CO129-593-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45 12-1-1946 - 27-10-1946 — Page 215

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time such seems called for, while the Government's financial backing

amounts only to about 30% of our total revenue, the major part of

which is derived from benefactions.

In practice, all the most

important measures are beyond the control, and only remotely

influenced by the opinions of, the academic staff.

From its foundation in 1912 the University has had

Faculties of Medicine, Engineering, and Arts, and in 1938 we added

a new (and as yet very small) Faculty of Science. The Medical

Faculty had a flying start, incorporating as it did the former

Hong Kong College of Medicine, founded mainly by Sir Patrick Manson

and Sir James Cantlie. It has always received more support from

the public and from the H.K. Government than any other Faculty,

and has flourished accordingly. Our Medical degrees are fully

accepted by the General Medical Council of Great Britain.

The Engineering Faculty has been more difficult to

run, though in the early years it did receive some generous backing,

chiefly in the form of machinery and apparatus donated by British

firms. The three departments of Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical

Engineering, though in various ways rather severely handicapped,

have on the whole fulfilled successfully the purposes for which

they were established. The curricula are fully set forth in our

"Calendar" and "Students' Handbook", published annually (till 1941).

In scope and standard they do not fear comparison with those provided

in home Universities. The minimum period between Matriculation and

Graduation is four years, but otherwise the courses of training have

resembled those of London University, from which the original

Engineering Staff was largely drawn. We have never yet had,

perhaps can ever hope to have, the numerous special departments,

nor the generous equipment, enjoyed by the long-established

institutions in Britain. But I can declare from personal knowledge

that, as regards the basic requirements, our standards have been

good, that in fact it has been a trifle easier to obtain a pass

B.Sc. in London than in Hong Kong.

nor

The Arts Faculty has been somewhat restricted in scope,