DRAFT MEMORANDUM ON HONG KONG UNIVERSITY FOR JOINT
PRESENTATION WITH THE FOREIGN OFFICE TO THE TREASURY
I. Introduction.
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1. Early in 1939 the Governor of Hong Kong set up a Committee
to report on the steps which should be taken to enable the
University to fulfil the primary object of its foundation, namely
the provision of a University of British inspiration for students
from China. The Committee considered that the University had
largely failed in this aim owing chiefly to the paucity of its
income. On the Governor's recommendation the Vice-Chancellor,
Mr. D.J. Sloss, came to this country in 1939 to urge upon
His Majesty's Government the value of the University as an
instrument of British policy in China and the desirability of
providing it with financial assistance.
2. The Colonial Office strongly supported this view in letters
to the Treasury and the Foreign Ofice dated 8th August, 1939,
and proposed that the decretory- State should inform the Gover-
should be informed.
nor of
of H.M.G.'a general approval of the maintenance of the
University's aim and their appreciation of the fact that it
would be proper and necessary for the University to look for
financial assistance from Imperial sources. The Foreign Orice
replied in a letter dated 25th August, 1939, (a copy or which
was sent to the Treasury) that Lord Halifax was in entire
sympathy with the views expressed and is of the opinion that the
University is a valuable instrument for propagating British
ideals in Chins and that it should be given all the support
and assistance possible
The outbreak of war made it
impracticable, to pursue the question of financial assistance and
departmental consideration rested with the Treasury letter
No. 539571 of the 13th september, 1939 in this sense.
Accordingly the secretary of state for the Colonies told the
was informed
Governor of Hong Kong(in a despatch dated 9th November that
H.M.G. fully appreciated the importance or the Unive.sity in
Sino-British relations and realized that "substantial financial
assistance from outside the Colony" would be needed for the
: