5,2
23.
The Chairman asked the meeting whether they would like further data to be obtained from Hong Kong as to the number of students available, type of background, present condition of the buildings, position as regards equipment, etc. It might take time to obtain these details and the Committee might feel that it would be an advantage if someone could be flown out to look into the position on the spot and report before any final decision was taken.
24.
Mr. N.L. Smith raised the question of the matriculation standard, which he said was very high before the Japanese abolished the teaching of English for three years.
25. Mr. Sloss said that when the Colony collapsed every encouragement was given to students to go to Free China. About 500 went. Each one was given a statement of what he had done in the University and such recommendations as would facilitate the admission of the students to Chinese universities. The Japanese threatened the University authorities, but the job was done. The escape of
Dr. Gordon King, the Den of the Medical School, had been contrived in order that he could go to China to take charge of these students and get them placed. 350 of them continued their courses, and 300 completed them out of the 500 who went. The arrangements were made at very considerable risk, but as the figures showed, the majority of the students took advantage of them.
During the whole of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong there was nothing but very elementary vernacular education. The two main Government schools on the Island were completely destroyed and they have not been able to be brought into use. The chief Government school on the mainland was still an R.A.F. hospital. The chief missionary- aided school secondary school was in the possession of the military authorities. One school alone had been opened as a co-educational sch: 1. In the internment camp matriculation examinations were held. The pupils were mainly English, but there were Europeans, Eurasians and a few Chinese. All those who matriculated were, with three exceptions, in England following courses here: so that the residue of qualified entrants to the University from that source is very small. There had been no school classes for four years. A certain number of students had remained
in Hong Kong who had done two, three or four years of their courses, and until the University was restarted there was nothing that could be done for them except possibly a small group of first year entrants. The equipment of the University was completely gone. There was not a test tube left. Everything had been pilfered, looted or destroyed. After seeing the state of the buildings and equipment Mr. Sloss was appalled at the difficulties of providing even elementary laboratory, equipment in the near future. The suggestion had been made that the preliminary scientific training of a new race of doctors should begin without any laboratory work, but in his opinion this would be hazardous in the extreme, and such a course would not be justified. As a first stop he thought they must obtain from Hong Kong full details of the number of prospective entrants.
His owl view was that there would not be more than ten or fifteen.
26. The Chairman asked if, in the light of Mr. Sloss's illuminating statement the Committec would think that it was worth while obtaining confirmation of Mr. Sloss's estimate of the probable number of students likely to be capable of starting courses in the autumn if it were possible to re-open in a small way, not forgetting Mr. Smith's point about finding out particulars of their secondary education.
/27.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.