DR. E. J. EITEL.
If ever a roll of honour is compiled, setting out the names of those who have rendered meritorious and disinterested service to this Colony, the name of E. J. Eitel PhD. (Tubing) will find a prominent place.
If Eitel did nothing other than compile his well-known "Europe in China" — the history of Hongkong up to 1882 — he would have merited the highest honours, for this monumental work is the only history of the island ever published.
Page 293
Not only does the book deal with the administrations of successive governors from Capt. Elliott to Sir John Pope Hennessy, but the story of the commencement of British trade with China, conditions in South China between 1625 and 1841, and events leading up to the cession of Hongkong are dealt with in detail.
Dr. Eitel, after a distinguished University career in Germany, came out to the Far East as a missionary in the mid-sixties and for more than thirty years carried on his labours both in Canton and Hongkong.
An educationist of high standing and an authority on literary subjects, it was only natural that Dr. Eitel should become connected with the Education Department, and when he left in 1896, he had risen to be its chief.
Always a keen supporter of Literary and Debating Societies, Dr. Eitel never refused an invitation to give a public address. Frequently he chose Chinese subjects, for he was an accomplished Chinese scholar. In 1870, he delivered a series of lectures on Buddhism.
In 1872 the Governor, Sir Arthur Kennedy, established a Board of Examiners charged with the duty of examining Government Officers drawing a Chinese teacher's allowance. Sir Arthur connected with this Board an office of Superintendent of Chinese Studies and Dr. Eitel became its second Superintendent. At the suggestion of this Board, proper Chinese titles were fixed to all the various Government offices and buildings.
In 1873 Dr. Eitel became involved in an acute controversy relating to secular and denominational schools. The Government had adopted a Grant-in-Aid Scheme, offering to all schools willing to devote four consecutive hours a day to exclusively secular teaching annual grants on the basis of results achieved at examinations.
Dr. Eitel and Bishop Raimondi raised objections to the absolutely secular teaching demanded of Grant-in-Aid schools, while the Government schools used Chinese school books containing Confucian and Buddhist teachings. A compromise (refused by the Catholics) was arranged allowing Grant-in-Aid schools to use Chinese reading books, containing an admixture of religious teachings.
When Sir John Pope Hennessy became Governor, he established the office of Chinese Secretary to the Governor and Translator to the Colonial Secretary. Dr. Eitel was appointed to the post, but the Secretary of State vetoed the Governor's action.
The Board of Examiners in Chinese appointed by Sir Arthur Kennedy was ignored by Sir John Pope Hennessy, who appointed a separate Board for each examination.
In 1880 a Naturalisation Ordinance was passed giving Dr. Eitel the privileges of a British subject within the Colony but not elsewhere. This was the forerunner of a batch of similar ordinances in subsequent years.
Page 293
DR. E. J. EITEL.
If ever a roll of honour is compiled, setting out the names of those who have rendered meritorious and disinterested service to this Colony, the name of E. J. Eitel PhD. ( Tubing ) will find a prominent place.
If Eitel did nothing other than compile his well-known Europe in China "the history of Hongkong up to 1882 he would have merited the highest honours, for this monumental work is the only history of the island ever published.
293
Not only does the book deal with the administrations of successive governors from Capt. Elliott to Sir John Pope Henne- ssy, but the story of the commencement of British trade with China, conditions in South China between 1625 and 1841, and events leading up to the cession of Hongkong are dealt with in detail.
Dr. Eitel after a distinguished University career in Germany came out to the Far East as a missionary in the mid- sixties and for more than thirty years carried on his labours both in Canton and Hongkong.
An educationist of high standing and an authority on li- terary subjects it was only natural that Dr. Eitel should beco- me connected with the Education Department, and when he left in 1896, he had risen to be its chief.
.
Always a keen supporter of Literary and Debating Societies Dr. Eitel never refused an invitation to give a public address. Frequently he chose Chinese subjects, for he was an accomplished Chinese scholar. In 1870, he delivered a series of lectures se on Buddhism.
In 1872 the Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy, established aa Board of Examiners charged with the duty of examining Government Officers drawing a Chinese teacher's allowance. Sir Arthur connected with this Board an office of Supreintendent of Chinese Studies and Dr. Eitel became its second Superintendent. At the suggestion of this Board, proper Chinese titles were fixed to all the various Government offices and buildings...
In 1873 Dr. Eitel became involved in an acute controversy relating to secular and denomination schools. The Government had adopted a Grant-in-Aid Scheme, offering to all shhools willing to devote four consecutive hours a day to` exclusevely secular teaching annual grants on the basis of results achieved at examinations.
Dr. Eitel and Bishop Raimondi raised objections to the absolutely secular teaching demanded of Grant-in-Aid schools while the Government schools used Chinese school books contai- ning Confician and Buddhist teachings. A compromise ( refused by the Catholics) was arranged allowing Grant-in-Aid schools to use Chinese reading books, containing an admixture of religious teachings.
When Sir John Pape Hennessy befame Governor he established the office of Chinese Secretary to the Governor and Translator to the Colonial Secretary. Dr. Eitel was appointed to the post, but the Secretary of State vetoed the Governor's action.
The Board of Examiners in Chinese appointed by Sir Arthur Kennedy was ignored by Sir John Pope Hennessy who appointed a sepaeate Board for each examination.
In 1880 a Naturalisation Ordinance was passed giging Dr. Eitel the privileges of a British subject within the Colony but not elsewhere. This was the forerunner of a batch of similar ordinances in subsequent years.
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