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 26

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3

In amplification Dr. Priestley referred to the growing quality of Chinese universities and stressed the importance of ensuring

that Hong Kong attained a standard at least equal to the best of these even if the range of subjects had to be limited.

4

Sir Herbert Eason spoke of the importance of maintaining a first class medical school particularly in view of the fact that American influence and support in China was likely to increase. S

Professor Hinton expressed the opinion that University should not be too closely associated with Government and that consideration of its development on generously conceived lines should not be held up by any doubts as to the political future of Hong Kong. Although it might be taken as virtually certain that the New Territories at least would have reverted to China within 50 years he would like

to see any extension of the University as it developed situated

in the New Territories. Particularly playing fields.

An

independent University might be a centre radiating valuable influences in the uncertain future and "a political catalyst" in intergrating

British and Chinese interest.

Mrs. Forster hoped that other faculties of the University might

now be developed to a degree not lower than that hitherto attained

by the Faculty of Medicine.

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Sir Mark Young after thanking the Committee for its invitation to be present, expressed his pleasure in finding that the Committee were convinced of the value of reviving the University in such a way

as to evolve the original aims of the founder.

He was personally

fully convinced of the importance of the University as an instrument for maintaining friendly relations with China and he agreed that no

doubts as to the future of Hong Kong should hold up the work of

restoration.

He was sure that the Hong Kong Government would desire

that the University should be revived on the lines envisaged by the

Committee both for the well-being of the Colony and for the sake of

its influence with its relations with China.

As regards practical steps he did not think that Hong Kong

would be able to substantially increase the grant which it had made

to the University before the war. He agreed that the first step

/was