:
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY FOR HONGKONG.
[February 20, 1909.
410
of the Oxford University, Lord Curzon, and to the Viceroy of Canton, and to Lord Elgin, lutely Secretary for the Colonies and to other The Committee in charge of the proposed Shanghai. The Chairman replies that he believes people as well, including the Municipality of Hongkong university movement held a meeting the Municipal Council of that Settienent are at Government Honse on Feb. 15. His Excellency mnanimous in the view that the scheme is en- the Governor presided. The Committee, most titled to the cordial support of all, and he will of whom were present at the meeting, consist of reply more fully later, on. the following gentlemen: His Lordship the Rt. though I hope and believe I shall succeed in But, gentlement Rev. the Bishop of Victoria, Mr. H. N. Mody, The Hon. Mr. F. H. May, M., The Houtaining a wide sympathy and support for this scheme among my own countrymen in Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G., The Hon. Mr. Wei Yak, England and elsewhere I must remind you M.G.. The Hon Sir Paul Chater, Kt, that the project is primarily for the Chinese, C.M.G., The Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K., and I look to the Chinese to provide the bulk The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham. C.M.G., The Hou of the funds. I have not been very long in the Mr. E. A. Irving. The Hon. Mr. A. M. Thom- Far East but I have been long enough to son, and Mr. C. Clementi. The Sub-Committee learn that where funds are required for some consists of a large number of the leading great and good purpose the Chinese are no- Chinese residents.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR said themselves, and to subscribe with a liberality wont to look to others. They are wont to help Gentlemen. There is no need, I think, for me which I believe to be unrivalled by any other to address you in any detail in regard to the nation. Your pessence here to-day; your wil- object which has brought us together to-day. for lingness to come forward and undertake this you have already seen the lengthy statement beary task of collecting funds proves that you which I drew up, which, by the personal exer- consider this project to be a great and good one tious of Dr. Ho Kai and Mr. Cha Sui Pak has making for progress and enlightenment, and been translated into Chinese. That statement enabling the Chinese to hold their own among sots out the object we have in view in establishing the educated and civilized nations of the a University in Hongkong, and it also explains world. the nature of the task we have before us if the have no fear but that you will succeed in your Since you have that faith in you, I scheme is to be a succOSS. In a word, it is task of raising the fund which is required. this: Mr. Mody offers to erect the buildings Your generous compatriots in China, in the whatever they may cost, in accordance with the Straits, in Java, in Siam and elsewhere will, I dosign submitted, provided we can raise an adequate endowment fund. Some of the leading benefit by this University to which they can foel sure, help us liberally, for they too will members of the community have discussed the send their sons. matter with mo, and we came to the conclusion ward the scheme will be left andone, and I shall Nothing that I can do to for- than an adequate endowment meant a sum of be glad at any time to receive any suggestions about a million dollars. Mr. Mody has con- which the Sub-committee may wish to put sented to keep his offer open for six months, but forward, but it is to yourselves that I look if within that period we shall have succeeded in principally lo make this project a success. 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 mea-
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 reason to think that it will be other than favourable.
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 linesc community ure represented on this Committee by Hon. Dr. Ho Kai and Hon. 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 it with the object of dividing the work into special departments and appealing to different com- munities. You are at liberty-to add to your numbers any other Chinese gentlenen you desire, first submitting their names to me 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 hare given the most liberal donations to the Endowment Fund-suus above a certain limit which we will fix later-so that all those who in future years are students in the University may learn with gratitude the names of the bonefactors to whom they owe the opportunities they enjoy of acquiring a liberal education is this Colony.
Before I sit down I will draw your attention to one or two points in this scheme which I wish to particularly emphasize.
Chiua.
1. That this University will not be a rival or in any way antagonistic to Universities, or other educational establishments in It will work cordially in co-operation with them, seeking to afford an additional means of higher education in a plan well adapted for the purpose by its situation, its Chinese population, its work- shops and hospitals and its local teaching staff.
For my own part I have not been idle. I have written to the British Minister in Pekiug 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
2. That our object is to educate men who will be of practical use to China, as engineers, doctors, surveyors, electricians, &c. and also, I hope, as officials, administrators and governors, For the latter, I hope, we may be able to establish an Arts degree, which shall embrace instruction in Chinese literature und classies as
well as in the History and Ethics of the Western
races.
3. Finally we are unanimous that the gra- dustes of Hongkong shall be men of the highest moral character-patriotic and broadminded, and to this end we desire that during their College course they shall be nuder the best influences, ju touch with the leading Chinese citizens of this 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 offorts 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 in England. I do not desire to establish a University which will confer any inferior 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-committen was held. After some brief remarks, Mr. Ho Fook proposed the appointment of Hon. Dr. Ho Kai as president of the sub-committee with Mr. S. W. Tso as socro- tary,
Hon. Mr. Wer Yuk segonded, The motion was carried nuanimously, That was all the business.