687562-1879-Hongkong-Cadetships- — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 10TH DECEMBER, 1879.

The Cadets are selected after a competitive examination by the Civil Service Commissioners, from amongst Candidates nominated by the Secretary of State.

Applications for Nominations, proceeding from persons of whom the Secretary of State has no direct knowledge, should be accompanied by recommendations from persons known to him, or occupying positions of professional or other distinction.

2nd. Each Candidate must be between the ages of 20 and 23 on the first day of the Examination, and must satisfy the Civil Service Commissioners that he is duly qualified in respect of health and character. The Medical Examination does not ordinarily take place until the result of the competition is known, but Candidates may, by application to the Civil Service Commissioners, obtain permission to undergo it earlier.

3rd. The heads of examination are as follows:-

A. Obligatory.

1st. Exercises designed to test Handwriting and Orthography.

2nd. Arithmetic, including Vulgar and Decimal Fractions.

3rd. Latin, and one of the following languages:-Greek, French, German, Italian. 4th. English Compositions, including Précis Writing.

5th. Pure and Mixed Mathematics.

B. Optional.

6th. Ancient or Modern History, and Geography.

7th. The Elements of Constitutional and International Law, and Political Economy. 8th. Geology, Civil Engineering, and Surveying.

Every Candidate must show a competent knowledge of the first four Subjects, and may

select any two of the Optional Subjects.

As at present arranged, a Cadet after his appointment will remain for one year in this country, and will be required to begin learning Chinese and to attend a class for students of Chinese at King's College; he will also be employed during some hours daily at the Colonial Office in the work of the Department. At the end of his year's study in this country the cadet will be examined in Chinese, and the confirmation of his appointment will depend upon his passing a satisfactory examination, and on his performance of his duties in the Office.

4th. Each Cadet will receive salary at the rate of £100 a year while studying in this country and a salary of $1,200 a year from the date of his arrival in the Colony. The cost of his the Colony will be paid, subject to the liability of repayment hereafter mentioned (Secs. 8, 9).

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5th. After arrival in Hongkong he will be required to continue his study of the language. 6th. While thus studying, he will be under the control and supervision of the Governor of the Colony, who will frame regulations for his hours of study and general duties. Quarters, books, and teachers will be provided for him at the public expense, and he will be required to attend at the Public Offices for not less than two hours daily, while he is continuing his reading.

7th. As soon as he is declared by a Board of Examiners to have acquired a competent knowledge of Chinese, he will be employed either as an Interpreter or in such Department as may require his services, at a salary of $1,800 per annum, without other allowances, and will be considered eligible for promotion in the Civil Service of Hongkong on the occurrence of any vacancy which he may be deemed suitable to fill.

8th. The progress of the Cadet will be tested by half-yearly examinations, and he will be liable to be dismissed without further pay, if he does not pass his final examination (see Section 7) within such time as may be fixed, or if at any time his progress or conduct shall be considered by the Governor and Executive Council to be so unsatisfactory as to render such a course desirable. The Governor and Council will decide, having regard to the ground of dismissal, whether the Cadet shall be sent home at the public expense, or shall be left to find his own way home, or shall be, in addition, called upon to repay the cost of his passage out:

9th. A Bond must be entered into by the Cadet and his friends at home with the Crown Agents for the Colonies to secure the repayment of the cost of the passage out, in the event of his dismissal and of its being decided by the Governor and Executive Council that such repayment shall be enforced; and also in the event of the Cadet within four years from the date of his arrival in Hongkong either quitting the Colony without leave or relinquishing his appointment (except for ill health), together with a further sum of £50 for each year to repay the Colony the cost of his teaching, up to his leaving.

The $ is at present reckoned in Hongkong for purposes of pension and half-pay at 4s. 2d. Colonial Office, London, July 8th, 1878.