46 DT.. Sloss
19.10.45° 28.
47
Mr. Gent
I have attached on the opposite side of the file a note of the meeting which we held with Mr. Sloss to consider action required in connection with the rehabilitation of the University. There are, however, one or two points on which I do not feel clear.
1)
2)
Cum C
3)
The Committee which it is proposed to establish, will I imagine, wish to know their standing. Am I right in assuming that it is the intention that they should be an ad hoc advisory body appointed by the Secretary of State:
(a) to make a recommendation as to whether or
not the University as such should continue to exist and if so the policy which should govern its resuscitation and
(b) to advise him in some detail of the steps
necessary to restart the work hitherto undertaken by the University as soon as possible on a short term basis and for the limited needs of Hong Kong?
Further that the intention would be that on receipt of the Committee's recommendations the Secretary of State would, if they were approved by His Majesty's Government, transmit them in due course to the appropriate University authorities. If this assumption is correct a short title for the Committee might be "Hong Kong University Advisory Committee".
In the discussion about the desirability of including an orientalist Mr. Sloss made it clear that for his part he would be glad to have a Chinese if one of suitable quality could be found. While the presence of a Chinese national might put some restraint on the Committee and make the task of the Chairman more delicate, it would I think be appropriate, if the Committee should recommend that the University be enlarged and reconstituted so as to conform with the original purpose of being a practical contribution to Anglo-Chinese good will and understanding, and this recommendation were accepted. I suggest that the question of including a Chinese might be left. in abeyance for the moment and certainly until the Committee has made its recommendation on the major issue referred to.
So twever
Is it considered desirable that formal and official letters of appointment should be sent to all members of the Committee in addition to the semi-official letters of invitation which I have prepared for Mr. Cox's signature as in draft herewith? If so for whose signature should formal letters be drafted?
In order not to delay the circulation of this file I have sent a separate minute to Dr. Rae explaining the purpose of the proposed Committee and the suggestion that the General Medical Council might be asked to nominate a member.
If the recommendations contained in the note opposite are approved it would be convenient
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