CO129-567-12 Hong Kong University 24-1-1938 - 24-1-1938 — Page 222

AIR MAIL:

247

14th. January, 1938.

My dear Brander,

I've now seen enough of University matters here to have made up my mind about most things in the Report that aroused so much feeling. In the first place I ought to say that the senior members of the staff received me with extraordinary good feeling and, so far I think I can say - this attitude remains.

I now know the people who

As to the Report itself: made it. In addition to meeting them frequently socially and in University Committees I had an informal meeting with them to get reasons and explanations at a number of points. I can say with reasonable assurance that there is no antagonism against the University and its work: there is definite antipathy against certain members of the staff who have the reputation of slackness, lack of interest or lack of scholarship: there is a justifiable belief that administration has been costly and not always very effective. Remarks interpreted to mean that really good men are not wanted in Hong Kong are mere blunders due to hasty preparation of the Report. I have had a letter from the Chairman of the offending committee explaining a 11 this. I have not yet made use of it but if need arises I shall send copies to my senior colleagues. I have not yet done so because there are elements of sophistication in it that might arouse new controversy. On the whole, however, it is a frank admission of regret for things said in haste.

thar

An expert committee from England inevitably, as I see it, would produce an even more damnatory report. For instance great indignation was expressed in letters you saw about remarks on research. The remarks were not so untrue as ill aimed. A University commission from England would certainly have many even more unpleasant things to say on this head.

We have a good medical teaching staff; very good clinical teaching is given, and there are very good men in the Physiology, Pathology and Anatomy Departments. These last three can show a respectable out-turn of private work and the Surgery Department has masses of good material that wants only ordering to be worth