1
105
Mr. Creech Jones also pointed out that considerable
public interest has been worked up over the proposal to
re-establish the University on an extended basis so as to
provide facilities for students from foreign countries,
and that a complete abandonment of the scheme will lead to
severe criticism as soon as the present difficulties are
a little less in the minds of people. He feels therefore
that we should do anything that is possible now to ensure
that there will be no delay in bringing the extended scheme
into operation when the situation permits. We accordingly
propose to examine, in conjunction with the Governor, whether
funds could be made available from any other sources open to
the Hong Kong Government, including C.D. and W., towards
meeting, in the initial stages, that part of the cost of the
re-establishment of the University which was to have been
met from U.K. funds on the understanding that any sum or
Afisible for repayment sums so made available will be repaid from any grant
is subsequently made from U. K. funds. This, I suggest
eminently reasonable as the money in question would
represent the cost of providing facilities for foreign
students, which is not Hong Kong's concern. I should be
glad to know whether you would agree to this understanding.
There is one further point which I should like to
will make at this stage. I should like to know that you agree
that our acceptance of the proposition that the University
scheme must be deferred on account of the crisis will not
necessarily commit us to the postponement of other projects
which we may find it necessary to put forward for U. K.
financial assistance to Hong Kong e. g. the airport, or
e.g.
possibly a housing or slum clearance scheme, which might
be recommended as the result of Sir Patrick Abercrombie's
visit to the Colony next October.
Lipe
I should be very grateful for your views on the points
raised in the three preceding paragraphs. I suggest that
when they are satisfactorily settled, the matter might then
/be