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Brigadier MacDougall wondered if an early announcement of
intentions about the future of the University could be made. On
the whole, however, the Committee thought that it would be unwise
to make such an announcement until a decision had been reached
on the recommendation which would be made to the Secretary of State.
Professor Penson pointed out that new professors and
@ecturers could not be recruited until it was possible to indicate
the scope and prospects of the work for which they were required.
The Chairman in summing up the discussion pointed out that it
showed the importance of an early decision by the Government on the
Committee's recommendations. To expedite matters he thought that an
early report should be made on the Committee's general recommendations
with a "blue print" of the type of University that the Committee
would wish to see established attached. A second report could be
prepared making recommendations for action to be taken if the first
report were rejected. It was his hope that a decision by His
Majesty's Government should be reached by October at the latest and
an announcement could then be made in Hong Kong.
Mr Cox added
that he thought that much could be done to expedite a decision if Brigadier MacDougall from Hong Kong were to keep the Colonial Office
in mind as to the need for an early decision. It might also be
possible to secure the intervention of statesmen with the effect of
accelerating matters since the aim of the University would be
primarily political rather than educational. Brigadier MacDougall
welcomed these suggestions and said that in addition he thought it
would have a valuable effect on local opinion if it could be
arranged for a few members of the Committee to visit Hong Kong.
the meanwhile he would report to the Commander-in-Chief and
Sir Mark Yong on the present position in the light of the statements
which had been made at the meeting.
P N
In
5. Miss Ruston reported that a small executive Committee was
about to be set up in London under an Order in Council for the purpose
of dealing with certain financial affairs of the University particu- larly in regard to meeting the obligations of the University to
its staff for the period of the Japanese occupation. In addition
this
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