CO129-594-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee report 1-7-1946 - 19-8-1946 — Page 87

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PREFACE

The Committee has regarded its task as being in the nature of an exploratory survey, and has been conscious that decisions on the basic questions referred to in paragraph (a) of the terms of reference must ultimately be subject to considerations of high policy, financial and political, some of which depend on various factors necessarily lying outside the cognizance of the Committee.

After considering the broad issue in the light of the individual knowledge and experience of its members, and of the relevant factors so far as they are known to them, the Committee has no hesitation in expressing the opinion that a University should continue to exist at Hong Kong. This recommendation

is, however, made with the important proviso that it depends on acceptance of the Committee's recommendations on the second question mentioned in paragraph (a), namely, the policy which should govern the resuscitation of the University.

Our recommendations under paragraph (a) are stated briefly in Part I of our Report. The facts and arguments on which we base them are set out in Part II. We next give, in Part III, an outline of the scheme which we consider appropriate for the development of the University in a revived form, having regard to the special circumstances of the case. Part IV explains the financial implications of our proposals, so far as it is at present possible to assess them. Finally, in Part V we deal with the immediate action called for, which covers the question referred to us in paragraph (b) of the terms of reference.

PART I. 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 capable of reaching British academic standards and becoming an effective centre for Sino-British contact in the sphere of learning.

We are of opinion that the restoration of the University on its inadequate pre-war basis would be detrimental to British prestige in the Far East; and that, if it is not to be restored on a worthy standard, it should not be revived at all, in spite of any immediate effect on prestige and the loss to British cultural relations with China which such a decision would entail.

2. The University is needed to represent British scholarship in the Far East and to be a centre where advantage can be taken of the unique opportunities presented for cooperation between British and Chinc se learning at the point of junction between the two oivilizations. We do not regard the present higher education needs of the Colony itself as justifying the maintenance of a University.

We therefore recommend that the

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