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Ministry of Education before leaving Chungking and I had received a personal assurance from the Minister, Mr. Chen Li Fu, that Hong Long University students would be eligible for admission to any of the National Universities of China, and that, if necessary, they. * would also be entitled to apply for the Chinese Government loan for
living expenses. This, together with the fact that tuition and dormitory space is free in Chinese Government Universities, made the outlook for dong Kong students appear much brighter once the immediate difficulties of transportation had been overcome.
In addition to dealing with students already in Free China, a machinery was set up in the three main centres of Äukong, Kweilin and Kweiyang for the assistance of further arrivals from Hong Kong. Details of the various universities were made available, together with the approximate number of vacancies for students and an attempt was made to provide free travel wherever available. In Kukong Mr. A. H. Bentley, former Government Pharmacist and part-time lecturer in Pharmacy to the University, undertook the details of Student Relief from May to the middle of August when the work passed into the handa of Mr. P.C.M. Sedgwick of the Relief Bureau, consequent upon Mr. Bentley's accepting an appointment with the National School of Pharmacy in Chungking. In Kweilin the work was handled by Mr. M.K. Cheng (former University accountant) and later by Hr. I. S. Wan, also of the Hong Kong Refugee Relief Bureau. In Kweiyang Messrs. R.E. Lawry and Derek G. Cox of the Friends Ambulance Unit have been particularly generous of their time in assisting students either to settle in Kweiyang or to proceed on their journey to Chungking or Chengtu. Travelling has become progressively difficult from month to month especially along those sections of the road (from Chin Ch'eng Chiang to Kweiyang and Chungking) which are only provided with motor transport. Phenomenal prices have been paid for places on trucks by those who were not so fortunate as to obtain free transportation, and the earlier estimates for the cost of travel have needed drastic revisioā in recent months. In spite of all difficulties, however, a steady stremi of students has contimed to come out and at the date of writing this report a total of 255 students is known to have reached Free China. This figure may be taken as representing very nearly the total of those who are likely to come out of Hong Kong, although it is possible that there may be a mumber of others in Free China who have not yet got intó touch with the University Relief Organisation.
The following figures express in concise form the number of members of the University (Students, recent Graduates and Members of the Teaching Staff) who have reached Free China:-
STUDENTS:
Hedical Faculty
1st Year
2nd
3rd
4th
22
5th #
11
6th
2
137
Engineering Faculty
1st Year
2nd
3rd
4th
25
20
10
2
57
Arts Faculty
1st Year
16
2nd
23
3rd
12
51
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