100
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
on a large scale, which might not be thought | finding your leading contemporary, whose advisable at a time of such general mourning. columns, I believe. voice the opinion of As for the writer who disguises his personality a large number of fnfluential members of under the style of "Disgusted," I am surprised your Colony, devoting a leading article to that he should allow his animus so to carry him the same topic couched in the same strain, away as to designate by the name of the. "Gov. while loudly proclaiming the " proverbial and ernor's satellites" the leading naval, military, deep seated loyalty" of Hongkong! Proverbial and civil personages in Hongkong. Are even it may be, as being so soon ready to cry" Le the unofficial members of the Legislative roi est mort, vive le roi." As for its depth, II Council "satellites," just because they took a fear one need tot look far beneath the skin. -leading part in the ceremony? I too, sir, am "WHEREAS it has pleased Almighty God disgusted-at an exhibition of bad taste on the to call to His Mercy our late SOVEREIGN part of your correspondent.-Yours, etc.. LADY QUEEN VICTORIA ef Blessed and
Glorious Memory."
C
S. P.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS." Hongkong, 30th January. SIB.-May I be permitted to draw your attention to a slight inaccuracy in connection with your report of this morning (which, if not corrected, may prove misleading in some quar ters) concerning yesterday's ceremony on the Cricket Ground, the proclaiming of His Majesty King Edward VII.
You report His Excellency the Governor on leaving the platform "being vigorously cheer- ed us he reached Chater Road by the gentlemen assembled in the Hongkong Club, &c., &c.," whereas the actual facts are that the gentle- men assembled at the Hongkong Club who did the cheering were loyally responding to a toast of "A long life and a long reign to our new Sovereign, His Majesty King Edward VII."
It was merely a coincidence that the Governor was leaving the platform at that moment.-En. closing my card, I am, yours, &c.,
ONLOOKER,
1
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 30th January. SIE,-I hardly think that your correspondent Disgusted" hit the right nail on the head in calling the ceremony on Tuesday a "miserable fiasco," for what was done was well done, the troops made as brave a show as their limited numbers and the confined space would admit and the simple movements ordered were per. formed with precision and neatness, but the fault lay in the wasted opportunity, in the in- appropriateness of the procedure and the loca tion to the purpose of the ceremony.
The very object of the proclamation of the accession of the King by his local representa- tive, the Governor, is to emphasise and bring home to the people of this Colony, European and Asiatic, that it is the King who now reigns, that it is to the King that honour is due, that it is to the King they owe allegiance. Such a procla nation the commonest of commonsense dictates, should be made in the most solemn and imposing of fashions, and with ceremonies that would afford the opportunity for the public dis play of loyalty on the largest possible scale. To curtail the ceremonies attending it to the meagre and unimpressive performance of Tues- day shows such an utter disregard of the pro- prieties, such a want of appreciation of the honour due to the throne as to, amount to an insult to His Majesty the King on the part of those responsible.
It is true we mourn and mourn sincerely our much loved Queen, but that is no reason why we should not pay due honour to her son. Why thus was this opportunity missed? Was it by orders from home? It is hardly possible, but in charity to the intelligence of our local powers that Le I hope it was.— -Yours, etc.,
46
LOYALIST.
13
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 31st January. SIR, Though but a stranger in your midst, I happen to be in a position to know that. His Excellency your Governor desired that the Accession ceremony should be performed in the quietest and most unostentations manner possible. Taking place, as it had to, at a time of universal grief and sorrow, his action was but befitting the occasion and showed a delicacy of feeling and a sense of decency sadly wanting in certain letters now appearing in the columns of a contemporary..
As the meanderings of a certain class of irresponsible persons whom we find in every community, we took these letters for what they were worth and paid but little heed to them. What
was our astonishment; however, at
Is this, sir, I submit, a fit subject for "universal rejoicing ?"
Could this, sir, have been read by His Excellency with "impressiveness and pomp to a rejoicing multitude in the presence of thousands of our soldiers and sailors ?
Your contemporary, sir, seems to hold that such a course would have been decent and in order, and if, as he claims, he is a "representa tive of public opinion," I en only say 'Go to! Hongkong; I ory ye shame!' from
INDIA.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
19
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 30th January. SIR-The speech of the Bishop of Victoria at the recent prize distribution in the Diocesan School, in which he expressed an opinion as to the advisability of having separate primary schools for English and Chinese children, will undoubtedly be read with much pleasure by European parents in this colony.
