1
SECRET
(Brief prepared for W. Rees. Willining.
vint
to Hung Kang, Oct. 1949
96
HOX KUNG
245 UNIVERSITY
•
hen the University was founded in 1911 by Sir P.D. (inter Lord)
Lugard, it was envisaged as a full-scale projection of British culture
in the Far vast, drering its students from all over the region; in
particular, of course, from China. This role, to which the needs of Hong
Kong itself would be largely subordinato, has boon referred to as the "Lagard
function" of the Iniversity.
2.
The ideal has never been realised. Up to 1941, the University,
while it did drew many students from outside the Colony, was too starved for funds to become a University fully worthy of the name; and in 1946,
whon its reconstitution after the Japanese occupation was being considered,
the Secretary of State set up a Committee to consider whether or not the
University should be revived, and, if so, what policy should be followed.
3. The Committee's main conclusion was that the University should
be reconstituted on an expanded scale so as to carry out its "Lugard
function"; and that, if this were not possible, it would be better for
British prestige to abolish it altogether than to permit it to continue
on its former inadequate scale.
ميا
Although the Foreign Office joined with us in an approach to the
Treasury for the considerable funds required to neke possible the
proposed expended role of the University, H.ILG.'s financial position in the
post-war years was held not to poradt this, and the proposal for an
expanded University sent into abeyance. It was, however, agreed that the
alternative recommendation of the Committee - to abolish the University
was unacceptable for a number of reasons, and in the financial settionent
of 1948 with Hong Kong, 1.M.G. offered a grant of 250,000 to the
University, to be used for 'rehabilitation and develoşment'.
5. Hong Kong have put forward proposals for using this grant, together with inter-related proposals for C.). and W. assistance. It is
proposed to invest M.M.G.'s grant in a short term liong Kong Government
loan repayable in annual instalments with interest over a period of 15
be used for recurrent cɔets;
/ $220,000
years,
ammal instalmenta