COPY
July 31st, 1945
Dear Gent,
HARDWICKE,
TENNYSON ROAD,
WORTHING.
I have thought most carefully over the invitation extended to me by your 54147/45 of 28th July to act as Chairman of the proposed Hong Kong University Committee, which I very much appreciate. My personal views however render it impossible for me to accept, and I will endeavour very briefly to explain them.
メ
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I was extremely worried in 1936 to find how very little real interest the Hong Kong Chinese took in the University. There was no pride in it and I failed utterly to get Ho Tung, Shon Son Chow, Su Tong Sen, Aw Boon Haw, Ho Kam Tong, etc. etc. to lend it any financial or other practical support. They were far more interested in the new University near Canton (Lu Ngan or some such name) and the university founded by Dr. Lim Boon Keng (near Hankow
I think please forgive my "Singapore memory"!). The reason patently lay in their preference for a Chinese-inspired Chinese-run institution over one originated by the "Red-haired". The gravity of the position centred of course in the facts that Hong Kong is far too small a territory to absorb the output of a University and that China in her modern nationalistic mood gives preference to the alumni of her own universities in making Govermental, professional, technical and business apppintments on the mainland.
I have no doubt, moreover, that if (it has long been a pretty big IF) the Hong Kong University is to have an assured future it must look for the major part of its revenues, endowments and patronage to the local Chinese; the Colony could not afford (or, if afford, justify) financing it from taxation as a State institution. Nor would such complete dependance
/on