PART V IMMEDIATE ACTION
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By its terms of reference the Committee was asked "to advise in some detail on the steps necessary to restart such of the work hitherto undertaken by the University as is essential for the needs of Hong Kong, whatever the decision arrived at on the broader issue. 车
Early in its sessions the Committee was informed that there had been established in London by Order in Council "The Hong Kong, University Provisional Powers Committee" with authority to deal with immediately important University matters until the proper authorities of the University could fulfil their functions. The Committee was kept informed of the decisions of this Provisional Powers Committee and has received the following summary of the action it has taken to facilitate an early resumption of higher education in Hong Kong:
(a) Buildings: The Civil Affairs Administration in Hong Kong has undertaken to push forward as rapidly as possible with the work of restoring buildings. The Committee asked that high priority should be given to the repair and refitting of the elementary Science laboratories, of the Medical laboratories, of part of the class rooms in the Arts building, of an office and of residences for students and staff.
(b) Libraries. Nothing was necessary here except the separation away from the University stocks of the large numbers of books from other places which were gathered at the library for safe-keeping. The Provisional Powers Committee has not attempted to make good the wartime deficiency of periodicals and new books, but suggests that towards this end the University should seek the help of the British Council and of the United Nations Organizations.
(c) Laboratory equipment: English manufacturers of laboratory equipment have been accommodating to a degree beyond earlier anticipation. It is expected that equipment for the elementary sciences and for medicine, will be installed and ready for use by October of this year, and that equipment for engineering laboratories will follow two or three months later.
(a) Admission Examination: To ensure a satisfactory standard of entrace, it has been arran ed that the London University Matriculation Board should hold its General Schools Examinations in Hong Kong in June and July of this year. The Matriculation Board has been most generous of help in allowing adjustments in its syllabuses to fit the special conditions in Hong Kong and in giving the Hong Kong University the benefit of its vast experience and of its admirable machinery of examinations.
(e) Staff: Already in Hong Kong are the Professor of Gynaecology with whom, for the carrying through of certain refresher courses for students who took their final medical examinations in China, are associated officiating professors of medicine and surgery, members of the Civil Medical Department of the Colony; a senior lecturer in Physics who is to be released from Civil Administration duties as soon as the University can use his services, and some Chinese assistants. The Professors of English and Economics have sailed for Hong Kong to reopen the University office and to make provision for certain parts of the teaching. The professorships of Chinese, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Pathology, Surgery, Medicine, Civil Engineering and dducation are vacant. The filling of these posts 18 left to the action of the Universit. Council when it is reconstituted. Inquiries for suitable candidates are continuing in the United Kingdom.
Attempts are being made to fill, at an early date, the vacant Lectureships in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, History, and English, either in London or in China. The appointments will, in the
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