THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH MARCH, 1871.
119
34. To find au exact parallel to the state of things here we must go back a century or two in the history of our own country.
Education there has not had its present extensive diffusion by any fiat. It has been a gradual and a very gradual process. We have the whole of that gradual process to go through in Hongkong, although there is a tendency in most of us to forget or ignore that fact, and to imagine that the nineteenth century in England means the nineteenth century in Hongkong, or, which comes to the same thing, that there is no reason why what is done in England should not have its exact counterpart here. It is argued, moreover, that education is universal in China and that the poorest 'coolie' can read and write.
This is one of the many fallacies which prevail on the subject of China and its people. It is only after a certain stage of material comfort has been reached that pople
can turn their thoughts to anything which is not material; and, until we have many more people among the poorer classes in Hongkong who have not to go and earn a meal before they can at it, it is almost folly to discuss comprehensive schemes of education for their benefit. Those who have been in the way of visiting the villages on the mainland say that the state of Hongkong is not peculiar. Every village has its school, but only a fraction of the village children attend it. As the Chinese Government affords then no assistance, those who wish their children taught must take the whole burden of the school-master's salary on themselves. This, in such poverty-stricken places, excludes the very poor, who are by far the majority; and if poor parents, by dint of much self-denial, should be able to send one of the family to school, it is all that they can possibly accomplish. The result is that, while ten or twelve may be found in the school, scores of children are to be seen on the hill-sides tending the cattle.
35. Perhaps the greatest educational want in Hongkong is that of a school, or schools, for European and American children of both sexes. In spite of the facilities afforded by St. Saviour's College and the Convent, many residents must have much difficulty in knowing how to get their children taught. The school need not be a free one. After the preliminary expenses of Site and Building, with which Government might fairly charge itself, the fees would go far to make the school self-supporting. It has been often suggested that the Colonial Chaplain might have such a school under his imminediate care, but subject to Government supervision. Under whatever regula- tions it might ultimately be placed, such a school is very much wanted, and it is matter of astonish- ment that parents have not long ago made a strenuous movement in this direction.
36. I have only, in conclusion, to add that I should be very glad if the state of the Village Schools were such as to enable me to pay them fewer than monthly visits. As the Central School advances my time is more and more required in it. As each additional master has been added more work has been rendered possible, and as long as the possible is not actual, a school is not in the state in which it ought to be.
I have the honour to remain,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FREDERICK STEWART. Inspector of Government Schools,
The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
&c.,
Colonial Secretary, fc.,
&c.
TABLE I.
NUMBER of SCHOLARS taught in the Government Schools during 1870, and Expense of each School.
Bors.
GIRLS.
TOTAL.
EXPENSE.
1. Aberdeen,
* Ap-li Cháu,
34
52
14. Stanley,
15. Shek Shán,.
i". Shauki Wang.
3. Bowrington,
4. Central School,
5. Girls' School,
6. Hok Ün,..........
7. Hung Hom, 8. Little Hongkong,
* Ma-tau Chung,
10. Ma-t'an Ts'ün,
11. Mong Kok,.
68
337
: 19-0
3
24
337
1
61
18
14
20
21
35
20
41
35
51
17. To-kwa Wán, (Hak-ka),
Tang-lung Chau, (Pún-ti),
To-kwa Wan, (Hok-lo),
9. Webster's Crescent,
*O. West End, #1. West Point, (IIak-ka),
West Point, (Pán-ti), 3. Wong-nai Chong, 31. Yan-ipa Ti,
15. Tang-lung Chau, (Hak-ka),
53
41
25
16
44
52
64
73
21
49
3
6885894856878587289BER52
$ c. 123.00
53
40.00
374.00
10,527.17
02
570.50
18
51.25
61.50
64.00
48.71
65.00
63.50
114.38
70.00
53
324.00 126.00
184.50
51.25
63.00
358.00
259.00
249.00
265.00
122.00
51.25
1,101
111
1,302
14,232.01
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