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 95

95

The Chairman said that Professor Channon,

in his letter, had pressed the view very

strongly that the Committee should recognise the

fact that there is going to be a University at

Singapore and decisions should be made in the

light of that fact. The Chairman said that,

in establishing a Malayan University, the C.0.

would do it properly and that nobody would come

to Hong Kong University from outside. He.

said that if the alternative was adopted the

Committee should at once give up the idea of a

University as a means of bringing to

bear influences on the friendliness of China.

Mr. Cox was of the opinion that there was

no excuse for establishing a second-class

University. Mr. Sloss considered that a

joint University for Malaya and Hong Kong was

no more reasonable than suggesting a joint

body for Yugoslavia and Sweden. Mr. Sloss

said that special regard should be given to

the Malayans and it would eventually mean that

development will have to be specifically

Malayan, i.e. on matters of language, religion,

culture, or based on characteristics (racial):

the protection of Malayans against the

competition of the Chinese and Indians of

Malaya, and the

of Malaya has become

politically of prime importance. He thought

the only hope for the rehabilitation of the

people in Malaya was the establishment of a

first-rate educational system on the same

scale as a University.

The Chairman said that if there was a

first-class University in Hong there would be

a considerable immigration of Chinese from

Malaya.