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politicians and those journalists who are in the pay of the militariats would doubtless complain; but thoughtful Chinese of the better classes, who are not
in the least anti-British at heart, would welcome the
greater facilities which would be made available for
giving their sons and daughters a sound education under
conditions of security. It is such men who will count
in the long run. The two Chinese members of the
Hong Kong Legislative Council, Sir Souson Chow and
the Honourable Dr. R.H. Kotewall sent, on the 30th
March last, to Lord Willingdon, a letter of which I
-attach a copy.
The letter concludes as follows:-
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"We accordingly appeal with confidence to Your Lordship and the other members of the Deputation for your support, and ask you not to be misled by fallacious political arguments into
the neglect of an educational institution in which the Chinese have confidence, and which, if it could be provided with adequate funds, would be of incalculable value to the Chinese, not only in Hong Kong but throughout China.
The Chinese are eminently people of practical common sense and they respect hard-headed, practical wisdom in others. That His Majesty's Government should devote a portion of the Indemnity Fund to helping the Hong Kong University to establish itself and to be a centre of British influence in China, they would under- stand. What they would fail to comprehend is that, while refusing to cancel the Indemnity on the ground that such cancellation might have the disastrous effect of intensifying and prolonging civil strife in China. by releasing large sums which would probably be used
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