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 221

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Butterfield Surre

As the result Messrs B. and S. donated £40,000 to endow a

Chuir and provide for equipment, British Manufacturers

prosented equipment with several thousands of punds, and so on, We therefore have our obligations.

(2) Hong Kong University differs from proposed Colonial

Universities in that it is only partly a domestic concern.

The training of engineers for work in China itself has always been our major concern.

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7. (3) It is not a question of establishing & Faculty in Engineering,

with new buildings. This has been done already, ed in spite of a lean period 1925 /1935 approximately, when the members taking Electrical and Mechanical Engincering final courses fell away very badly, the Engineering Faculty has to a large extent justified its existence. The Civil Engineer- ing Department has been healthy throughout and just before War broke out, chiefly owing to courses of post-graduato training at home, the Mechanical and Electrical Departments were roviving encouragingly.

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and

The

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Strength of Faculty well over the hundred mark in later years.

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Our degrees recognised by institutions of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers.

f. (4) It would be particularly unfortunato to close down just now.

5.

Almost certain it would lend to a 'whispering campaign' that the British were thinking of retreating from llong Konrour

it be feared that the samo fato may soon be in si ro for the other Faculties.

(5) The predominance of American trained Chinese Enginocrs, already

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alarming, will increase still further.

Faculty

The University has been of groat value to the Colony in varicus ways.

For example, the Materials Laboratory hus been responsible for the testing of steel, coment, concreto, ropes, etc., not only for P.W.D. but for architects, ots., the Government having no Laboratory of its own.

would

The Colony will certainly be the poorer for the loss of such service.

Frofessor Redmond then went on to say that he prosumed that the desire to abolish the English Faculty was influenced by the fact that it would be expensive to re-equip the Mechanical and Electrical Departments.

In view of the fact that these two Departments were of special importance to British Manufacturers, an effort should be made through F.B. and B.E.A.M.A. to raise £100,000 £150,000 to set those Departments on their feet again und to endow them partly. Failing this he would recommend the following:

Cost of

a) The Civil Engineering Department be re-opend in full.

There always a local demand for Civil Engineers. The facilities for teachiivil Engineers are good. oquipment and maintenance is comparatively low. The most urgent need is a well-equipped Materials Laboratory (which could do all Government testing as well)

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