CO129-501-2 Chinese situation- Boxer indemnity 5-2-1927 - 14-12-1927 — Page 100

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a special type for the Chinese school. The full

building scheme submitted to the willingdon Deputation

included accommodation for the Chinese School in the

main University Building: but a separate building of

a special type for the Chinese School would certainly

be desirable.

3. I enclose for your information a statement

which the University is issuing with regard to its

activities in the matter of Chinese, together with a

copy of last year's report on the University. The

present financial position of the Government of Hong

Kong is such that it cannot increase substantially its

grant to the University. It will be difficult, if not

impossible, to raise large subscriptions. In fact

there is every prospect of the University having to

close down at the end of next year even such Chinese

work as it was able to initiate at the beginning of

this year, and to curtail its activities in other

directions also. At the present crisis 1 should

regard this restriction of the Hong Kong University's

activities and influence as a further blow to British

prestige in China.

4.

i need scarcely remind you of the chaos

and anarchy which now prevail in China. Practically

all the Universities in China are closed, even those

of Shanghai. The Vice-Chancellor of the Hong Kong

University has just received a letter from the President

of St. John's University, Shanghai, asking him whether

the Hong Kong University can take over the St. John's

students, who will otherwise have to bring their University studies to a premature conclusion. ur. J. E. Williams, Vice-President of the University of Nanking

W&S

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