CO129-593-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45 12-1-1946 - 27-10-1946 — Page 235

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Opposition was nevertheless strong in K.M.T. Left Wing Circles, and the Chinese in the Phillipines are particularly active in fostering anti-British Imperialism agitation. Chinese politicians had to take all this into account in their public speeches. There

a lot of manoeuvuring for political influence, but K uo seemed to be confident that a liberal British attitude, if firmly expressed, would meet with an understanding and liberal attitude. That was the feeling of Chiang Kai-shek and of all intellectual leaders. Opposition was confined to ultra-nationalists and partizan politicians and could be overruled if we played our hand well.

Regarding Hong Kong University, its development on a scale which would prove really helpful to China, as well as to British prestige, could be a fine "Bridge" and a great offset to political disappointments. It could be "played up" and could drown a lot of discord. But even here, approaches should be carefully made. Hu Shih is set on making a success of the re-establishment of the Universities of Central China and Kuo tells me that he and other old Professors now in Government Service are being assured of a welcome by Hu Shih if political changes force them to leave. The Chinese Ministry of Education and the Professors would all welcome a high grade University of Hong Kong, where Kuo says roundly only the School of Medicine was up to the highest standard. But here again the approach is tricky. Dr. Chu Chia-Lua, the Minister of Education (a German educated, incisive man, brainy and a good administrator) would probably favour co-operation. But he belongs to a different wing of the K.M.T. politically and if co-operation was initially and too warmly sponsored by Yang Shih-chieh and Han Li-wu, who are notably pro-British, Dr. Chu (who is primarily en der Statesman of the K.M.T. and a Party Leader) might from political perversity, and egged on by the Phillipinos, come out in opposition.

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Nevertheless, Mr. Sloss tells us that he was much couraged by Chu Chia-Lua and my own recollection of him is that of really big man outstanding among his colleagues for directness and rce of character, tinged however by Prussian rigidity and Political rfare.

Kuo volunteered the hope that Hong Kong would develop a Chair r the study of Economics and International problems in the Far st in the U.N.O. spirit, for which he said there was great need

similar suggestion was made in one of our Reports).

To sum up, I am tending to the opinion that although we should well advised to go ahead as soon as possible in repairing existing buildings, equipment and collecting staff and students in Hong Kong to bring the University up to local pre-war level (and I gather this would take two years), no really ambitious plans on the scale advocated by some of the HKUAC members should be publicly ventilated until we find out whether they are likely to be encouraged or opposed in China. If the Foreign Office shies off, why, not depute Sloss, plus a colleague, to explore the ground, with the blessing of the Foreign Office and the Embassy in China to whom the finishing touches and the kudos could go if the exploration were successful. They could affect indifference, if the exploration were unsuccessful.

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