2
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
[July 21, 1939
July 21, 1939]
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
25
3
reported to the Committee in accordance with section 5 (formerly section 11) of Chapter XIII of the Standing Orders*:-
Beard, Emile A. C. (S)
Copeland, William H. L. Cross, David G. T. K.
3. Medical Act, 1886: Part II.
Ferguson, Mary M. G. (S) Mathews, Charles Murray, Francis X. (I)
University of Hong Kong: Visitation, 1939.
The following Report on the visitation had been received from Sir Richard Needham.
The University was visited by Sir Richard Needham in 1933, and his Report on the visitation is printed in Minutes 1934, 138-52.
A periodical report on the steps taken to effect improvements in the University on the lines recommended in the Report was received by the Committee at their meeting on May 25, 1936 (Minutes 1936, 168–80).
REPORT
ON THE VISITATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,
1939
1. My first visit to the University was in December, 1933. In the Report submitted after that visit the position of medical education was recorded with reference to the responsibility of the University to provide courses of instruction requisite for the degrees of M.B., B.S., granted by the University, a qualification recognised by the Council for registration on the Colonial List of the British Register.
2. The period of studies covered six years, of which the first year was devoted to Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. The following five years were concerned with subjects of the medical curriculum proper. The courses of instruction were planned on lines similar to those adopted in teaching institutions in Great
* The letter (S) or (I) after a name indicates that the name was sent for registration by the Registrar of the Branch Council for Scotland or of the Branch Council for Ireland.
Britain and were well organised and conducted, and fulfilled substantially the requirements of the General Medical Council in regard to professional education.
3. At the same time there were many questions to which it was necessary to draw attention and which required the attention of the University authorities and the Board of the Faculty of Medicine. Improvements were necessary in general organisation and in the provision made for the prescribed courses of instruction, including accommodation, equipment, and teaching staff, which affected all subjects of the curriculum. There were gaps to be filled and defects to be remedied if the anticipated standard of medical education was to be provided. The position was unexpectedly disappointing.
4. At the time of my visit in 1933 the Colony of Hong Kong was afflicted with a severe financial depression, and the resources of the University were strained to the utmost limit. Owing to lack of funds the departments of the Faculty of Medicine had long been forced to postpone the introduction of measures required for necessary improvements. Ever since its foundation the University had been handicapped owing to inadequate financial provision and had suffered and surmounted recurrent financial crises, and I had no doubt that it would surmount the one from which it was then suffering. In the Report to the Executive Committee submitted in 1934 I recorded my opinion in the following terms: The information furnished, together with my observations, indicate that while the University has many needs, and while there are many questions which require attention, the main requisites of the course of study are provided, or can be provided if the resources at the disposal of the Colony are organised and fully utilised. Some improvements depend on more financial provision, or better and increased hospital facili- ties, or increased staffs, while many depend on internal organisa- tion or re-organisation and can be introduced forthwith with little or no expenditure."
"C
5. The financial depression persisted during the period 1934-8, in fact it gradually worsened, and consequently the measures of improvement that could be introduced were largely
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.