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(1) By the repeal of paragraph No. 3 of Statute 10 in the Second Schedule thereto aud by the substitution therefor of the following para- graph:

3. To recommend, for appointment by the Council, Professors Lecturers, and other academic officers of the Univer- sity and also, after report from the Board of Faculty or Boards of Fa- culties concerned, External Exam- iners."

Objects and Reasons.

The Secretary of State has expressed a desire that the University Ordinances of 1911 should be ameuded in the light of enrtain criticisms which have been passed on them by the Board of Education and has meantime refrained from tendering any advice to His Majesty in respect of the said Ordinances. The Board of Education are desirous that the employment of the University of London Exam- iners in collaboration with the members of the teaching staff of the Hongkong University should not imply that the degrees of the Hongkong University will be given on the same examination papers as those which are set to the external stulents of the University of London, as, if this were done, the syllabrises of the London external examina- tions would simply become the curricula of the Hongkong University and all freedom and initiative on the part of the latter institution would be destroyed. They suggest there- fore that the Hongkong enricula should be worked out by the Hongkong University and that the London University should be asked to accept the curricula as broadly equiva- lent to that required for a London degree. The University of London should then, they think, be requested to appoint one of their own examiners in each subject to act as the external examiners for the Hongkong examinations with the power of veto over the passing of any candidate who does not reach the standard required of a London student and with instructions to assure themselves that the stand- ard of the examination both in the separate subjeers and collectively is the same as that for a London degres in the particular Faculty concerne:l. The external examiners would make reports accordingly both to the University of Hongkong andl to the University of London, but the ex- amination papers should all be read and marked in the first instance by members of the Hongkong teaching staff, the papers thus marked being then sent with the report to the London Examiners. The Bourd of Education also think that it is important that the Hongkong University should have the power to set up a printing press and publish Ino is if it desires. They consider that section 4 (7) of the Principal Ouiinance gives the Unive sity the power of examining and inspecting schools independently of the Governmens and suggest that the sub-section should be modified with a view to safeguarding the position of the Education Department of the Colony in this respect though they see no reason why the Government should not employ such University Professors and Lecturers as they think desirable for the purpose of inspecting and examining

schools.

The Board consider that it is of great importance that the position of the Vice-Chancellor should be placed beyond all rens umble doubt and suggest the addition of a clause to the effect that the Vice-Chancellor is the chief admin- istrative officer of the University and shall have such powers and duties as the Council shall assign to him. The Board of Education have also suggested the modification of the Statutes of the University, which is effected by this Bill, in order to avoid a possible cause of friction between the Council and the Senate.

C. G. ALABASTER, Attorney General,