CO129-538-1 Hong Kong University 31-12-1931 - 6-8-1932 — Page 158

256

44

CHINA REPORT

he made was that some of the holders of lectureships under our scheme might lecture and study for a year or so in a Chinese university, then take up temporary posts in Hong Kong University as teachers of such subjects as economics and sociology. On their subsequent return to England their usefulness in their own academic environment would probably be greatly increased by the experience and knowledge gained by them in China and Hong Kong.

On December 2nd, 1931, the Chairman of the delegation was invited to attend a meeting at Government House, Hong Kong, at which various educational matters were discussed, including the possibility of Hong Kong's participation in the schemes to be worked out by the Universities' China Committee. The Governor of the Colony (Sir William Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.), who is ex-officio chancellor of the University, presided at the meeting; and there were also present Mr. W. T. Southorn, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary; Sir William Hornell, C.I.E., vice-chancellor of the University; Mr. G. P. de Martin, M.B.E., Director of Education for the Colony; and Mr. W. B. Finnigan, Registrar of the University. The attention of the Committee is invited to the following extract from the minutes of the meeting :-

"In opening the proceedings His Excellency referred to the memorandum prepared by the vice-chancellor dealing with the recommendations of the Economic Mission, and welcomed the opportunity of a consultation with Sir Reginald Johnston with regard to those features of the Economic Mission's report and his own investigations into the state of education in China which affected the University of Hong Kong.. Sir Reginald Johnston expressed his personal concurrence in the view urged by the Hon. Mr. Southorn that Hong Kong University should be included in his proposed scheme of research fellowships because Hong Kong University was obviously best fitted to implement any such scheme. Sir Reginald also agreed to take note that, in the opinion of the meeting, his committee would be well advised to hypothecate the bulk of the money at their disposal for the institution of post-graduate scholarships or research fellowships. Reference was made to a memorandum dated August 5th, 1931, drawn up by Prof. L. Forster, outlining a comprehensive scheme of scholarships which would have the effect of drawing a regular influx to Hong Kong University of students from the interior of China, a limited number of whom might be granted post-graduate scholarships tenable in England, the object being to enable specially- qualified students to proceed to England for special study and

RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DELEGATION

45

training. His Excellency commended the consideration of a scheme on these lines to Sir Reginald's Committee, and recom- mended that if such a scheme were found practicable steps might be taken to ensure that Hong Kong University got a fair share of any post-graduate scholarships that might be instituted by the Universities China Committee. It was also suggested to Sir Reginald that Lord Lugard's views on the subject might prove to be of much assistance to the Committee.

C

"Sir Reginald undertook to recommend that Hong Kong University should have a representative of corresponding member on the corresponding committee which he said it was proposed to establish at Peiping to advise his London Committee. Sir Reginald also undertook to press upon the attention of his Committee the need for obtaining recognition of Hong Kong University degrees by Universities in Great Britain, because unless this were done the whole scheme for establishing post-graduate The vice-chancellor promised scholarships would be frustrated.

*

to send Sir Reginald a detailed memorandum on the subject.'

The memorandum referred to at the end of the above extract will be submitted to the Committee as soon as it has been received from Hong Kong.

It is not anticipated that the adoption of any of the suggestions made in this sub-section will necessitate any financial outlay on the part of the Universities' China Committee, hence it is unnecessary to make any provision for such expenditure in our proposed allocation of funds.

(e) Machinery for Carrying out the Purposes of the Universities' China Committee in England.

It will be necessary for the Universities' China Committee to create machinery for the proper discharge of its various functions, both in England and in China. In this sub-section we propose to deal only with the machinery which in our opinion should be set up in England.

If effect is given to the various proposals made in this Report, including the foundation of Visiting Lectureships and Research Fellow- ships, and the promotion of Chinese studies in Great Britain, it is obvious that a great deal of organizing work will have to be carried out in London. There will also be other duties to be performed to which little or no reference has been made in the foregoing pages. Some of them are alluded to in the First Schedule to the China Indemnity

257