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84
the majority of British opinion was opposed to it. Its salient
characteristics were:- It was residential; inglish was the mediumH
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 chamoters
were to a large extent formed. (Fuller particulars of the aims are
in attached Memo.)
It had been our hope to create a Chinese Faculty with the object
of training men for high administrative and political office in
China who would act as a counterpoise to American influence; but
though suported by both Pekin and Canton who made generous contribu-
tions and sent students, this hope has never been fulfilled, and the
University has been in chronic financial difficulties. The circumA -
stances of its foundation precluded an adequate endowment.
a risk deliberately accepted.
This was
Apart from a sum of £15,000 to pay off debts owing to the
€250,000
University by Chinese students, a sum of £200,000 only has been allot
ted to the University from the Boxer Indemnity. (r. Amery I think
was, in favour of at least a million).
The interest on this sum
much
2, vv at 968, und this will not suffice to do more than
meet the existing ueficit due to the fall in silver which has halved
the salaries of the staff, and provide some scholarships. The long
Kong Government which now gives a very heavy subvention 350,000 ).
is unwilling that a new faculty (e.g. Chinese) should be started
unless assured that it will be self-supporting.
It is surprising to me that His Majesty's Government has failed
to recognise the immense potential importance of the Hong Kong Univ-
ersity for promoting British influence and trade in China. Properly
used there is no other agency which can compare with it. In refer-
ence to the questions (noted above) from the Secretary of State, I
have conferred with Professor Foster (Education Branch of Arts
Faculty, Hong Kong University) and with Mr. Silcock, Secretary,China
Universities Committee, and I submit the following suggestions:-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.