Dr. Wu Lien-teh, rising, said: I am deputed by our worthy chair- man to add a few words to the speech he has just made in propos- ing the health of H. E. Sir Frederick Lugard. This duty should really have fallon upon our friend on the extreme left there, Mr. Tyau, but be says he is a lawyer (laughter), and lawyers do not speak, at least, at dinners (more laughter). So tho luckless doctor, who with his stethoscope is more used to hearing than being heard has to take up this genial, though by means easy, task. This dinner to-night has been got op by Chinese who have received their education in Great Britain. They comprise men who have studied m London, Greenwich, Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Durham, Birmin gla a and Manchester, and their range of subjects varied from political
science, economics, engineering, medicine, navigation, commerce, arts, languages, posts, law. natural sciences to literature and even theology, so that practically all the professions are represented here, and we as a body desire to express our high appreciation of the honor Sir Frederick has bestowed upon us by accepting this modest dinner held in the modest quarters of the Students' Club. Our Chair- man has just dwelt upon the many ware Sir Frederick has been en gaged in and also upon the many bonors he has Won upon the battlefield. Since coming to China, now only a little over two years ago, he has been winning more battles, not, however, in the field of war bat in the field of education. (cheers). And 14 the head of his exploits stands the Hongkong University, into which Sir Frederick has practically put his heart and soul, As be has conquered in the one, so he will conquer in the other, and We have not the slightest doubt that this University will rank, as Sir Frederick 80 much desires, as the equal of the best modern universities to be found in
England. In connexion with this topic, I should like to ask you to allow me to touch upon two points. The first is the ideal position of Hongkong for such an interprise. Situated as it is as the gateway from Europe to the East, it appears from a sentimental point of view to be the right place for the teach- ing of modern European knowledge to ns Chinese. Its many unrivalled | hospitals, and its well-equipped public mortuaries, which latter we unfortunately do not as yet possess owing to the prohibition of post mortems in China, will enable our medical students to obtain the practical experience so necessary in that profession. Again, the large dockyards and fine engineering works already érocted there will offer every facility to those who desire to pursue courses in engineer- ing, railway consturction, mining and other applied sciences,
The second point I wish to refer to is the English language in which all the subjects will be taught in this new university. We welcome this decision on Sir Frederick's part, not only because we have ourselves been taught in that language, not only because it is the principal foreign language taught in our echools and colleges, not only be- cause it is the commercial language, the lingua franca, of the East, but also because it will enable our students to keep in touch with the latest and best literature connected with science and other branches
of modern knowledge. Speaking as a Cambridge man, one would miss somewhat the absence of proctors and bull-dogs, even on the alert to pounce upon and exact a fine from the luckless undergrad found after dusk without his cap and gown on (langhtor), but the fine education which our youths will obtain in Hongkong will more than compensate for that loss. Gentlemen, surely it needs no demonstration on my part to show that such રી university, where Young Chinese maintain a proper Chinese mode of life and are brought up in a puro Chinese environment, whence they can, during the vaca- tions, proceed to their own homes, or where they can be visited by their parents, and thus retain their best traditions and highest national aspirations, will appeal to Chinese parents, especially
the cost to each student will be only one- fourth of what it is in Europe. Gentlemen, if what I have said above appears reasonable to you,
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