POLITICAL.
UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG PRESENT POSITION.
Nobody in Hong Kong can yet speak with assurance about long-term prospects but people generally regard the measurable future with equanimity. The opportunities of trade with China are good once a currency understanding has been reached and if the prices of British manufacturers can be adjusted to Chinese capacity to pay. The attitude of the Northern leaders is in fact much friendlier than their public statements would suggest. The commonest point of view in Hong Kong is that adequate security measures are being taken, that we shall not be caught out as we were in 1941, that there should be no show either of fear or of antipathy on our part, that, above all, we should not permit to grow any uncertainty about our resolve to carry through the constitutional and social reforms on which already we have embarked. This holds for education generally and specifically for the University. Delays or postponements would be interpreted as fearfulness about the future of the Colony.
STUDENTS. One of the results of the disturbed conditions in China has been a great increase in applications for admission from students domiciled in continental China. Already restrictions, on entry to medicine have had to be imposed and possibly in October of this year the like measures will have to be taken in the Faculty of Engineering. The developments towards a University of Malaya have had less effect in reducing applications from Malaya and Singapore than we had expected. Applications are largely from people whose fathers and uncles werc trained in Hong Kong and from the families which, though resident in Malaya for as much as two generations, still regard their permanent domicile as in Hong Kong or in one or other of the coast towns of Southern China. Dual nationality which is legally recognised in Hong Kong at the cost of some inconvenience is a valued privilege.
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There has been a decline in the number of students from the Dutch Indies. Recent moves towards a political agreement may result in a restoration of the old relation within a few years. The number of "English" students, especially women, the daughters of professional and business men resident in the Colony, tends to increase. We have found that associating freely, as they do, with Chinese students these women make for a far richer social life among students. With the virtual closing against foreign students of the Universities of North China, Hong Kong becomes the obvious place for senior students in Chinese and in the history and economics of the North Central Pacific area. Provision is offered for one or two Fulbright scholars this year.
STAFF. With the help of the Association of Universities of the British Commonwealth satisfactory appointments to chairs and lectureships have been made. These have been reported to the Council. Financial provision has been made for further appointments Staffs for the Departments of Education and Architecture, a now venture, are to be recruited. A Professor of Marine Zoology who will also be director of the scientific research in the New Fisheries Institute (a joint project of the Government and the University) is to be sought for.
A new Professor of Chinese will not only have to reorganise his Department but may have to share in the work of an Institute of Chinese which may, for the time being, work in close relation with the London School of Oriental and African Studies to fill the gap caused by the virtual cessation of advanced work hitherto done mainly in Peiping. Discussion on this matter, initiated by Professor Simon of the London School, are still in progress. If the project develops the University will have to
strengthen ... .