6
If I may say so, the report behind (12) is a very able and convincing document. Mr. Adams and Dr. Mouat Jones, though their discussions with the University Authorities ranged over the widest possible field, have confined themselves to the question of financial assistance to the University. They strongly recommend that" substantial financial help from outside the Colony should be given, and that the political, educational and material benefits of such help will be very much enhanced by the promptitude with which it is given." They attach to their report a long paper containing the recommendations of the University Authorities. I must confess that I have not studied this paper owing to pressure of other work, but for reasons given below, I do not think that it need be studied at this stage.
18. The
's)
Their, main recommendations are :-
(i)
Immediate release of grant of £250,000 promised by His Majesty's Treasury in 1948.
(ii)
Grant of £250,000 from C.D. & W. Higher Education Allocation.
(iii)
Various means of increasing the annual income of the University to meet recurrent expenditure including a further grant of £250,000 from H.M.G.
I'm afraid it would, as for ak C.D. & W schemes. HiTB 31/5:
Each of these recommendations, if they are accepted, is going to involve a separate battle. The one that must be of immediate concern is (ii) since, as Mr. Adams points out, the Colonial University Grants Advisory Committee is meeting on the 9th June and the report should come before it then.
I have spoken to Sir C. Cox who thoroughly approves of the report behind (12), does not want to see it again, and is very glad to see that the I.U.C. have not merely agreed that the University should receive C.D. & W. funds but suggest that they should be given further assistance (vide financial summary on page 9).
Sir C. Cox also suggested that as it is essential to get the application before C.U.G.A.C. on June 9th, the easiest procedure would be to draft an application forthwith and, if it seemed straightfor- ward, not to pass the draft through him but put it direct to C.U.G.A.C. on the understanding that he reserved the right to criticise any points of detail actually at the meeting. He was certain that the Committee would understand the need for this procedure and agree to it.
He suggested that Mr. Bourdillon might also agree to this on the same terms.
I had just written the above when Mr. Bourdillon came in. In his view a C.D. & W. appli- cation would not be appropriate. Instead, he suggested the production of a note or letter by this Department strongly supporting the I.U.C.'s recommendations and generally commending thereport to the C.U.G.A.C. He said that given this the Committee would have enough to work on to be able to recommend that £250,000 of the C.D.& W. Higher Education allocation should be set aside for Hong Kong University and that Hong Kong should be informed of this once Treasury approval had been obtained. this had been done, Hong Kong could submit smaller schemes to be drawn from this pool. Treasury approval probably would not be necessary for these schemes.
/But,
Once