CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943 — Page 46

in any further communication on this subject, please quote

No. F 3258/399/10

and address-

no any person by name

but to

"

The Under-Secretary of State,”

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

Sir,

64

46

FOREIGN OFFICE.

19 JUL

ZE

S.W.1.

17th July, 1943.

36

With reference to Colonial Office letter 53611/4/43 of the 21st April, I am directed by Mr.Secretary Eden to transmit, for the information of Colonel Oliver Stanley, a copy of Chungking despatch No.542 on the subject of the relief of Hong Kong University students now in Free China.

2.

It will be observed that in his letter of the 3rd May to Mr.Sedgwick, which forms one of the sub- enclosures in this despatch, Dr. Gordon King advances the view that the funds of Hong Kong University should remain intact and suggests that the cost of assistance to the students should continue to be advanced from Government funds and the question of possible reimbursement left until after the war. Colonel Stanley will recall that the probable cost of assistance to Hong Kong University students for the year 1943 was estimated at $1,045,000, or rather more than £13,000 at the official rate of exchange. On the other hand, the income from Hong Kong University investments, Mr. Eden notes, amounts to nearly £13,000 per annum, which, with the addition of the 50% granted by the Chinese Government in the case of relief funds, would be equivalent to over $1,500,000. On this basis there would be a surplus over and above present commitments, and it would not be necessary to trench at all upon the capital funds of the Hong Kong University.

3. In this connexion I am to observe that the invariable practice of the Foreign Office when relief is

granted

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.