents under section 11 of the Registration of United Kingdom.

Patents Ordinance, 1925, be approved.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

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