45
4.
(a) Para.8 of the savingram is another obvious
attempt to for the issue. It may be true that H.M.G. have in the past contributed little or nothing to higher education in Hong Kong, but this does not of itself justify assistance in the future unless such assistance can be shown to be required on its own merits.
(e)
With regard to para. 9 of the savingram, I
red only say that this is the first case I
have ever seen in which approval of a
C.D. & W. grant has been asked for before the case has been put up!
In dealing, therefore, with the renewed request for C.D. & W. assistance, I think we must point out once again that such assistance could only be justified on the basis of a detailed case which would show beyond reasonable doubt that there is room for a C.D. & W. grant of the order proposed, over and above the assistance already given, in meeting the internal needs of Hong Kong. We should tell Hong Kong that if they can produce such a case, it will, of course, be impartially and carefully considered though I agree with Mr. Adams that we should convey a warning that the C.D. & W. Higher Education Allocation is already very fully committed on projects of demonstrated worth.
5. Whilst I am no advocate of undignified argument, I do suggest that in telegraphing to Hong Kong on the above lines (I think a telegram is desirable in view of the time which has elapsed) we should firmly rebut the more glaring distortions in No.51. I am referring in particular to paragraph 6, with its wellnigh incredible implication that H.K.G.'s generosity in granting £250,000 towards the University imposes on H.M.G. an obligation to multiply that amount by two.
71. J. P. Bancroft (Jay)
H.T.B.
21st September, 1948.
27-9-48
1. I have prepared a draft telegram in reply to (51) based on the minutes.
2.
What it comes to is:-
(a)
asking Hong Kong again for the information
we asked for in (44), and
(b)
telling Hong Kong that:-
(i) it looks as though it will be difficult
to muke out a case for C.D. & W. assistance and
(ii)
even if the case is made out, Hong
Kong can't expect very much becasue
there