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The original aims of the University have been adhered to, as far as possible, but the financial position has always been a cause of anxiety and has retarded progress. The costs of a university are high and, in spite of many generous gifts and a subvention from the Colonial Government, more funds are needed. The grant from Government was increased in 1931 from $50,000 to $350,000 a year, but this did little more than enable the normal expenditure to be met. A donation however from the Boxer/Indemnity/in the same year made it possible for the University to give effect in a small measure to urgent and long standing schemes of expansion.
It has been suggested that, on grounds of economy, standards might be lowered. This would be a retrograde step and not consonant with the undertakings given to the original supporters. Indeed every effort should be made further to expand. The University cannot stand still: it must go forward or it will inevitably go back.
Butis! Returned
Up to date over 2,600 students have been admitted to the University, of whom some 35 per cent have graduated. The number attending the courses in 1939 was 515 of whom about one fourth came from China
The The number included many students from Malaya. proper. number of women students was 107, of whom 79 took the Arts course. Of these women students 24 came from China.
Since the commencement of the Sino-Japanese conflict the education system of China has been disorganized and there is now a greater opportunity for the Hong Kong University to render essential service.
Its readiness to help is evidenced by the fact that, after the Japanese occupation of Canton, had drive staff and students of Lingnan University, out-of their home, facilities were afforded more than 500 students frommy]
en to continue their
work at Hong Kong University outside the usual University hours.
One of the main objects of the foundation of the University was to attract students from China and it is in this direction that so much still remains to be doneX.
went pool.
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The cost of the course at Hong Kong University is, however, owing to its Western standards, unavoidably higher than that of a course at one of the Chinese Universities and it is essential that scholarships should be provided to enable students from China to come to Hong Kong. Some already exist and the decision of the British Council to provide more is most welcome. The nomination
scholars
of these by the Sino-British Cultural Association, which comprises both British and Chinese members with H.M. Ambassador in China as President and Mr. Han Li Wu as Chairman,, is a particularly appropriate part of the scheme.
As evidence of the value already placed by the Chinese Government on Hong Kong trained students it is noteworthy that that Government in 1939 asked for and obtained six Civil Engineering graduates, three Electrical Engineering graduates and one Mechanical Engineering graduate for service in China.
1
The generosity of the Rhodes Trustees in making funds available for studentships at Oxford for Chinese graduates from Hong Kong University affords a valuable contribution for carrying Sino- British Cultural co-operation a stage further.
It seems to be universally agreed that the Medical graduates of the University who are registrable under the General Medical
Council,
hem welcomed been warnly woven
M
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