CO129-593-4 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45 27-10-1946 - 30-1-1947 — Page 27

LC 4999/4999/452

101

27

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

20th December, 1946.

Fail. 21.2

(7

GA-

Dear Author,

I am sorry that it has taken me some time to follow up my letter of 28th October about the proposal to re- establish the Hong Kong University.

To

We should be very pleased to see the University re- established and enlarged, so as to forward the good name of Britain in the Far East, and, by attracting students from China, to contribute to the cultural progress of the Chinese people and increase their knowledge of, and respect for, British methods and ideals. We shall there- fore be glad to join you in an approach to the Treasury on the lines you suggest, subject, however, to the fol- lowing considerations.

The desirability of strengthening the cultural ties between this country and China has been engaging our atten tion for some time, and we have already made plans to spread a knowledge of British culture in China through the British Council's organisation there, and to promote the study of Chinese culture by persons of British nationality in accordance with the recommendations of the Scarbrough Report. This Report, of which a copy was sent to you under cover of our letter LC 3975/87/450 of 24th August, recommends, among other measures, the establishment of a study centre in Peking (see Appendix 1, Section C, paragraph 34(vii) of the Report). In supporting therefore a request to the Treasury for a grant for the Hong Kong University, we should have to stipulate that such grant should be without prejudice to the financial requirements of the British Council's

work/

The Right Honourable

A. Creech Jones, M. P.