COPY.
Enclosure 2.
2977 1
Hongkong University Endowment Fund.
LEGO & 293
Correspondence in connection with the contribution from
Telegram:-
2.
3.
Wai Wu Pu,
From the Governor, Hongkong, to H.M's. Minister, Peking, dated 10th June, 1909.
Secretary of State for the Colonies considers it inadvisable to ask Chinese Government to contribute to Hongkong University. There would of course be no objection to unofficial subscriptions.
Extract from Letter:
From H.M's. Minister, Peking to the Governor, Hongkong, dated 28th June, 1909.
"I am afraid there may be some little trouble in getting the Wai-wa-pu to withhold their subscription to the Hongkong University Scheme. A few days before I received your telegram they informed me that the Chinese Government had decided to contribute to the object and that the letter to me on the subject was being drafted. When I communicated to them the purport of your message they seemed to be disappointed and said they did not see how they could retract a decision which had been taken after a good deal of reference and discussion. That is a fortnight or more ago and since then I have heard nothing.
The incident has been somewhat unfortunate as the refusal looks ungracious.”
Telegram:-
From the Governor, Hongkong, to the Secretary of State, London, dated 15th July, 1909.
With reference to my despatch of the 12th June. His Majesty's Minister at Peking informs me that the Wai-