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25
would have been exceedingly high, seeing that it would set
the standards and provide the methods for many other parts
of China.
it
Firms in Germany and America gladly attach Chinese as
learners, and so get orders for machinery &c., on their
SO
return. Very few British firms have done/fearing they
might divulge trade secrets! This attitude we are told
is still maintained.
It has thus been left to the Hongkong University to
uphold the British ideals of higher education. To combat
the desire to scrap everything merely because it is old; -
to maintain that Evolution is better than Revolution and
Adaptation than wholesale Innovation. It believes that
pride in its national literature and art is so deep seated
in all that is best in the Chinese nation that the influence
of Confucius will yet prevail over that of Sun-Yat-Sen. It
conceives that its mission is to combine what is best in the
Old and the New.
In the endeavour to counteract American influences in
Education Professor Forster considers that these are certain
factors in our favour
(1). Our educational standards are higher.
(2). There is great respect for the English system,
where it is understood, because of its emphasis
upon character training.
(3). Britain has the best reputation for training ad-
ministrators in public and private affairs, and
as these are in great demand in China, British
guidance in such training is sought.
(4). The loss of cultural tone in China as a result of
the American influence again directs attention to
another system which is more in harmony with the
Chinese tradition of culture.
the
(5). The undesirable situation in United States of
Lawlessness, bootlegging &c., does not
America.