[456B) Wt. 32483/800 100m. 11/48 C.N.Ld. 748
54147/49.
C. O.
Mr.
Kirkness
MrHall 20/1
M
Sir C. Cox 2.
M.Sidebotham morte.
Mr.
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. U.S. S.
Minister of State
Secretary of State
hetto 80%
45
at present.
DRAFT.
Your Reference.........
For Mr. Sidebotham's signature.
J.P. G. FINCH, ESQ., O.B. E.,
CULTURAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT,
FOREIGN OFFICE.
(18) (37) (39) (43) (44) 54147/47
FURTHER ACTION.
Copy to P.W. Scarlett,Esq.
C. M. G.
F.E.D.,
F.Ø.
As you know, we have for some
time/now had the future of Hong Kong
University under consideration. There
was correspondence in 1947 between
Sir Orme Sargent, Sir Thomas Lloyd
and Sir Bernard Gilbert of the
Treasury about what has been called
the "Lugard function" of the
University in acting as a centre for
the diffusion of British culture in the
Far East generally and China in
particular; it had eventually to be
accepted with regret that this would
have to be left in abeyance because of
the financial crisis of that year.
Since then, events in China and
recurrent financial setbacks in this
country have confirmed that decision and
put all hopes of realising the
"Lugard function" off into the
indefinite future; and we are now
looking at the more limited question of
the University's role in meeting Hong
Kong's own needs for higher education,
and