February 20, 1909.]
Dr. MACFARLANE-Only the ones closed by the Board are still closed.
Mr. HOOPER-I move that effect be given to the recommendations as set out in the Pre- sident's minute.
The PRESIDENT-I second the motion. The motion was carried.
SCAVENGING CONTRACTOR FINED.
A number of complaints were received against the scavenging contractor for the city, and he was brought before the Board
In reply to questions from the PRESIDENT he
said he had removed the rubbish as soon as he received the complaint. Sometimes his fokis were lazy.
After hearing the complaints and the state. ment of the contractor the Board decided to impose a fine of $25 in the present instance, and advised him to employ more mon. They also warned him that if there were further complaints he would be more severely dealt with.
A PRIVATE BURIAL GROUND.
Application was made to the Board for per- mission to use a piece of land near Inland Lot No. 1415 as a private burial ground. appointed to report on the advisability of the Government alienating any more land than they have for private cemeteries. It would mean an extra expense to the Colony because although the land was private land, all to do with the sanitation of the burials devolved upon the Board whether it was an authorised ceme- tery or a private one. He contended that it was inadvisable unless good cause shown-and when he said good cause meant that the Government had provided cemeteries for nearly every class of religion, consequently he saw no reason why the Govern- ment should give any more land to be converted into cemeteries. He moved that a committee be appointed to consider the advisability not only in this case, but in any others which might come
Mr. HOOPER moved that a small committee be
before them.
was
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL seconded, and the committee appointed was composed of the President, the Vice-President, and Mr. Hooper
"THE GEISHA.'
**
33
The Portugnese Lilliputians scored another signal success at the Club Lusitano on Saturday night when the Geisha was played to a crowded house. The attendance included Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton, Commodore, Mrs. and Miss Lyon and upwards of one hundred naval officers, as well as the officers of
the Portuguese gunboat Patria. The play was brought up to date by the introduction of new songs and local jokes, and throughout the Lilliputians made most of their opportunities. and having lost the nervousness which affected them on the opening nights did really well. As a testimony of the appreciation of the large attendance, it is only necessary to mention that when the curtain dropped at the end of the piece the audience would not be satisfied until it had been hauled up five times, and even then there were those who wanted another glance at the youthful thespians. Admiral Lambton and Commodore Lyon testified their appreciation in a substantial manner, distributing sweets to the Lilliputians at the end of the performance.
The performance was repeated last night, when the people of Lilliput scored another
success.
That the Chinese are anxious to make themselves and their opinions known to the outside world may be judged from the fact that a certain Chinese official named Vang Fong- hao, who is stationed in the province of Che- kiang and manages the foreign official business there, points out in a memorial to the Governor of the province that foreigners are generally ignorant of Chinese politics and affairs, and cannot read the vernacular newspapers, which alone can enlighten them, As a remedy, he advises that the Chinese Government should start newspapers in foreign languages at all the treaty ports. The foreigners who buy and read them will then understand the chinese point of view and the trend of Chinese public opinion. This, he says, cannot fail to benefit China in the years to come.
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY FOR HONGKONG,
The Committee in charge of the proposed Hongkong university movement held a meeting at Government Honso on Feb. 15. His Excellency the Governor presided. The Committee, most of whom were present at the meeting, consist of the following gentlemen:-His Lordship the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Victoria, Mr. H. N. Mody, The Hon. Mr. F. H. May. M.G., The Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G., The Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, .M.G., The Hon Sir Paul Chater, Kt, C.M.G., The Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham C.M.G., The Hon Mr. E. A. Irving, The Hon. Mr. A. M. Thom son, and Mr. C. Clementi. The Sub-Committee consists of a large number of the leading
Chinese residents."
His EXCELLENCY the GONERNOR said:- Gentlemen.-There is no need, I think, for me to address you in any detail in regard to the object which has brought us together to-day, for you have already seen the lengthy statement which I drew up; which, by the personal exer. tions of Dr. Ho Kai and Mr. (han Sui Pak has sets out the object we have in view in establishing been translated into Chinese. That statement a University in Hongkong, and it also explains the nature of the task wo have before us if the scheme is to be a success. In a word, it is this: Mr. Mody offers to orect, the buildings whatever they may cost. in accordance with the design submitted, provided we can raise an adequate endowment fund. Some of the leading members of the community have discussed the matter with me, and we came to the conclusion than an adequate endowment meant a sum of about a million dollars. Mr. Mody has con- sented to keep his offer open for six months, but if within that period we shall have succeeded in raising a very substantial part of the money required, I have no doubt he will consent to an extension of the time. It will, however, be necessary to show that we already have a very substantial part of it in hand and in sight before we ask for an extension of time. In the mean- time I have asked the Secretary of State's sanction to devote the fine site near the junction of the Bonham and Pokfulam Road to the purpose; and I await his reply, and have no to think that it will be other than favourable.
