CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 698

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Relations with British Education in China. Schemes have from time to time been mooted for the creation of a British institution of University rank in Chin Proper, and lave faile I of effect perhaps mainly on the ground of their prohibitive costliness. The whole question of British eductation in China came up for review at the Conference of Associat- ed British Chambers of Commerce in China and Hongkong, held at Shanghai in November, 1921. It was there decided that British firms deriving their income from the China trade were under a collective obligation, at the present stage of her developinent, to contribute towards educational institutions in China, and the University of Hongkong was accepted as the natural head of the British educational system in China. The creation in the near future of any second British institution of full University rank was definitely negatived, and it was agreed that if any advance in that direction was to be made it ought to be by the creation of University Colleges, affiliated to the University of Hongkong and under- taking a portion of the University curriculum, only. The Vice-Chancellor, who took part in the proceed- ings, undertook on behalf of the University to concur in any such scheme, until such time as any College so created should be ready to assume the full responsibilities of University rank,

While the Shanghai Municipal Council is an international body, so that the important system of schools maintained by it are not technically Britishı sehools, the Council is, by its composition, pre-

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