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contributing to the University on this scale unless there is an unequivocal authoritative statement of H.M.G's intention to maintain their position in Hong Kong. They simply ask whether we can "throw any light" on this aspect of the question. In the circumstances Mr. Mayle and I feel it may suffice if we simply say that, so far as we are concerned, we are aware of no case for the retrocession of Hong Kong, and of no proposal or intention to this effect. The only result may be to draw the Treasury out more into the open, but at least this is worth trying.
As regards the point raised in the second paragraph of the Treasury letter we do feel they have a strong point here, and that if it were to come to the point of our having to draw up a strict list of priorities for Far Eastern expenditure from Imperial funds, it might be very difficult to argue as high a priority for extending the scope of the University so as to provide for students from China as,
for instance, for the provision of a International Airport in Hong Kong. Perhaps however the suggestion in the draft letter opposite may help the Treasury over this particular difficulty. feel it is at least worth trying.
Again we
AnGalomanty
16.5.47.