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 59

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it is not correct to say that the Government has made a grant for

the Chinese Department of $46,000. The Cantonese Language Class.

represents work which the University is doing for Government at

Government's request and at Government's expense. The University

is quite willing to continue this work but it must be remembered,

in this connection, that this class is dependent on the cadets

continuing to be sent to the University. If Government decide to

discontinue the sending of the cadets to the University this class

will have to cease.

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7. His Excellency has noted that he is willing to include in the

1930 estimates a vote of $40,000 as a subsidy for the Chinese School

as a whole. He has added that the University authorities should

endeavour so to adjust their budget that this sum may also suffice

to supply $1,200 a year for scholarships tenable in the Chinese

Department. In the estimates for the cost of the Chinese School

which were submitted last year provision was made for a Principal's

salary and his house allowance. No principal has as yet been

appointed. If we postpone indefinitely the proposal to appoint

a principal then the annual cost of the Chinese School (including

the Cantonese Class) could be covered by a special annual Govern-

ment grant of $40,000 plus the interest on the sum of $200,000

which the University has been promised as an endowment for the

Chinese School. But without some assurance that a Government grant

of at least $40,000 will be annually forthcoming the University

cannot undertake the financial responsibility of maintaining the

School.

8.

The course of the Chinese Department covers four years.

Therefore, if the Chinese Department is to be continued, the Uni-

versity must accept annually for the next three years the respons-

ibility for adding each year an additional class and of providing

for each new batch of students as it comes in instruction which

must cover at least four years. Therefore it is no use asking

Government this stage to guarantee the grant for another three