Mr. Paskin
31
(23)
Flease see the attached draft to Mr. Walter Adams, and Mr. Cox's minute above.
If you are in
with the
agreement I should propose to ring up Mr. Adams, as suggested at "y" in Mr. Cox's minute. Mr. Cox
would prefer us to do so.
I also attach the other papers which Mr. Adams sent you with Dr. Sloss's note for his letter to Professor ide.
My own feeling is that we should send the Governor a copy of the letter to Mr. Adams, when it has gone, for his information under cover of a short letter from yourself,
hy when doing. so, you could say something very brief about conclusions
, of which there is a record at No. 19.
and
་
Lesia
Sir C. Jeffries
20.12.1949.
The reasons for the proposal at the meeting recorded in the note at No. 19, that a letter on the lines of the draft herewith should be sent to the Inter-University Council are:-
(a) that the Council is inclined to be influenced by
the pessimism of Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders, who takes a very gloomy view of our ability to maintain our position in Hong Kong; even to the extent of doubting the utility of sending Visitors to the University, or doing anything to develop it.
(b) Mr. Adams stated (to my surprise) that the Inter-
University Council had never been informed officially of the decision to proceed with the rehabilitation of the University on the pre-war basis, even though it had been found necessary to put into cold storage the recommendation of the 1946 Committee that the University should be expanded on the "Lugard" basis, Since that Committee recommended very positively that, unless the University was to be so expanded it should be closed down altogether, the Inter-University Council finds itself in a state of some plexity as to the policy of H.M.G. in this matter.
The letter might perhaps be made more persuasive, for the purpose in view, if a para. were added to the effect that, in conformity with the statement of the intention of H.M.G. to maintain our position in Hong Kong, the Government of Hong Kong (with the approval and assistance of H.M.G.) is proceeding with such important long term projects as the construction of Deep Bay Airport, and a vast new water-work undertaking in the New Territories; and that it is important towards the development of our general policy as regards Hong Kong not to give any handle for suggestions that we are ourselves doubtful about our capacity to maintain our position there.