CO129-561-7 Hong Kong University 4-1-1937 - 22-9-1937 — Page 65

64

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

TELEGRAM from the officer Administering the Government of

Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Dated 20th July, 1937.

IMMEDIATE.

Received 11.40 a.m., 20th July.

Personal and confidential.

RECE!

the

R

13

Your personal and confidential telegram of July 19th.

University Report. I interpret Caldecot's announcement

intends Committee to be preferred alternative to expert

enquiry rather than to be preliminary there to but I should

certainly not oppose such action. Situation is however

complicated by present negotiations for new Vice Chancellor.

If himself is such an expert simultaneous independent

enquiries at this stage might seem redundant. This

appointment is for consideration by University Court on

Monday July 26th and subject to your approval I will then

move that all further action on report be suspended pending

the arrival of new Vice Chancellor, explaining for publica-

tion that such action is consequent on further representations

that the situation should be examined by home expert before

report is even considered by Faculty and Senate.

Early arrival of the new Vice Chancellor if

possible in October will be pressed for.

Only evidence here of resentment among the staff

is from Forster Professor of Education who considers his

reputation impugned by paragraph 64. Professor Ride's

speech enclosed in my despatch air mail confidential of

June 8th took paragraph 73 out of ite context instead of as

intended in conjunction with comparative figures of 3 preceding

paragraphs. All other criticisms from him and others are on

points of details except as regards constitution and discipline.