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the composition of which I have not learned, and has also established
an office for H.K. Univ. "The Command School of Education, Room 12,
178 Queen's Gate, Kensington, S.W.7." (Phone: Kensington 5121, Ext. 412.)
What the Committee has done, is doing, or expects to do, I am left
to conjecture. I have not been kept informed of the progress (if any)
of events.
You invite me to furnish some account of the
University's affairs.
Accordingly I now endeavour to describe in
small compass its constitution, functions, past record, and future
ambitions.
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It was founded in 1912, largely through the enthusiasm
of Lord Lugard, then Governor of HongKong, and, from the first, the
Governor of the Colony has been, ex officio, Chancellor. The
Governor-Chancellor has been no mere figure-head, as he was always
Chairman of the Council and the Court of the University, the two
Senior Committees that preside over its destinies. The Senate is
of lower status, consists of the Senior staff only, and deals only
with purely academic, affairs, has only partial control over appoint-
ments, and none at all over finance. The Council is the chief
executive body, and on it the Senior staff (Deans of Faculties)
are an almost negligible minority.
The Court is a large nebulous body understood to
represent the enlightened public opinion of the Colony. It includes
all the Professors (a round dozen hitherto) but these are completely
swamped by the non-academic membership.
The University is not a Government institution, and the
Government has never acknowledged full responsibility for its progress
or welfare, yet the Court, which has powers to ignore or overturn any
decisions of the Senate or Council, includes all members of the
Legislative Council, all members of the Executive Council, plus 28
members nominated by "H.E."
Governor! Thus the Government (or Governor) has 100% control any
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not as Chancellor but simply as