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 111

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We must start a First Year Course in all Faculties, even if only for a sprinkling of students.

We must and can start the three clinical years for the Medical .culty and also provide post-graduate work in the Medical Faculty immediately. Unless and until new and better buildings are erected on a new and better site, we must carry on in the present buildings. Meanwhile the University must plan to expand manifold at once, not merely in numbers but in Faculties and Chairs, and in some respects in breadth of outlook too.

Our old students of the lat, 2nd and 3rd years may have pro- ceeded to qualify in war-time Chinese Universities in Western China, but they might like to come and take our Degrees by attending a two years' advanced course, thus securing recognition by the General Medical Council, and the right to practise anywhere in the British Empire. Some Chinese will have started their medical Education in Great Britain and in the United States. Some of these may wish to finish nearer home.

It is objected that there will be no students abae to matricu- late nor able to benefit by instruction in English. I do not believe this. There are a number of schools which are probably still functioning in Western China with a fair grade of instruction in English, and a number of students in Hong Kong who have matriculated and wish to join the University.

For a short time we shall have to lower and widen our

ma triculation requirements.

Second, third and fourth year students in Arts, in Engineering and in Science will be forth-coming (just as 2nd and 3rd year student in Medicine) from students returning towards China after the war.

It will take some long time for China to develop her own Universities to an adequate standard. Some of the personnel of the staffs will be recruited from Hong Kong University graduates. As Hong Kong and Chinese Universities grow up together they should establish a strong and friendly relationship. However much the post-war Chinese Government may concentrate on Universities, they will fall far below her needs in the mere matter of the numbers they can train. Here is a noble opportunity from England to give friendly aid to China.

Supposing the Hong Kong University voluntarily invites liquidation, what a bad example for Hong Kong middle schools who will be faced with similar difficulties in restarting! What an opportunity for Singapore to say Hong Kong has had to abandon a University so let Singapore be the home of the representative British University for the Far East!

If a New University projected in Hong Kong did not plan to start for five years after the end of the War, all the feeding