CO129-576-5 Hong Kong University 13-6-1939 - 23-11-1939 — Page 76

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foundation of a mutual respect for each other's

Moreover at the present

culture and civilisation.

time China is in need of technically trained and

equipped men: in a private conversation the

Minister of Economic Affairs had recently estimated

that China was short of 1,000 engineers for tasks which

were immediately necessary. These engineers were of

two types: (a) those competent to plan and execute

large-scale undertakings, and (b), the more numerous,

those able to maintain the small-scale industries

which were to be established in the West and South-

West. It was significant that, in spite of the

war, industrial development was proceeding at a

great pace in the Western and South Western

Provinces and that the Chinese Government was

maintaining such a keen interest in matters affecting

education. Although China's most pressing need was

for engineers, 100 new doctors were required for the

Medical Department, and there was also good reason

to believe that the Minister of Education would take

full advantage of facilities for the training of

teachers of English.

In short, therefore, the time was ripe for

that co-operation with the Chinese Government which

was the aim of the founders of Hong Kong University

and a sine quâ non of the present proposals, although

what was contemplated in Hong Kong was not so much a

formal approach direct to the Chinese Government as

an understanding with particular Chinese Departments

(e.g.

2.