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United Kingdom have, according to our information, fully
justified the experiment. But their total number has
only been fourteen, and two of these are not of Chinese
race. Incidentally we observe that out of this total
nine have taken electrical training, four mechanical,
and one civil.
35. We advise that this system should be greatly
expanded if this is possible, but this means that there
must be constant personal contact with the English
engineering firms and their representatives in Hong Kong
and China. We consider that Hong Kong will have done
its proper share in the process by bringing the students
as far as graduation, and that it is for the Imperial interests concerned to be persuaded to provide, as at
present but to a greater degree, the practical workshop
training whereby the objects in view can be attained.
But Hong Kong University should endeavour to set aside
funds for at least one two-years' scholarship to England
in order to point the way to others, and to have means
for bringing on some of its more brilliant men for
eventual use on its own teaching staff.
36.
From what has been said it will be clear that
we consider that the students selected for such a training
should, apart from those required by the University
itself, be such as will probably carry the "little leaven"
of British engineering back into China proper rather than those who propose to earn their living in Hong Kong.
We do not consider that this in any way
37
invalidates our previous conclusions (a) that the
Engineering Faculty should continue and (b) that its