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 145

145

remark above on the total absence of any teaching in geology, which should be remedied

in Meteorology; or in Organic

Chemistry. On the other hand, I should recommend the establishment of strong research centres in Physics, especially Nuclear Physics, with the building of a cyclotron, since most of the Chinese Government's efforte for some time to come will be on more practical lines; in Biophysics, which is practically unknown in China; in Biochemistry, which is backward and much too tied to Medicine; in Experimental Biology and Morphology, neglected in China because of the still great importance of systematic biology in a country with so many species still new to science; in Psychology; and in fundamental Auronautical Science,

It is needless to say that the expenditure required for such a program would be much in excess of what the Report secMB to envisage. But it will not be possible to impress the Chinese and really aid them in the development of their country without spending money. And bere I should like to emphasise that the U.S.A's coming program for the industrialisation of Ching will certainly involve, as one of its facets, a continuation, and probably a considerable extension, of their financial support of higher education in China.

For the rest, I should like, to express my agreement with the proposal for exchange of teachers and students (and of course, I should add, research workers) between Hongkong University and the various Chinese Universities, (Ch. IV, gfoghly p.,. But here again, such a gchene will not work unless the University attains a really high standard, and can offer gifts which would be generally regarded as desirable, as well að receiving them. It may be added in this connection, that in my experience the four bost Chiness Universities already mentioned (Peiching, Chinghua, Nankai, and Cheklang) are, for level of critical standards, though not of course for total bulk of aciongific achievement, abous equal to such Halvorsit438 as Cambridge and Oxford. The ctandard which Hongkong has to attain, therefore, la distinctly high.

I think the mole question turns to some extent upon one 'a conception of a University. I may repeat here m:t I have often said to representatives of the "Christian" or "missionary" universities in China, when pressed for my opinion. I consider that, no doubt oving to lock of funda but pertly (I believe) or set intent, these universities (with the exception of Yenching) have copied American "junior Colleges", with the aim of turning cut dristian citizens rather than forming disinterested centres of true science and learning. I maintain thet unless a university has at least a few really great men within it, there is never any opportunity for an undergraduate to catch the divine fleme. I so vividly remember how I myself, though a medical student, listened at Cambridge to old Professor Burkitt's lectures, on the Menichees, and to 2.4. Browne descanting on Arabian science. Only in this way can the young understand what the disinterested life of science and learning is all about. world of Y.M.C. A. secretaries and Christian Cucators, weighed in the balance against this other, is found yanting.

A

There is a passage in Ch. IV (442, p.8) with which I do not agres namely, that in which it is suggested that the Hongkong University "might serve usefully as a distributing agency for books and equipment given in Great Britain to assist the Chinese

/Universities".