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Britain, and the Boxer indemnity appears to be the most suitable
source.
On general principles, it would be a wise move to apply the
Boxer indemnity to educational purposes in China. America has
certainly gained "face" to a vast extent by doing so, and we are
losing "face" by notfallowing their example. It is hopeless
to try to get the Chinese to understand that the Americans extorted so large an indemnity that they did not know what to do with the money, whereas we only asked for a refund of our expenses.
If this course is adopted I would urge three things
(a) Make handsome grants to existing schools, indluding
the two I have mentioned; and subsidise the C.M.S. and other
bodies to open new schools.
(b) Make a large grant now, or give a substantial
annual subsidy to the Hong Kong University. The endowment of a Regius Professorship or two would probably be a good move.
We have some claim to recognition, because we are
bearing alone the burden of British propaganda, in South China, we have made grants to schools in Kwang Tung more for British than for Hong Kong purposes, and we are supporting, practically entirely at the cost of this Government and a few local benefactors a University which would never have been started for Hong Kong only, but which is a centre of higher education for China as a
whole.
(c) Establish scholarships which will enable Chinese students to go to England instead of America, for technical educ- ation. It is undesirable that they should go too young, and the ideal method would be to give these scholarships to graduates of the Hong Kong University. This would lead to a steady flow of students from China to Hong Kong. Every scholarship would prob- ably mean that at least half a dozen young men would be trained in Hong Kong, and return to China with English ideas, to form centres of British influence.
I have written this with special reference to the South but it applies, I think, to a very large extent to the North also.
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