reason
I have appointed a ommittee of eleven under my own Presidency to deal with all questions regarding this scheme, and they are met together to-day for the first time-the hinese community are represented on this Committee by Hon. Dr. Họ Kai and Hou. Mr. Wei Yuk. I have also on their suggestion appointed you, gentlemen, to be a Sub-Committee for the purpose of raising funds. It will be for you to elect your own Chairman, and to organise yourselves in such away as you may think the object of dividing the work into special fit with departments and appealing to different com- munities. You are at liberty-to add to your numbers any other Chinese gentlemen you desire, first submitting their names through the Secretary of the Committee for my information and final approval. I propose that when the University is built, we shall place in the Main Entrance Hall a board upon which will be idscribed the names of those gentle- men who have given the most liberal donations to the Endownment Fund-sums above certain limit which we will fix later-so that all
to me
a
those who in future years are students in the University may learn with gratitude the names of the benefactors to whom they owe the opportunities they enjoy of acquiring a liberal education is this Colony.
For my own part I have not been idle. I have written to the British Minister in Peking asking him to inform the Chinese Govern ment of our project and to invite their support -he himself is a strong supporter of the scheme. I have written also to the Secretary of State, as I have already told you, and to the Government of India, and to the Governor of the Straits Settlements. I have not yet had time for any reply. I have written to the China Association and though no reply is yet due the President, Mr. Scott, who was lately here, most thoroughly assured me of his support, and said he would do all in his power to gain support in England. I have written to the Chancellor
143
of the Oxford University, Lord Curzon, and to the Viceroy of Canton, and to Lord Elgin, lately Secretary for the Colonies and to other Shanghai. The Chairman replies that he believes people as well, including the Municipality of the Municipal Council of that Settlement are unanimous in the view that the scheme is en- titled to the cordial support of all, and he will reply more fully later, on.
But, gentlement obtaining a wide sympathy and support for though hope and believe I shall succeed in this scheme among my own countrymen in England and elsewhere I must remind you that the project is primarily for the Chinese, and I look to the Chinese to provide the bulk of the funds. I have not been very long in the Far East but I have been long enough to learn that where funds are required for some great and good purpose the Chinese are no- wont to look to others. They are wont to help themselves, and to subscribe with a liberality nation. Your presonce here to-day; your wil-. which I believe to be unrivalled by any other lingness to come forward and undertake this heavy task of collecting funds proves that you making for progress and enlightenment, and consider this project to be a great and good one
the educated and civilized nations of the enabling the Chinese to hold their own among world. Since you have that faith in
you, I have no fear but that you will succeed in your task of raising the fund which is required. Your generons compatriots in China, in the Straits, in Java, in Siam and elsewhere will, I feel sure, help us, liberally, for they too will benefit by this University to which they can send their sons. Nothing that I can do to for- ward the scheme will be left undone, and I shall
be glad at any time to receive any suggestions forward, but it is to yourselves that I look which the Sub-committee may wish to put principally lo make this project a success.
Before I sit down I will draw your attention to one or two points in this scheme which I wish to particularly emphasize.
in any way antagonistic to Universities, or 1. That this University will not be a rival or
other educational establishments in China. It will work cordially in co-operation with them, seeking to afford an additional means of higher education in a place well adapted for the purpose by its situation, its Chinese population, its work- shops and hospitals and its local teaching staff.
be of practical use to China, as engineers, 2. That our object is to educate men who will doctors, surveyors, electricians, &c. and also, hope, as officials, administrators and governors. For the latter, I hope, we may be able to instruction in Chinese literature and classics as establish an Arts degree, which shall embrace
well as in the History and Ethics of the Western
races.
duates of Hongkong shall be men of the highest 3. Finally we are unanimous that the gra
to this end we desire that during their College moral character-patriotic and broadminded, and
touch with the leading Chinese citizens of this course they shall be under the best influences. in Colony, and under the close supervision of able and high-minded tutors.
Gentlemen. I wish you every success in the task you have undertaken, and I feel sure that your efforts will bring this project to a success- ful issue.
4. Finally I would impress upon you that our University will only issue degrees of the same value as degrees conferred by Universities University which will confer any inferior in England. I do not desire to establish a degree, which will not be recognised in England, nor can we obtain a Royal Charter for any lesser standard.
At the conclusion of the Governor's speech, a meeting of the sub-committee was held. some brief remarks, Mr. Ho Foox proposed the After appointment of Hon. Dr. Ho Kai as president of the sub-committee with Mr. S. W, Tso as secre- tary.
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK seconded, The motion was carried unanimously, That was all the business.
As the thinese Government has proposed to redeem the Kiaochou-Tsinanfu railway, the Ger-
man Minister has informed the Government that the redemption fund must be raised by Chinese themselves and no foreign loans will be accepted for such redemption.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.