The Committee considered as an alternative to a of a good reconstituted University, the maintenance medical school to meet the Colony's needs, and expansion and strengthening of the Government's organization for the treating of teachers, and the development of the existing Technical school to the point at which it could train efficient assistants for local engineering services, Goverment and commercial.
8.
There was ample evidence for the Committee's conclusion that such a recommendation would moet very strong opposition. Sir Mark Young in his conference with the Committee spoke decisively against it as a proposal that would be repugnant to local Chinese feeling, and, especially at this time, as likely to be interpreted as the first intimation of an intention of His Majesty's Government tc free itself of commitments in China. The dissolution of the University after thirty years of not entirely valueless existence, he thought, would offend not only the British Chinese in
The Hong Kong but all our friends in the Far East. Committee believes that Great Britain, especially at this time, in the regions of science, politics, economics and in the arts of life, has something of value for Chinese acceptance and that a strong, well equipped University in Hong Kong is the aptcst means of contact. presentation of British ideals in these regions of the mind, and by the development of the fullest exchange of teachers, the Committee believes that the ground will be well prepared for enduring friendliness.
9.
By its
But manifestly a British University of a standard that presupposes challenging comparisons by its situ tion on the flank of China, is far beyond the resources of a small Colony already faced by the burden of vast material recon-
But anything struction and great schemes of social welfare.
The only British University less no longer will suffice.
in the Far East should be fitted to stand comparison with
Merely to continue the best that China herself has done.
British
on the old scale and scope would, in the opinion of the Committee, result in a loss of prestige hardly less than would result from the substitution of a group of technological institutions for a University. prestige should not be hazard judgment of pretentious inf orlokt bONAC
Mean-
10. It is the final judgment of the Committee that the only proper course is to reconstitute the University with the financial help from the Treasury on a basis on which it might in a period of years grow into an institution com- parable with the new Universities of Great Britain. time immediate provision for an early restart of teaching is necessary on a basis that does not compromise our
This Committee approves the propos ls for development. steps taken by the University of Hong Kong Provisional Powers Committee.
11.
The Committee has been influenced in reaching its decision by the written opinion of two men whose concern has been the fostering of good relations with China. Professor V. Roxby, the representative of the British Council in China and Dr. Joseph Needham, Head of the British Scientific Mission in China have expressed them- selves very decisively on the value from this point of view, of the University but equally decisively on the need to improve it. Finally we would refer to a later
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