CONFIDENTIAL
I support the Department's recommendations the additional funds can be made available.
1.
2.
-
provided
The endowment of a Research Centre in the new University of Science and Technology would be high-profile and popular in Hong Kong. Since it would be some years before it began to produce results, we could present it to the Chinese as a disinterested contribution to Hong Kong's future economic success. A Research Centre in a high technology scientific field would be of considerably more value to Hong Kong than one dealing with business studies. I agree that we should go for this, despite the higher cost.
3.
The ELT project is also a good one. The key argument, mentioned in the submission, is that Hong Kong will be more likely to retain its position as an international commercial and financial centre post-1997 if knowledge of English is widespread.
4.
I agree that the other two proposals described in the submission, support for professional training in Hong Kong and a contribution to The Prince of Wales Fund for Training in New Technologies, are less attractive from our point of view.
Wander
R J T McLaren
3 April 1990
Cc:
PS/Mr Sainsbury PS/PUS
Mr Blatherwick
Mr Chase, RMD
Mr Griffiths, Finance Dept
Mr Elam, CRD
Mr Wetton, SEND
Miss Marsden, HKD
/ on their mento
мейо
M12ABH
CONFIDENTIAL