COPY
COPY
Shanghai Medical College,
Koloshan, Chungking. 21st August, 1945.
Dr. Joseph Needham,
Sino-British Science Co-operation Office, Chungking.
Dear Dr. Needham,
Your letter of 17th August reached me yesterday. I am enclosing a copy of a memorandum which I prepared last September on the reconstitution of the University of Hong Kong. The views expressed in it are substantially the same as those which I now hold.
The question as to whether or not the University turned out the type of graduates which China needs is, I think, best answered by recollecting that Dr. Sun Yat Sen was a member of the first graduating class of the old Hong Kong College of Medicine (his life was later saved in London by the old dean of the College, Sir James Cantlie). The present Chinese Ambassador to Russia is also a Hong Kong University graduate, as also are many members of the engineering and medical professions
in China to-day.
Progressive Chinese with whom I have spoken, such as Han Lih Wu, H.P. Chu and others, are favourable to the restoration of the University, provided always that it has the maintenance of a good understanding with China as one of its main objects. I think my memo- randum indicates that such a reciprocal relationship with China and Chinese educational institutions would be one of the main aims of the University.
Another important point of view which must be borne in mind is that of the Overseas Chinese themselves. I have talked with very many Chinese from Hong Kong and Malaya, and I think I can say that, without exception, when the subject of the University has come up the hope has been expressed by them that Hong Kong University will be re-established. The 25 medical students, from Hong Kong and Malaya, in this College who have still to graduate are unanimous in their desire to return to Hong Kong to complete their studies now that the war is over. I have
...had
150
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.