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 27

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Dr. Sloss called on Mr. Gent this morning

for a general talk on the University.

He said that, due to the devotion of five of his Chinese staff, the Libraries were intact but that everything else had gone. He thought that in these circumstances it might be wise to liquidate the University by rescinding the University Ordinance and using the University's invested funds to meet current claims. If it were decided to re-establish the University, a new Ordinance could then be passed establishing the University as a new entity. The alternative would be the grant of a loan from Imperial Funds to meet its current liabilities and set it on its feet again.

Mr. Gent said he did not think the Treasury would make any difficulty if a case were put to them.

Dr. Sloss is seeing Mr. Morse and Mr. Cox in the near future, and I will then arrange a meeting between Dr. Sloss, Mr. Cox, and Mr. Gent, to discuss the next step. It will be necessary that the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Education is kept informed of proposals.

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Dr. Sloss called on me this morning to ask if the Colonial Office would sponsor a small committee to represent the University and authorise it to deal with the immediate financial questions now pressing for settlement. With the liberation of the interned staff of the University, it is urgently necessary to make decisions on various matters connected with salaries, pensions, etc., and some temporary action must also be taken in regard to the buildings in Hong Kong to prevent them from getting into a worse condition than at present.

Dr. Sloss said that he had spoken to Mr. Morse who was willing to take any risks involved in acting now in expectation that the position would be regularised later. His suggestion was a committee of three, consisting of Mr. Morse, Dr. Sloss and a representative from the Colonial Office.

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