"
4:
16
"
[February 2, 1901.
something in that want of interest which should
Another im receive serious consideration. portant point tl at weighs with many parents is the question of contact. It is impossible, to conceive that European lads can benefit morally from intimate intercourse with Chinese boys, and I use the term in its broadest sense.
this
and
duty
The point is that there does not exist a se- at school in the colony for European children a matter which is incomprehensible to a new- comer to such an important colony 88 is. Its necessity is obvious to all parents, that being so, it should bo the immediate of the Government to provide such school. If Tientsin, Shanghai, Chefoo, and even Wei- haiwei can possess such well-established and excellent schools as they do possess for the education of European children alone, surely it cannot be argued that such a necessity does not exist in Hongkong. It is impossi. ble nowadays for many residents to send their children to Europe to be educated, and in such
a city as this, it should of all places in the east bo unnecessary, Hongkong should not only be the centre of primary education among the scattered British communities in the Far East, but it should also furnish facilities for advanced education.
Whilst everything has apparently been done for the education of Chinese children, H.E. the Governor could perform a noble work, and one that would keep his name in lasting remem- brance by instituting a good school for Euro- pean boys and girls in the colony.Yours, eto.
A PARENT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.' The Bishop said, and his words are well
Hongkong, 31st January, worth repeating--"That he considered it a SIR,-Every parent and every thoughtful "great blot on this colony-and a very serious citizen will be grateful to the Bishop for his "blot on this colony - that it provided no school brave words at the Diocesan School when he where European children could go without this advocated in the strongest terms a public mixture.
He did not know how it school in Hongkong for European boys only. 'had come about, but to his mind it was a very I say brave, because it requires a certain "serious blow to a colony like Hongkong that it amount of bravery for anyone bearing the "did not offer a school for its own people. It official trade-mark to propose anything which "was a good thing to govern Hongkong fairly, has even the slightest appearance of class and to govern our colonies with all due con- legislation, but in this case when the matter is sideration for the people who formed practically sifted out it will be found that the class legisla "the bulk of the population, but it did not seem tion is all on the side of the Chinese, for they have "to be a good thing to govern a colony to the exclusively Chinese schools receiving Govern
neglect of the education of the children of their ment support both in Hongkong and Kowloon. own race; and whilst the claims of the Chinese There are other reasons. Suppose our com- "to a school of their own where they could get pratively small fleet in these waters were "a good education ought not to be neglected, crippled and an invading force approach- "at the same time it should bo one of the first ing Hongkong from Kowloon side, who would duties of an English Government in an Eng-the Government expect to respond to the 'lish colony to provide an education for the call to arms? The Chinaman, or the white "sons and daughters of its own people."
men owning King Edward as their liege, There is no doubt that the Bishop's opinion and such of their neglected children as will be emphatically endorsed by all parents in were capable of carrying arms? The China- the colony, and those who for years past have man, estimable trader and law-abiding citizen been striving to obtain such educational facili- as he is, would nevertheless souttle like a rat ties for their children, will welcome the Bishop from a sinking ship. Then again on the ques- as a leader in this absolutely essential reform. tion of morals and habits-it, is not necessary Hitherto, I believe, for I write as a newcomer, to make any comparisons which are usually a number of European parents have done their odious, but as the worthy Bishop says there is utmost to persuade the Government to establish a & gulf—the train of thought and the habits of school for European children, but without avail, the adult races are different. The ordinary boy and I believe, that in Kowloon, despairing of Go-is imitative and has sufficient of the old Adam vernment help, they actually started and man. tained for a time such an institution. Apparently those Government officials who should have un- hesitatingly helped forward such a movement, displayed an inconceivable indifference, with the result that Hongkong stands eonspicuous amongst the other colonies of the Empire of pos- sessing no school for the English children, who are born and bred in the colony, and who one day will assume the responsibities of their par- ents.
One would imagine that the first duty of the Government would be to provide for the Eug lish children of the colony an opportunity for receiving an education equal to that imparted by a reputable school at home, in an institution from which Asiatics are excluded. Although I am prepared to admit that our local masters are competent and conscientious men, it is im- possible to accept that the English boy is as well trained with the Chinese in his class as he would be without them. One is struck with the great want of interest the Eng lish lads here take in their schools-their one desire seems to be to get away from them. This may be said to be unreasonable, but there is
܆
in him to not always distinguish what is best for his own welfare. Do the English Govern- ment want English boys with Chinese ideas and habits, or English!--that is the point. The Government will probably say we cannot afford a public school for European boys. What, may I ask, is their object in storing up a huge sur- plus ? The treasury chest owing to the general prosperity and heavy land sales is full to over- Howing, and the Public Works. Extraordinary in course of progress practically nil. I remem- ber a once well known unofficial, who is now ro more, saying "a surplus is a mistake, Hong- kong should always have a deficit. As soon 88 (ver We get a surplus down will come the military for a further contribc- tion, or the Government officials will vote themselves further increases of salary."
If the Government would grant a suitable site at the Peak or on the Bowen Road and give a portion of the money required, I feel sure the English community would do the rest : at all events, I for one would subscribo liberally, I enclose my card and remain, sir, your obedient servant,
H.H
j
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