CO129-538-1 Hong Kong University 31-12-1931 - 6-8-1932 — Page 211

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and Great Britain, for the purpose of attracting Chi- nese students to British universities and workshops. We recommend that this matter should be considered at a conference to be summoned at an early date by the Department of Overseas Trade, at which the British Universities and business men interested in the China trade should be represented." (pp.126-7.0

The sections of the Economic Mission's Report in which these observations occur were referred by the Govern- or of Hong Kong to Sir William Hornell, vice-chancellor of the He stated them in University, for an expression of his views.

a long and valuable minute dated August 22nd last, a copy of which was transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colon- ies. The third section of his minute, paragraphs 1-27, deals in an interesting and lucid way with the manner in which the indemnity-remission question has been dealt with by His Majesty's Government, and it makes melancholy reading, especially when the brilliant results achieved by the Ameri-

cans

taken into account. Sir William speaks with excep-

tional knowledge and authority, for he is himself one of the

He refers to "the British members of the Board of Trustees.

failure, as I hold it, to utilize the Boxer Indemnity con- cession to the real and mutual benefit of Great Britain and China, and the repeated inability on the part of the British not only in China but elsewhere, to maintain the influence which their general and commercial integrity has secured for them. (P.5.) He sees little ground for optimism in the

present situation with regard to the recent indemnity settle-

ment, and writes as follows.-

11

—

and the Vice Chairman "I am one of the Trustees

regret to have to report that I can see little, if

any, prospect of any permanent educational endow-

ment resulting from the recent surrender of the

indemnity under the terms of the 1931 Act.

I am