CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931 — Page 56

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am told), a definite feeeling mgainst the higher education of

Chinese, dua lergely to a fear that they would supplant British.

Se disastrous did this state of things appear to me alike as

regards British influence for goed in China, and from the point of

view of our trade, that I took up the project of a University, though

the majority of British opinion was opposed to it, Its salient

characteristics were!. It was residential; English was the mediuAM

of instruction; Chinese from China and elsewhere were welcomed; it

was affiliated to Oxford and Cambridge and students were discouraged

from going to England until they had graduated and their characters

were to a large extent formed,

It had been our hope to create a Chinese Faculty with the

object of training zen for high administrative and political office in

China who would act as a counterpoise to American influenca; but

though supported by both Pekin and Canton who runde generous contribum

tions and rent students, this hope has never been fulfilled, and the

University has been in chronie financial difficulties, The eireim

stances of its foundation precluded an adequate endowment. This was

a risk deliberately accepted,

Apart from a man of 45,000 to pay off debts owing to the

University by Chinese students, a sup of £250,000 only has been

allotted to the University from the Boxer Indemnity, (Mr. Ammry I think

was in favour of at least a million). The interest on this sum would

be $10,000 at west, and this will not suffice to do much more than

mast the existing deficit due to the fall in silver which has halved

the salaries of the Staff, and provide some scholarships. The Hongkong

Government which now gives a very heavy subvention ($350,000) 18

unwilling that a new faculty (e.g. Chinese) should be started unless

assured that it will be self supporting.