CO129-593-6 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee papers 1-1-1939 - 31-12-1946 — Page 106

Miss Ruston

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106

Suggestions by Mr. Cox with regard to the Agenda Paper for the 2nd Meeting of the H ng Kong University Advisory

Committee.

Item I. Minutes. The Secretary will explain that, exceptionally, she has circulated a fairly full confidential record of the discussion at the first meeting as well as the short minutes which the Committee agreed were all that was needed. The reason for this is that, unexpectedly, there has been a month's interval since the first meeting an as this long record is available in the Office we thought we might as well let members have it, particularly as one or two were not present at the first meeting. It is hoped the Committee will be able to meet fortnightly in future, and it is unlikely that anything beyond the short minutes will be available for general circulation in subsequent meetings.

Item 2.

Announcements by the Secretary. These will comprise various minor points as to follow-up action on last time's minutes, papers to be circulated, membership etc., as to which no notes from me are necessary. Sir H. Prideaux-Brune who was present as a Foreign Office observer last time now becomes a fully briefed Foreign Office member. Dr. Kauntze, my Medical Aaviser colleague here, is just back from a long West Indian tour and joins the Committee. Margery Perham, who is writing Lugard's life, has promised to let the Committee have any useful papers on his original aims in founding the University. And so on.

(My fault

He

Item 3. Dates of Meetings. Sloss was very much disappointed by the unavoidable delay caused by our having to postpone the second meeting until now. through forgetting I could not myself manage Feb. 1st). feels our discussions may go on for months and months unless there are prepared agenda papers and a resolute attempt to fix well in advance, and stick to dates of meetings. I fully agree. This means, I think, asking the Committee to decide on a plan of campaign as regards dates. One suggestion is the reservation of one afternoon every second week e.g. alternate Thursdays. This may not suit those living at a distance (principally yourself) who would naturally prefer to have the meetings at times when they have anyhow to be in London. But whatever method is adopted, the important things seem to me to be (a) to have meetings at not longer intervals than a fortnight; (b) to fix in each meeting, when the maximum numbers are present, at least two, if not three, dates in advance so that these may be provisionally held clear by all present.

There may be one or two late arrivals or absentees, and I don't know at what stage in the meeting you will want to take this Item. I believe Professor Penson can't arrive till 3.15 p.m. Thursday afternoons are in general bad for her. Burney, who missed the first meeting, can never do Fridays.

Item 4. Sloss to report on his efforts to get ahead with ordering equipment. He does not seem to have had much success so far. The Committee may be able to help on this, particularly with regard to the scientific side on which Sloss told us he must have help. This Item obviously has a bearing on Item 5.

/Item 5.