CO129-524-2 Hong Kong University- financial position- Chinese studies- future of the Chinese school and the Annual... 27-1-1930 - 12-8-1930 — Page 56

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10.2

UNIVERSITY OF HONGKONG

Note on the future of the Chinese School.

(This matter will be considered by the Council at its next meeting

to be held on the 10th May, 1929.)

There is no need to take this matter back further than October

1928.

By this time Government had sanctioned a special grant to

the School and the Secretary of State had definitely restricted

this grant to one year in the first instance and had made its re-

newal conditional on a further report being submitted for his con-

sideration. Mr. Tang Chi Ngong had given $60,000 for a building

and the Hon. Sir Shou Son Chow and the Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall were

making a gallant effort to collect $300,000. As regards this col- lection the University received, last September, $170,000. This

money has been placed on fixed deposit at 41%; Mr. Tang's donation

has also been placed on fixed deposit at the same rate of interest.

Since the receipt of the $170,000 in December last the University

has received a guarantee from Mr. Fung Ping Shan that the collection

will be brought up to $200,000. At the last meeting of Council the

Hon. Dr. Kotewall was understood to say that the balance of $30,000

necessary to bring the total collection up to $200,000 had been col-

lected, save for some $4,000. The Council must, however, bear in

mind that all the money which the University has received up-to-date,

from the public, towards the maintenance of the Chinese School is

the amount of $170,000 which was paid over in December last.

2.

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At a meeting held on the 12th October, 1928, the Council, with

my note of the 9th October, 1928, before it, reviewed the position.

The Council considered that a beginning might be made with the

school on a purely temporary and provisional basis. The matter

was referred to the Finance Committee.

3. The Finance Committee at a meeting held on the 22nd October,

1928, discussed the matter and recorded the following note:-

"The Finance Committee understand that His Excellency the

Chancellor has expressed opinions favourable to the starting of a School for Chinese Studies and that he has requested certain Chinese gentlemen to raise Funds for this purpose. The Hon. Sir Shou Son Chow and the Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G., have very generously set to work to raise subscriptions

P.T.0.

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