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 121

HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEIL

Confidential

No.HKUAC 16

121

26

Note by Sir George Moss in expansion of his remarks at the

first meeting of the Committee on January 18th.

I have read carefully the papers eupplied to the Hong Kong University Advisory Committes. I have been particularly impressed by the wide scope of the University's charter, which makes its future far more than a local concern, and by Professor Digby's general arguments in favour of speed in restarting.

The technical difficulties should not prevent success, but I feel that the Key to a successful solution of the problem as a whole will be in our ability to find a satisfactory answer to the question posed by Sir Andrew Caldecott who out of his wide experience reminds us "that Hong Kong is far too small a territory to absorb the output of a University and that China in her modern nationalistic mood gives preference to the Alumni of her own Universities in making Governmental, professional, technical and business appointments on the mainland".

In other words the initial problem is political and Diplomacy must clear the ground before financial and technical questions can be set in proper focus.

Before a University can be assured of its future it should be adequately financed, its excellence must be equal to its task, it must be assured of adequate, feeding, schools and also that its human output will be readily and usefully absorbed. The se requirements are inter-related and essential ones, and unless each single one is safe-guarded the whols will fall. Hong Kong "University must look for candidates and the se in turn for their

careers mainly to outlying Territories to China, Malaya, Borneo, th Netherlands East Indies, Indo-China, Siam and even the Philippince, India and Japan if it is to fulfill the function of a University to diffuse British standards and learning in the Far East. Good-will must be ensured in all these territories, and we should be prepared to give them something tangible in return, possibly in the form of exchange of Professors, etc. But before our goal can even be intelligently envisaged we should obtain more than mere promises of

28 27 their good-will from the Dominions and especially from China. response is favourable,,favourablę response from most of the others

The should be forthcoming, and might, I think, be assumed. co-operation of China is essential and I submit that if we decide to advocate the restoration of Hong Kong University on a wide scale worthy of the Empire and of the University's foundation we should recommend that steps be taken to sound the Chinese Government for its views and assurances of cooperation as soon as practicable, and I think we might well concentrate on crystallizing our views on this subject.

Speed la essential, as Professor Digby points out; but the

Now that the world 18 ground for foundations should be tested. passing through the idealistic atmosphere engendered by the United Nations Conference 1t would seem to be a good time to make the approach to the Chinese Government. A great deal would depend on how it is done, through diplomatic or through academic channels, or jointly; but done it should be. Whatever the difficulties, there

/would