COLONIAL OFFICE TELEGRAM.
54147/47
Code
IMPORTANT
TO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
FROM S. OF S. COLONIES.
Sent 27th September, 1947. 23.30 hrs.
No. 1553 Confidential,
Apple devasta
Your telegram No. 1413.
Aned (46)
Hong Kong University.
81
$5
Following from Mayle.
Begins.
Treasury have now replied to further approach for their agreement to favourable consideration for proposal for direct U.K. assistance as soon as financial situation here permits. They are unable to give such advance agreement and most they can say is that project may be reviewed next year. Pear there is no alternative but to accept this view.
26 Its acceptance will involve postponement of decision on Committee's recommendation that University should be wound up if their proposals for larger University are not adopted. But it is felt here that in any event there would be strongest objection to winding up University, and, if you agree with that view, next step seems to be for University authorities to prepare plans for- re-establishing University so that it can provide best possible facilities within resources that are likely to be available.
30 Sloge has been informed of position as above. Understand from him that 14 it is decided to go ahead with re-establishment on pre-1942 basis there will still be a gap of some £700,000 per annum between revenue in sight and what will be required without taking into account cost of rehabilitation of buildings and re-equipment. $1083 has urged that even if U,K. support were limited to token grant, it would bring in contributions from Chinese of between £100,000 and £200,000 which would not otherwise be forthcoming. This of course is in line with views expressed by Sloss, as given in your telegram No. 1413, with the differences that it is now a question of only a token grant and that this grant would not repeat not commit His Majesty'a Government to support of the proposals for a larger University,
We are quite prepared to approach the Treasury for a token grant on this basis though there is I fear very little hope of succe86, For this purpose it would be useful if we could give them an approximate estimate of the Chinese contributions which such a token grant from U.K. 1a 1.0 likely to bring in. We would go on to ask them if they would agree to a token grant from His Majesty's Government if you were able to get a firm promise of contributions From the Chinese of the estimated amount. I appreciate the difficulties, but should be grateful if you could possibly give us such an estimate and for your views as to the amount of the token grant we should ask for. Ende.