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Mr. Sloss montimod that the Committee had been considering the desirability of extending training facilities for teachers in Hong Kong particularly for Chinese teachers of English. He asked whether such a project was likely to conflict in any way with the proposed activities of the Council.
Assuming that touchers trained in a British Colony would be acceptable to Chinesc provincial authoritics, Mr. Fitzgerald thought the the field v was wide enough for the activities of both Council and University to be expanded.
In answer to a further question Mr. Fitzgerald replied that the Council would concentrate on the training of touchers for secondary schools who had already graduated.
Sir George Moss said that since it appeared that Chinese Universities, with the assistance of the British Council, were going to have better English departments than in the past, it was vital that Hong Kong University should set itself a very high standard indood on this side. The question arose whether the stuff as planned at the last meeting was strong enough. The Committee took the vicw that it was strong cnough for a beginning but not for development.
In reply to a question from Mr, Cox us to whether in viow of the Council's plans he would regard the project of an expanded University in Hong Kong as wasteful duplication. Mr. Fitzgerald replied that,
on the contrary, ho felt that there should be very close co-operation between the authorities of the University and the Council's representa- tives in China, and that both would assist in the mutual aim of spreading British ideas and British culture.
The Chainmn thunked Mr. Fitzgerald for his clear exposition and the Committeo thon passed on to iter 3 of the agenda.
Mr. Sloss said that the equipment position now appeared are favourable than he had dared to hope. Prices were certainly 50% higher than in 1939 but he now had an assurance from the Makers that if an order were placed now sufficient equipment for elementary Chemistry, Physics and Biology could be available in Hong Kong to start on a reasonable basis in October, Mr. Sloss said that providing the Committeo agrood ho proposed on the authority of the Engineering runcy Execu- tive. Committee (which was being established by Order in Council and to
which reference was mide at the last meeting) to place an order.
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Mr. Sloss also reported on the arrangements which he had made with the examining Board of the General Schools Examination for a matriculation test in Hong Kong. A telegram had been received from the Cavil Affears Administration reporting that thoro were 236 cadidatos of whom 120 wore privato students. Judging by past experience no more than 10% of these would pass the examination. It would not be possible to pre- pare a final admission list before the middle or end of September,
Frofessor Redmond opposed the idea of entirely abolishing the Engineer ing Faculty on the following rounds:-
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When it was originally proposed to establish a University in Hong Kong a strong case was put forward for the toaching of engineering› partly altruistic, but the idea that British trained engineers would further British Trade in China carried much weight: and still dons.
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