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 118

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Dr. Rae

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Before the liberation of Fong Kong it had been the intention to establish a small informal Advisory Committee to represent the University and to advise on the steps necessary to restart the work of the University on a short-term basis. It was felt that there would be an urgent need for persons qualified to assist in restoring the life of the Colony and particularly for doctors and that, for this reason, the Medical School should be reopened as soon as possible. Dr. Launtze had agreed to serve on this Committee and it is hoped that he will do so on his return. In the altered circumstances that now obtain it is proposed to enlarge the original Committee, which in fact had never met, so as to include the Vice-Chancellor

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r. Sloss who has now returned to this country from internment and bring in more experts from outside. Further the Committee will now be required not only to consider the immediate practical steps necessary to restart University work that is matters of staff, buildings, equipment, etc., but also to make a recommendation on a major question of principle namely, whether the University is to continue to exist, and if so, whether for the purpose of meeting the local needs of of Hong Kong only or for the wider purpose for which it was originally founded - that is an institution designed for the use of chinese students and intended as a practical contribution to Anglo-Chinese good will.

It has been suggested that it would be appropriate to invite the General Medical Council to nominate a member of t is Committee. Before the war Hong Kong medical degrees were recognised by the G..C.

. Recently we have had a considerable correspondence with

the Secretary of the G..C., in connection with the arrangements that have now been made to grant emergency degrees to those students who, having spent a minimum of two or three years at Hong Kong University were forced, owing to the war, to evacuate to China and finally to graduate at a Chinese University. The G..C. have agreed to recognise the proposed "emergency degrees" In this connection you may care to see the attached copy of a recent Order in Council

and have. been most accommodating in the matter. For this reason too, therefore, I think it would, if you agree, be desirable to include them in this Committee.

The file will be coming to you and ir. Cox who is to be the Chairman of the Committee, may have mentioned the matter to you, but in order to save time I am sending this minute to you separately in case you were not aware of this recent correspondence with the G.M.C. If, when this file reaches you, you agree with the proposal to bring in the ..C, I should be glad to know whether you would prefer to write to the Secretary or whether you would like us to write to Mr. Kezeltine following on our recent correspondence about the "emergency degrees".

29.10.45.

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