CO129-593-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45. Includes 32 photographs depicting-... 10-1-1945 - 20-1-1946 — Page 108

COLLEGE OF THE SEA

Honorary Director

SEAFARERS' EDUCATION SERVICE

President Sir WILLIAM CRAWFORD CURRIE

AI BERT MANSBRIDGE, C.H., M.A., LL.D.

Assistant to Honorary Director Mrs.KATHLEEN. EVANS, B.A.

Resident Adviser

Sir WILLIAM HORNELL, C.I.E., LL.D.

COLLEGE OF THE

SEA

104 62

SELWYN HOUSE.

ENDSLEIGH STREET,

LONDON, W.C.1

Telegrams: Crewslibra, London

Telephone: EUSton 2539

23rd November, 1945

Dear Gent,

who

I have just had a letter from Kenelm Digby, has been for many years Professor of Surgery in Hong Kong. He is now in Canada with his wife and daughter. He writes:

"You will have heard all about the vicissitudes of the Hong Kong University and of the deaths of so many of our colleagues. When I saw the buildings

just before I left there was less damage than I had expected.

Nevertheless the Great Hall had no roof and most of the buildings had lost equipment, furniture, wooden floors and lavatory fittings. The School of Surgery was in better shape; so also many of the Staff Houses and the library was not damaged and a certain number of books remained, but the Nips had stolen the Morrison collection of books.

Digby adds:

"When I left there was a certain amount of pessimism and defeatism in the air. 'The Colony would be returned to China, the University ought

All this is to go bankrupt and close down.' absolute rubbish. The Colony must remain British and will be more prosperous in a few years than it has ever been. The University could easily restart in September at the latest though it would only be