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PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
(Dated 9th June
Received Colonial Office 7.30.a.m. 9th June,19 29 )
No. 9 9th June.
Personal to Mr. Sidney Webb. Boxer Indemnity. Your telegram
8th June. I am most grateful for proposed grant to Hong Kong
University of £250,000 and further allocation of £15,000 but I earnestly beg that you will not permit the question to be regarded as finally decided until you have had an opportunity of reading the papers in particular my despatch 9th May and of placing before
the Cabinet the substance of them. I am still convinced in spite
of all the contentions advanced to the contrary that the University
of Hong Kong has first claim on the Indemnity. The University
must indeed can make no further headway unless it has more money and without it,
sink into the position of a purely local institution. I am con- vinced that a great part in the education of thoseChinese who will administer and govern the China of the future could be played by Britain through the University of Hong Kong. I therefore appeal once more for a more generous grant to the University and would request you to consider my arguments for a grant of not less than
£500,000.
I would earnestly request that you will give a personal hearing to the Vice Chancellor, Hornell, now on his way to London where he is due to arrive 15th July and where his address will be
New University Club.