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original purpose to be maintained but that the outbreak of war
had made it impracticable to pursue, for the time being, the
question of any financial grant from public funds in this country
The question would be reconsidered when circumstances were more
favourable. (A copy of this despatch which forms Annexe 1 was
sent to the Treasury.)
3. In 1945 the future of Hong Kong University again came to the
fore in connection with plans which were being drawn up for
educational services on the liberation of the Colony.
It was
thought that there should be an early reopening of the University
and that to this end the engagement of staff should be
proceeded with. The Vice-Chancellor felt strongly that no long
term commitments should be entered into until a decision had been
reached as to whether the University would be regarded as an
instrument of Imperial policy or an institution for the fulfilmen
of the Colony's needs only, and he contrived to send a message to
this effect from the camp in Hong Kong where he was interned.
Before any action had been taken the war in the Far sast
come to an end and it was decided to suspend consideration of the
issue raised by Mr. slose until he was available for discussion.
4. On the 31st December, 1945, all the the secretary of
State for the Colonies appointed a strong Committee, which
included Mr. Sloss as well as representatives of the universities
in this country and a represent tive of the Foreign Ofiice, to
advise him on whether the University should serve the local
needs of Hong Kong only or the needs of students from China and
other neighbouring territories.
II. The Committee's recommendation.
5. The Committee, whose Report dated July, 1946, forms
2. Appendix 2 to this memorandum had the following terms of
reference,
"(a) whether or not the University of Hong Kong, as such,
should continue to exist and if so the policy which should govern its resuscitation and
"(b) the steps necessary to restart auch of the work
hitherto undertaken by the University as is essential for the needs of Hong Kong, whatever the decision arrived at on the harmcima