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of the registrar's problems. Davis (Physics) is here and an- xious to stay on. Would you consider him suitable to head the Dept. of Physics? Chemistry will need completely new staff. If Herklots is returning I should urge that he be apointed Prof. of Biology. (In Science subjects Rowell has promised us the use of Labs. and equipment at the Northcote Training College until our own are res- tored, so we could full back on that offer in case of necessity). Arts courses should be easy to re-start as only need staff, and lecture rooms. Engineering, I think, would have to wait tem- porarily. I think it is very necessary to get 1st year Arts, Science and Medicine going in October, though. You will be glad to hear that the whole stock of new textbooks for students ordered for 1941-2 is neatly packed on some of the shelves in the Hankow Library. There are specially good collections of English Literature texts. These will be invaluable when classes are started, and curricula can be moulded to make full use of them.
In Medicine I think we shall have to be prepared to offer a final (sixth) year and probably a ffth year. This will present few problems beyond the early need for rehabilitating the School of Pathology. We must have a good Pathologist and we need microscopes and other apparatus badly. Fortunately a full collection of patho- logical slides remaining, and some of the apparatus has been recover- ed.
For the clinical staff I strongly recommend John Gray as Professor of Surgery and Wilkinson for the Medical Post. We can find some Lecturers and 1st and 2nd Assistants among local graduates. We have a number who have done post-graduate study abroad such as .F. Woo (Medicine, E.R.C.F.), Lee Hak Liong (.R.C.P., D.C.H.), Hoi Lo Yip (D.C.H. London), Daphne Chun" (1.R.C.O.G.) There are also some British Council Scholars now in London such as Wang San Haan, Cheung King Ho, Hui Kuan Lun, Yap Jin Yao. There will be others going this year. These should provide well trained younger members for the clinical branches of the Faculty of Medicine.
Could you let me know what steps Gray should take? He is temporarily with C.A., but his whole object in coming out is to join the University. He and his wife will make a very welcome addition tc & the University Community. I sponsored his application to C.A. with the University directly in view. Digby has passed retiring age, and I think it is very desirable that Gray should be installed as Prof- essor of Surgery as soon as possible. Fehily and wilkinson are com- pletely in agreement with me as to his suitability for the post. Incidentally a telegram from the Dept. of External Affairs in Of Gawa came last week requesting early re-admission to the Colony for Digby and his wife. Fehily and myself were consulted and a reply was sent from the Secretariat saying "Former residents as such not yet accepted. Regret no suitable post available for Frofessor Digby. Request his application be deferred 3 months". I think it is essential that the position be made clear to Digby by that the, and to that end would urge an early understanding with Gray.
You will be interested to hear that 11 final year students turned up here before the end of 1945. Nine of them were about to sit for their finals in Lingnan in 1944 when the Japanese advance caused their hurried evacuation. Two others had already done their finals in Shanghai over a year ago. Wilkinson, Gray and myself deci- ded to give them a 3 months refresher course followed by a final ex- amination in March. We started on January 2nd and shall give them an examination about 20th March. If they pass we shall recommend their names to the Hong Kong Medical Degree Emergency Committee as suitable candidates to receive the degree. In addition there are about 25 students who graduated in China. The Committee now consists of Hazlerigg, Rowell, Fehily and myself. Ride left for Australia early in January and will be proceeding to England via Delhi to be demobi- lised. Before leaving kide gave into my charge th various University responsibilities which he had taken on.
People who have visited Hong Kong from other places in the Orient have all been full of compliments at the repidity of the rehabilitation of the Colony. Things are evidently still very un-