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 142

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The Committee unanimously supported the view of the special place of English in the University studies. Professor Penson said that we must regard English in Hong Kong University as having the 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 done 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 tat achieved in China.

(b) The Chairman stressed the importance of adequate training in Hong Kong in Chinese for local and overseas students. He suggested that the Committee should regard the Chinese also as a 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 matriculation 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.

7.

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. The importance of the teaching of Fer Eastern History was recognised but this, desirably, against background of wide acquaintance with the history of Westurninstitutions. It was agreed that the University. should endeavour to establish a Department of History to comprehend modern social institutional and woonomic history of the West together wit. the study of the history of the Pacific. countrics.

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

nd of putting emph :sis on the actual working of institutions. Sir George Moss urged that social science studies should be developed by genral r、furenc u to distinctively British institutions. 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 to be of the

pinion that the co-ordination of economic and political and social studies should be grouped in a single comprehensive Department of Social Studies.

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

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