CO129-474 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [1-4] — Page 569

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standing of the situation, and if at the same time you could renew your request for an endowment of three chairs at the rate of $250,000 each, I think we might reach a prompt decision in the matter. If you think this can be done by cable some time will be saved, but time is of less importance than a thorough and com- plete understanding.

I am sailing for Brazil February 2, but expect to be back in New York by the 3rd of April, and at that time I hope to be able to settle this problein definitely.

My best regards to Lady Brunyate and yourself,

Sincerely yours,

(Sgd.) RICHARD M. PEARCE,

Sir William Brunyate,

University of Hongkong.

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NOTE TO THE COUNCIL

on negotiations with the Rockefeller Foundation as to the establishment of three full-time chairs of Surgery, Medicine and Obstetrics.

Introductory Paragraphs.

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1. It will be within the knowledge of members of the Council that at the 79th Meeting of the Council, held on the 10th Decem- ber, 1920, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine was authorised to approach the Rockefeller Foundation as to the possibility of their assisting us by or in the foundation of full-time clinical chairs in the Faculty-a measure which I believe was recom- mended, so soon as funds might permit, by the Sharp Commis- sion.

2. In May, 1921, some six weeks after my arrival in the Colony, Dr. Pearce, then and now Director of Medical Education- under the Foundation, paid a visit to Hongkong and discussed the matter in the most sympathetic manner with the Dean of the Faculty and myself. As I have already had occasion to state In one of my Notes on the University Accounts, the fact that the occupants of the proposed Chairs would perform a large part of their duties in the Government Civil Hospital rendered it very desirable that the P.C.M.O. should be a party to the discussions, and I have already had occasion to refer to the helpfulness of his attitude in the matter. As, however, he is a member of the Government service, it may be well that I should specifically record that he was careful to remind us that anything said by him was an expression of personal opinion only, and that he must not be regarded as in anyway binding his Government. The discus- sions were wholly informal in character and no written note was prepared. Eefore leaving, Dr. Pearce very kindly informed me of the recommendations he proposed to make to the Foundation and invited my comments thereon, as he wished to make no re- commendations which would be distasteful or embarrassing to In view of the technical nature of the matters under dis- cussion and of the relatively limited knowledge I then possessed of the situation of the University as a whole, my attitude was in a sense more passive than would have been permissible at a later date, but nothing that has since come to my notice would lead me materially to modify the approval of his recommenda- tions I then expressed. I understand that before leaving Dr. Pearce had a short interview with H.E. the Chancellor and Governor.

08.

The matter came up for further discussion when I was in Peking, as I reported to the Council on my return, and we had the privilege of a further visit from Dr. Pearce in October.