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 46

PART I

46

Substantial

MAIN RECOMMENDATION.

1.

We are unanimous in recommending that the University of Hong Kong should be reestablished as soon as possible on a firm financial basis, with staff and facilities adequate to make it fully representative of British academic standards and to make it an effective centre for Sinc-British contact in the sphere of learning.

all in spite of the imme,

"tandar

2.

We are of opinion that the restoration of the ptrimental University on its inadequate pre-war basis would be disastrous- to British prestige in the Far East and that if it is not to be restored on a worthy

it should not be revived at

prestige and the loss to political repercussions that would fellow. British cultural relations with China which such a decision would entail.

We do not regard the higher education needs of the Colony itself as justifying the creation of a University. The University is needed as a representation in the Far East of British scholarship and as a centre capable of taking advantage of the unique opportunities presented for cooperation between British and Chinese learning at the point of junction between the two civilizations. We therefore recommend that the capital and recurrent expenditure involved, which we tentatively estimate at £1 million and £100,000 per annum, should be met from Imperial sources, except for a contribution from the Colony on the scale of its pre-war support. We express the hope that His Majesty's Government may consider inviting some of the Dominion Governments to participate in providing the necessary funds for this British centre of learning in the Far East.

3.

We consider that the University should be reconstructed as an autonomous institution and on a permanent basis, so far as buildings, endowment and other arrangements are

we envisage à lasting scope bor its special concerned, because the unique functions and its representati character will end-

there are changes in the irrespective polities] ́etstuls of Hong Kong, of political changes which the future may hold in store.

4. We cannot emphasize too strongly our conviction that the standards of the University must be such that it can stand comparison with those of other British universities and of its sister Chinese universitics on the mainland. contrast to its position when first founded, as the only university institution on the Chinese continent, its relative position had radically changed in the period before the war

American and then With the development of Chinese universities of first-class

foreign assistanes

standard.

It is certain that after the war Chinese

institutions, partly with gelenene mbresada

In

Almanicen Bources, will regain and surpass their former distinction and standards. For the British Commonwealth to be represented by an impoverished institution, with an overworked and undere quipped staff, denied the conditions of making contributions to knowledge by research, and yet presuming to call itself a university, would be discreditable. The continuing damage to our prestige involved would be far greater than that entailed by a frank confession now that we are not able or willing to restore Hong Kong University with the implication that we are uncertain of the future British Interests on in the Far East, and uninterested in the

conngrep of iderer

or regard the

merce of ideal as a matter of secondary concern.

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