108
Department of Engineering and
8
proposed Department of Architecture.
There is no immediate prospect of the development of large-scale industry in Hong Kong except perhaps in shipbuilding which is so specialized an industry as hardly to justify a local organization for the training of the few scientific experts that it will need. In the early days of the University local commercial, industrial and shipping firms contributed generously to the equipment of Engineering laboratories, but some of them were disappointed that the University did not produce overseers and foremen, which is not a proper University aim. In the early days of the University, degree courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering were provided, but adequate facilities did not, nor do they now, exist for the education of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers. On the other hand Civil Engineering work of a high order and of great variety has been necessary in the Colony, as a consequence of the rapid development of a modern commercial and industrial centre in a difficult physical environment. Before the war specialised teaching in Mechanical and Electrical Engineer- ing had been suspended and we are of opinion that it should be abandoned and that the University should concentrate upon the strengthening of its Department of Civil Engineering. In the opinion of the Committee such students as wish to qualify in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering should do so by way of a science degree in the appropriate subjects, with the addition of courses in the principles of Engineering and in Engineering Drawing. On graduating they should have no difficulty in obtaining entrance to the second year of an honours course in a British University. It would be far cheaper and better to provide scholarships for good students to follow this plan than to provide staff, buildings and equip- ment locally to meet a demand which will not be great.
Architecture.
A considerable number of Civil Engineering graduates are working in China and in Hong Kong as architects or as members of constructional engineering firms engaged in building. At no very great cost it would be possible to develop in Hong Kong a School of Architecture working in close association with the Department of Civil Engineering. The add tion to the University of a Department of Architecture would fit in well with the general principles that underlie the Committee's main recommendation. Hitherto the Chinese universities have done very little to develop train- ing in Architecture and yet China in the next decr" is going to need the work of very large numbers of trained men. We therefore favour the establishment on a modest scale of a school of Architecture which should make a useful contribution to the development of Chinese architectural design and at the same time, by its local research, benefit the architecture of the western world.
The staff proposed is:
Professors
Lecturers
Civil Engineering...
1
3
Demonstrators
3
D
•
Architecture.
1
2
1(Drawing Office)
2
5
The total staff of the Faculties and proposed Departments with the developments that we have recommended would be:
Professors.
Readers.
•
Lecturers...
*
Junior and Part-time
lecturers... Tutors and
Demonstrators..
21
4
45
18
D
38 or more.
Extra Mural teaching.