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other parts of China and its graduates were at a disadvantage on lengunge grounds in seeking employment in China. This disability will be greatly reduced by the
recent decision Hong Kong Government encourage (kwo
in its schools the study of the national language that the Government of China is successfully disseminating.
(Kwo Yi)
which
(iii) Moreover, like institutions of higher education in other Colonies, the University sufferel from intellectual isolation. Its poverty prevented it from adopting an adequate system of home leave or sabbatical leave for its staff; it could not afford, financially or in terms of staff, to facilitate frequent study leave in China, visiting lectureships, summer schools, and those other forms of intellectual intercourse which would have kept it continuously refreshed by vigorous contact with both British and Chinese academic developments. The proper financing of the University would remove many of these difficulties. Other levelopments also will contribute to their removal, such as the recommendations of the Asquith Commission for staff secondment, annual visits, improve
wish conditions of service for staff, etc. which the
A Inter-University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies has been establish. ` t carry but
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is consexed
The impending aing
reprganization of the Universities Bureau of the British Empire will also assist in reducing this isolation and in well facilitate int rfchange of staff and ideas with the Empire universities.
(c) Competitiɔn
32 When the University was founded in 1911 there were few universities in China. The past thirty years have seen the growth, some with American assistanec, of numerous Chinesc universities, a few of which have achieved standards which make them rank as equals with those of the United Kingdom. This development ant not only the diversion of may students who might otherwise have proceedel tɔ Hong Kong, but also that Hong Kong University was rapilly but distanced in equipment and resources. The Committee consider that far from preventing a reconstituted University from achieving its aim, this factor could in the future greatly assist it in doing so. There is now a manifold and energetic ademic life in China with which
a
we
a British university can make contact. The opportunities for exchange, for study, for cooperation in research, crente now the condit ns in which "the maintenance of good understanding" on a university level is fruitfully possible. It is, however, an absolute requirement that the University of Hong Kong should in quality and standards in Specialized opheroj 20 A Pepresentative of British ship, be able to meet its sister universities in China at least as an equal.
POLICY GOVERNING THE UNIVERSITY'S RESUSCITATION.
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23 The Committee meid therefore, recommendy that a University should continue to exist in Hong Kong primarily as a centre for Sino-British contact in the sphere of learning, and for the maintenance of good understanding with the neighbouring
/country
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