CO129-594-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee report 29-3-1946 - 3-7-1946 — Page 143

142

som: students should be specially trained in the proper disciplines and methods of History, Philosophy and Mathematics by means of Honours Schools in those subjects at an early date.

The following observations are offered on the first three Departments which are in the above sense basic.

Department of English (Language and Literature)

This Department should aim at developing a critical appreciation of Western Civilisation and its variants, especially the British, through a study of a suitable selection of literaturo, using that word in its widest sense. It should also aim at giving its students an effective mastery of spoken and written English, based upon a study of the language, using all the latest techniques, and with especial attention to phonetics. In this respect it would gain much from the post-graduate Department of Education. Comparative studies in English and Chinose literary forms should be undertaken. For this reason we would suggest that one, at least, of the lecturers of the Department should be a Chinese well grounded in his own and in English literaturo. Such men find a place in the Chinese scheme of University education.

Department of Chinese (Language and Literature):

This Department would give Chinese from overseas and some non-Chinese students, an elementary training in the Chinese language, and an introduction to its literature, but its main work would be among Chinese students already well-

·grounded in this subject. It might also become a research centre for British sinologuos, like the Ecole Francaise de Useful work might be done on 1'Extreme Orient, at Hanoi. the Chinese dialects and in literary and historical research. It would certainly be surprising if this Department became a greater centre of Chinese studios than those in China itself, but before the War it had already become an important contre, and in any case its staff woul: be essential for the purpose of comparative studies undertaken in conjunction with the Departments of English Language and Literature, of Social Sciences and of Philosophy.

Department of Social Science:

Studies in mathematics, langunges, history, philosophy and geography underlie and Facilitate the special work of this Department which will be the comparative study of the social philosophies and social institutions of. the Far East and the Atlantic areas, especially in their economic and political aspects. More especially it would study those of China, Britain China has a long history in which and the British.Commonwealth. such matters are very adequately recorded, and has maão hor

It is reasonable own contribution, especially in social ethics. to assume that comparative studies could very fruitfully be pursued. Very close contact would be maintained with the Departments of English, History and Philosophy wheroin the staff at the beginning will have a majority of British members, and with the Department of Chinese which will be staffed exclusivoly by Chinese. The Department of Social Science might aim at an

early