Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 43

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This I attribute in a great measure to losses sustained by servants in the Gambling Houses at Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City. I have addressed the Viceroy of Canton several times on this subject without much effect and am at this moment in correspondence with Her Majesty's Minister at Peking in regard to it. If the Chinese Government refuses to act this Government will be bound to consider whether some restrictions should not be placed on the owners of launches who are known to carry hundreds of gamblers daily between this City and the opposite coast. I shall hope that the Community in general would thoroughly support the Government if such a step should be decided upon.

With regard to Education I have to inform you that in addition to the ten Government Schools which were closed owing to insufficient attendance at the beginning of this year, two other Government Schools have been closed for the same reason. Seven of the less expensive and more popular Grant-in-Aid Schools have taken the place of the Schools thus closed.

Special attention has been bestowed on the educational needs of the Boat Population. For long years this class has been somewhat neglected. The extent of School accommoda- tion for them is now ample. It consists of 38 Private and 8 Public Schools in working order. The total number of Scholars is 1,578. Aberdeen has been supplied with a Grant-in-Aid School. I have recently appointed a Chinese School Attendance Officer with a view of stimulating the attendance at Schools of the Boat children in particular, and of Chinese children in general.

In the matter of additional accommodation local school managers have of late been particularly active. The Berlin Foundling House, the Roman Catholic Mission at Shauki- wan and the Basel Mission at To-kwa-Wan have this year provided new and suitable school buildings for the Chinese poor.

The Code of Regulations for Educational Grants-in-aid has been revised with the aim of raising the standard of Education.

Arrangements have been made by the Government to bring the West Point Reformatory under the provisions of Ordinance No. 19 of 1886 as a Certified Reformatory School for the reception of juvenile offenders. I trust that this will have the effect of reducing the gaol population and of preventing the contamination of the young which is certain to occur when they are brought into contact with the old offenders.

For the benefit of the Government Central School for Girls a Member of this Council has erected a handsome three-storied building which will soon be handed over to the Go- vernment.

Physical Drill, which was introduced a short time since in 11 schools, has during this year been carried a step further by the superaddition of a Cadet Corps subject to inspection by the military authorities. This Corps is popular, and in many ways and especially so far as physique and discipline are concerned will prove of great benefit to those who belong to it, or who may hereafter join it.

The need of a fixed standard of Chinese orthography in connection with local examin- ations has long been recognized. At the suggestion of the Government it has at last been supplied by the Revd. Dr. CHALMERS whose work in this, as in other cases, is admitted, by those who are capable of judging, to be a monument of learning and industry.

Examinations have been held for the Diploma of the College of Preceptors, and for London matriculation purposes. In addition to the Oxford Local Examinations provision has been made for the re-introduction into Hongkong of Cambridge Local Examinations.

These facts indicate not only progressive movement, but prove that as far as circum- stances will admit local Education is being assimilated to the system in force in the Educa- tional Institutions of the Mother Country.

I referred just now to the Cadet Corps, and some mention of the Volunteer Force should not be omitted. It numbers about 90 and every effort has been made to increase its numbers but without much result. It can therefore only be said that whilst it forms a most valuable nucleus, its practical utility depends upon its further expansion.

The Officers and especially the Commandant have done all in their power to ensure its being a success and active preparations are being made for its taking part in the mobilization of the Garrison in January. The new head quarters are nearing completion and will be a great convenience to members of the Force. I much wish that the Volunteer movement was looked on with greater favour, and received greater support from the Community generally than it appears to do at present.

There is every probability of Hongkong being shortly put into telegraphic communica- tion with the outer world, independently of connection with any Foreign territory. This is a subject of congratulation.