LC 1862/542/452
21st April, 1947
161
Dear Gilbert,
I have received from Lloyd, of the Colonial Office, a copy of his letter to you of the 12th April enclosing a memorandum requesting financial assistance for the re-establishment of Hong Kong University.
The Foreign Secretary has given this proposal his careful consideration and it has his full support.
It is felt that British influence in China as a whole will be greatly strengthened by the re- establishment in Hong Kong of a flourishing centre of British culture which, by attracting students from all parts of China, will revive those cultural links with the west which suffered so severely during the Japanese occupation, and, by facilitating the exchange of ideas between the two countries, will strengthen and extend the ties between Britain and China.
The University will also offer a practical contribution to China's post-war recovery by training Chinese technicians and others now so urgently needed for the country's economic reconstruction.
I write therefore to associate this Department with the request that the Treasury will see their way to provide the Colonial Office with the financi al assistance which asked from the United Kingdom Exchequer.
Yours sincerely
0.
(so. Sargent.
Sir Bernard Gilbert, K.C.B., K.B.E.
Treasury.