CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 400

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CONFIDENTIAL.

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C!

27 JUNTO

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 5th. May, 1919.

396

My Lord,

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With reference to the final paragraph of

my Confidential Despatch of the 7th. April, 1919, I have the

honour to inform Your Lordship that in my opinion no better

use could be made of the balance of the profits from the local

requisitioning of ships, amounting to about one million

dollars, than by devoting it to the cause of education in the

Colony.

2.

From the University downwards there is

great need of financial help especially as regards the pro-

-vision of suitable buildings. I endose a copy of a letter

that I addressed recently to the Minister at Peking on the

subject of the University, and a copy of Sir John Jordan's

reply. I trust that in due course a portion of the Boxer

Indemnity may be available for the University, but even if

such should be the case I consider that a local offert should

also be made to raise a large sum of money. I have discussed

the matter with Sir Charles Eliot, who was recently in

Hongkong on a short visit, and with the Council of the

University, and the unanimous opinion is that an appeal

should be made for funds. It is my intention, therefore, to

convene a meeting of those interested at an early date at

which the needs of the University will be stated and dona-

-tions invited. I should like to allot a sum of £250,000 out

of the sum available from the profits of the local requisi-

-tioning HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

&c..

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