- 4-
closed as if this happened it would be a serious blow to U.K. prestige.
If H..G. did not agree to match any contribution raised by the
Colony there would be no "selling" point and it would be difficult to
raise any money in the Colony.
Sir A. Morse said that a blank refusal by H.M.G. would be taken
as a clear sign that H.M.G. did not intend to stay in the Colony.
Sir Man Kam Lo suggested that H.M.G. had a direct responsibility
for ensuring that the University had adequate finances. Hong Kong had
done its part by increasing the annual subsidy and raising the fees.
In fact the fees were now so high that students were beginning to leave.
So far as raising funds in the colony was concerned he thought that as
a matter of strategy H.M.G. must agree to contribute.
Mr. Sidebotham asked that if H.M.G. did agree to contribute was
there any guarantee that Hong Kong would raise an equivalent amount.
Sir A. Morse thought that with a promise from the Treasury
they would have a reasonable chance of raising the money in Hong Kong.
He thought that it was objectionable to have to come to the Home
government for money in these particular days, but without support from
the United Kingdom he thought there was little chance of any money being
raised locally. The approach to the Jockey Club had been made at a
psychologically unsound time as only recently the Jockey Club had agreed
to donate $2 million towards the reclamation of some land for recreation
grounds.
This further request coming so soon after the other had made
the stewards reluctant to consider it. He felt that with the promise
of a Treasury grant as a backing he would have a stronger case to put
to the stewards and the other big businessmen in Hong Kong.
Sir C. Cox enquired whether there was any chance of the members
of the Executive Council being able to put their views to the Secretary
of State. Mr. Sidebotham said that neither Sir A. Morse nor Sir Man
Kam Lo were going on the Scotland tour and he would see whether a
meeting could be arranged for, say, some day next week. Both
Sir A. Morse and Sir Kan Kam Lo welcomed this suggestion.
would not be available for the afternoon of the 24th July, but would
try and come to any meeting which was arranged.
Sir C. Cox
Sir Man Kam Lo was
/free
87