the people in the Chinese Empire (as it was then) itself, and among the Chinese communities in Australia, in Saigon, in the Straits Settlements and Malay States, and elsewhere. The Viceroy of Canton, H.E. Chang Jen-chun, made the splendid donation of $200,000; and the subsequent magnificent gift of 240,000 from Messrs. Butterfield and Swire and allied firms, practically placed the issue beyond doubt.
Mr. Mody had intimated that his offer would remain open until the end of the year. The total by that time had reached $1,279,164, but on March 11, 1910, that total was $1,384,484.
The formal acceptance of Mr. Mody's gift was made on December 13, 1909, and thereafter immediate steps were taken to hasten on with the building. The foundation stone was laid by His Excellency Sir Frederick Lugard on March 16, 1910;
the University was formally opened on March 11, 1912.
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The following additional notes on the University and its growth will not be out of place. The original Faculty and outside assistants consisted of Sir Charles Eliot as Vice-Chancellor, Sir Paul Chater as Treasurer, Dr. Francis Clark as Dean of the Medical Faculty, Professor Middleton Smith as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Mr. W.J. Hinton as Registrar. First Chancellor, of course, was Sir Frederick Lugard, the Governor of the time, but he was almost immediately succeeded by Sir Henry May, who took up the post of Governor the same year. It is worthy of note that there was at first no Arts Faculty, and this was not created until 1913, the first Dean being Mr. A.E. Wrottesley Salt.
The entire expense of erection of the main premises had been borne by Sir Hormusjee Mody, but additions were found necessary as the institution expanded. The University Union building was a later erection; and in due course have come into existence the Ho Tung Workshop, in recent years, the School of Biology converted from an artisans' building about three years ago, and more recently the School of Chinese Studies (1931) and the Chinese Library (1932). Various other staff and instructional premises have also been built since 1912, as well as hostels.
The original site, granted by the Government, has been enlarged by subsequent minor grants and purchase, and now covers approximately 36 acres.
In concluding we might observe that, in common with the older Universities, the Hongkong institution was at first confined exclusively to men students, and the right of admission of women was not recognised until 1921. Last year the number of undergraduates was approximately 360 students, of whom about 300 were Chinese, and the women students numbered about 35.
The University has had several anxious periods, mainly on account of finances, but these have happily been overcome for the time being, and the future outlook is a bright one. It continue so.
May