high-level English were a "complete failure." 1892

Submitted by lausanching on
The Core Arguments of the 1892 Letter
  • Endorsing the Governor's Failure Verdict: The writer agrees with Governor William Robinson (who had succeeded Des Voeux) that government efforts to spread functional, high-level English were a "complete failure." This applied not just to Victoria College (the newly renamed Government Central School), but colony-wide. [1]
  • The "Copying Clerk" Trap: The author targets students who leave school prematurely for "a few shekels" to become "copying clerks, and forever copying clerks." They criticize the superficial vanity of these young men who want to pretend to be part of the soi-disant (so-called) elite of Hong Kong business, despite barely being able to speak or write English correctly.
  • Blaming Parental Greed: The letter strongly condemns well-off parents who pull their sons out of school the moment they can earn an income, prioritizing immediate financial returns over a complete education.
  • Lack of Higher Education: The writer notes the structural limits of 1892 Hong Kong, where "no one should aspire to an M.A. or B.A." because no university yet existed (the University of Hong Kong would not open until 1912). However, they argue that leaving school before being able to "think upon any subject" or write "idiomatic English" is an act of "great folly."
 
 

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lausanching
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Wed, 07/01/2026 - 21:16

China Mail 1892-02-26

**CORRESPONDENCE.**

**THE GOVERNOR ON EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.**

To the Editor of the 'CHINA MAIL.'

Feb. 25th, 1892.

SIR,

Will you allow me a small space in your valuable paper to express the great delight I experienced upon reading the speech delivered by H. E. the Governor on the 23rd instant in Victoria College on the occasion of the Annual Distribution of Prizes of that institution. I, for one, as a poor scholar who has never attended any school out of this Colony, fully endorse H. E.'s opinion that the educational efforts of the Government to promote the spread of the English language have so far resulted in a complete failure.

Those remarks do not apply to Victoria College alone, but to all the schools wherein the English language is taught. *Mala tempora fandi!* It is really a pity to see those lads who consider themselves up-to-the-mark young men, who can hardly speak the English language correctly, leave the school to take a berth in mercantile firms, counting houses, etc., simply for the sake of a few shekels, as copying clerks, and forever copying clerks, in order to be able to pretend to the soi-disant elite of Hongkong that they have obtained their discharge from school and entered in the business career, no matter how much they get and what their position is—if copying clerkship may be called a position.

In some cases, I do not entirely blame these poor empty-headed boys, for it is the bounded duty of their parents to see that they are good for anything before consenting to their leaving school. I know many instances in which parents who are well off and can afford to keep their sons in school for much longer periods allow their boys to leave school, or rather, take them out themselves, being too glad to see their sons earn money—whilst these young men have hardly reached the standard of English composition.

Of course, no one should aspire to an M.A. or B.A. in this colony, where there is no institution wherein such a high rank can be attained, but for the boys to leave the school before they are able to think upon any subject or before they can express their mind in correct and idiomatic English, is a great folly.

As to the boys of the poorer classes, I have nothing to say against their early leaving school, for very often they have to do so in order to take any berth open to them for their own support and to help in supporting their families.

In conclusion, I would impress upon the minds of the well-to-do parents that to allow their sons to leave school too early is to confine them to ignorance for life, for generally, the young folks never glance at their school books after they find a desk at an office. Let the parents enquire into this latter question for their own satisfaction; they will find the hard fact staring them right in the face.

Enclosing my card, I remain,

Dear Sir,

Yours faithfully,

AMICUS HUMANI GENERIS.