CO129-567-12 Hong Kong University 24-1-1938 - 24-1-1938 — Page 92

104

Constitution

(see

Resolution XXLV)

Finance

Engineering

MEMORANDUM

Summary of Changes effected

The Committee's Report stated that they considered the existing constitution of the University to be too cumbrous for local needs. They advised that the sphere of the Senate should be rigidly confined to academic matters and that the disciplinary powers of the Vice Chancellor should be strengthened. The Senate opposed the se proposals but the Council were largely in agreement with the Committee's view. Their proposals were that the present Council should be abolished and there should be substituted an Executive Committee of the Court, to consist of not more than 11 members, to carry out the Council's functions. They proposed that there should be an Executive Committee of the Court consisting of 6 members of the Court who are not full time officers of the University, together with 5 full time officers of the University and that the powers and control of the Senate should be limited to purely academic matters. Further they proposed that there should be a standing Committee of the Senate which should consist of the Vice Chancellor, the Dean of each Faculty and one member from each Faculty to be elected for one year by the Senate which should generally conduct all routine business of the Senate and take such action as might be necessary to carry out the Senate's general instructions.

These proposals have been referred to a Committee for further consideration.

The Committee's Report stated that financially the University had in the past existed far too much from hand to mouth. In particular they regarded the investments of the University funds in Shanghai Mortgages to be undesirable. They also considered that the University should begin to accumulate a proper reserve. The Senate and Council agreed generally with these opinions and resolved that a budget provision as a reserve against depreciation charges was necessary and should be the first charge on any surplus income over expenditure.

The Report advised that the scope of the Engineering Faculties should be confined to a sound teaching in the principles of engineering and should not endeavour to undertake original work and research. They proposed that there should be a single Professor of Engineering in place of the three Professors of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and that generally there should be increased facilities for post graduate training in the P.W.D. and improved contact with the English Engineering firms. The Senate opposed the reduction of the Senior posts but the Council resolved that when the posts of Professors of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering fell vacant they should be held in abeyance and that in engineering the University should for the present con- fine itself to teaching and examining for a degree in Civil Engineering. Further, they proposed that arrangements should be made with the University of London for the holding in Hong Kong of an intermediate examination in Engineering to be taken by students who wish to become Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, though the University should recognise that specialised courses in these two branches may be justified at a time when Chinese industry is more developed.

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