CO129-562-8 Hong Kong University- Engineering Faculty 16-6-1937 - 5-4-1938 — Page 13

8

other Faculties.

The total number of Engineering students

being trained during the same month was 118.

24. The scope of an Fngineering Faculty in British

and American Universities goes far beyond anything which, in our opinion, should be attempted in Hong Kong. In these Universities its functions rightly embrace original work, research and an advisory capacity to industry as well as sound teaching in the principles of engineering. In Electrical Engineering, for example, we are advised

that a Technical College even of a high order would

concentrate upon such points as operation and repair; whereas a University proper would go in more for research and design. In our view it is quite out of the question

for Hong Kong to compete in the latter sphere with the

vast aggregation of electrical knowledge of Europe and

America; nor can we see any good reason why this should

even be attempted. The same is equally true of Mechanical Engineering. It follows that in our view Hong Kong University need not follow the organization of

Universities situated in England.

25.

The Faculty is at present organized with the

each under its

three Departments of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering

own Professor with his assistant staff. We are left with

:

the clear impression that these Departments work dis- jointedly and we are satisfied that a less elaborate and

a less pretentious organization will amply meet the

present day requirements of the University. Our main

conclusions in regard to staffing this Faculty are that a single Professor will suffice instead of the present

three; that he will naturally be the Taikoo Professor of

13