CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946 — Page 127

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The Committee unanimously supported the view of the special placc of English in the University studies. we must regard English in Hong Kong University as having the

Professor Penson said that importance of Latin in carlier days in Western universities. Mr. Sloss claimed that the superiority of achievement in English in Hong Kong schools was in large measure due to the work ɖɔnɛ in the post generation by the English Department of the University and that the standard of English in Hong Kong already was at least a year ahead of tout achieved in China.

(b) The Chairman stressed the importance of adequate training in Hong Kɔng in Chines€ for local and overseas students. suggistid that the Committee should regard the Chinese also as a

He basic department of the University.

After discussion of (a) and (b) the Committee agreed that in a revival of the Faculties of Arts and Science, the Departments of English and Chinese should be regarded as having overriding importance.

6.

Discussion on the standard of entrace to the University followed. It was agreed that the standard in subjects other than English should not be lower than the standard of the matriculatiɔn examinations of the English university Boards. It was agreed however that with the development and improvement of schools the University should aim at a materially improved standard of entrance within, a few years.

A. Faculty of Arts.

The Committee discussed the development of a Department of. History. The existing arrangement was regarded by the Committee as. insufficient and unsatisfactory. teaching of Far Eastern History was recognised but

The importance of the desirably, against a background of wide acquaintance with the

this, history of Westura institutions. University should endeavour to establish a Department of History

It was agreed that the to comprehend modern social institutional and conomic history of the West together with the study of the history of the Pacific. countries.

8. The Committee regarded the development of the study of the Social Sciences as especially important in relation both t British Colonial policy end to the development of modern institutions in China. Mr. N. L. Smith, Sir H. Prideaux-Brune and Sir Πorge Moss emphasized the importance of providing for the study of living institutions against the background of political and coonomic theory

nd of putting emph.sis on the actual working of institutions. Sir George Hous urged that social science studies should be developed by gin.ral reference to distinctively British institutiɔns, Professor Penson urged the necessity of a sound historical basis not only in the study of institutions but also in the study of politics and philosphy. The Committee appeared tɔ be of the opinion that the c- ordination of economic and political and social studies should be grouped in a single comprehensive Department of Social Studies.

9. It was agreed that a Department of Modern Languages would be much narrower in scope than in a Department of modern British university, English and Chinese bing fundament 1. that provision should be made for the study of French language and It was agreed literature and perhaps more intensively Portuguese by reason of its local importance.

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