CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943 — Page 68

66

Before the end of January one or two small groups of students had already left Hong Kong on their own initiative with the intention of proceeding to Free China to continue their studies. Many others were anxious to leave but were handicapped by the lack of money for travelling purposes (in this connection it should be remembered that less than 50% of the students of Hong Kong Univer- sity had their homes in Hong Kong: nearly half of the students 。 were overseas Chinese from Malaya: others came from Java and Borneo;

some from occupied China and others from Free China: in addition there was a small number of Indians and of Russians from the North), After my own escape from Hong Kong in February 1942 I repeatedly met small groups of students in various places on the way up to Chungking and in most cases received requests from them for advice and for letters of introduction and eertificates of various sorts. Nearly all of these early escapees were coming to China for the first time. Some had been robbed by bandit gangs and others were short of money and of clothes. Many of them were completely at al loss as to how next to proceed.

On reaching Chungking at about the middle of April it became apparent to me that the exodus of students from dong Kong was assuming increasing proportions. I received news of further arrivals in Free China and also got word by telegram that groups of students were stranded in Kweilin and Kweiyang without any further funds. Most of these boys were Straits Chinese and there- fore British Subjects, and it became increasingly clear that unless some special form of assistance were rendered to them they would be involved in considerable hardship. Accordingly, His Excellency Sir Horace Seymour, the British Ambassador to China, was approached, and showed considerable sympathy with a scheme to provide relief for students of Hong Kong University. The scheme covered the need for immediate relief and the more remote needs that might arise after these students had resumed their work at centre in Free China. Advances were to be made in the form of loans during the time that the students continued to be cut off from the support which their families normally provided. A rough estimate was drawn up on the assumption that about 200 students would need assistance. The estimate included an allowance towards travelling expenses and the purchase of immediate personal requirements of between $1000 and $1250 per head; a monthly allowance of $60 per head and a further allowance of $350 per head for the purchase of special winter requirements. The estimate received provisional approval and I was requested to make my way back to Kukong via Kweiyang and Kweilin to organise the University Relief Work as a sub-section of the activities of the Hong Kong Refugee/Bureau, of which Mr. Relief T.J. Fisher was in general charge. Funds were provided by the Embassy for irmediate use and I left Chungking on 24th April to embark on this project. Before Leaving Chungking I saw Mr. Chu Chia Hua and Mr. Han Lih wu of the British Boxer Indemnity Administration and explained the nature of the scheme to them. Mr. Han Lih Wu had already shown considerable interest in the question of Hong Kong University Relief and proposed the formation of a small advisory committee to consist of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Board of Overseas Affairs, the National Relief Commission, the Commission of Overseas Affairs, the Sino-British Cultural Association, the British Embassy and the University of Hong Kong. In this manner it was hoped to enlist the interest and the assistance of the foregoing organisations in the project and at the same time to avoid duplication of relief effort.

I was absent from Chungking from 24th April to 20th June and during this time I made contact in Kweiyang, Liuchow, Kweilin, Pingshek or Kukong with no less than 127 students. any of these students were in considerable distress owing to financial shortage, illness (particularly malaria), the unaccustomed hardships of the road and the lack of the requisite information to enable them to decide where best to continue their studie. of temporary financial assistance t of the students for advice as to tï. hich to sk entrance. Fortunate.

Apart from the provision „üero wa urgent need on the part most suitable University at contact had been bade witė