CO129-594-8 A G H Sment- report on medical activities and problems 16-12-1945 - 18-2-1946 — Page 76

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12. HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION.

Early in 1938 a Committee was appointed by the Chancellor, Sir Ceoffrey Northcote, to consider the future development of the University of Hong Kong. Their report was submitted to the Chancellor in May 1939. Reference to that report should be made in reading this section of my report. Since the Committee's report was written the Northcote Science Elock has been completed and was in use for a short while before the Japanese invasion.

The recommendations of the Committee are printed on page 40 and succeeding pages of their Report. The most important recommendation concerned the site of the University. It was recommended that, to provide for development, "the question of the transfer of the University to a larger site outside the town should immediately be taken into consideration. The reasons for and against this trans-

fer and rebuilding of the University are given in the preceding paragraphs of the report. Apparently the Committee had a site in view on the Island of Hong Kong. The argument for transfer is mainly based on the limited capacity of the existing site for future expansion, and the fact that suitable playing fields were not available for the under- graduates. The Committee went on to say, however, that no consideration of this problem should be allowed to interfere with the building projects then in hand.

Since these recommendations were put forward the University buildings have suffered grievous damage, almost entirely through sabotage by looting; very little damage has resulted from enemy action. Unfortunately this looting

is still going on, and will continue, until it is possible to occupy buildings. When I visited the Vice Chancellor's lodge it was apparent that active sabotage was continuing; flooring was being ripped up, doors were being torn off their hinges, the uprights of the staircase were being sawn through to facilitate the removal of the timber and, actually, there were bundles of material stacked awaiting removal during the ensuing night.

The damaged buildings have had a preliminary inspection carried out by Lt.Col. L. V. Amps, S.0.1, (C.A.), Works. He reports that structurally the majority of the buildings are in very good condition but most of them have been completely stripped of timber including floors, and of fittings. Put briefly, he thinks that the majority of the damaged buildings can be repaired fairly quickly; in most of them roofs are intact. The buildings represent

assets of considerable value to the University and, after

repair, their value will be enhanced. Col. Amps hazards the opinion that, provided the necessary teakwood for joinery is available, there should be little difficulty in restarting the University by September, 1946.

This, of course, applies only so far as reconditioning is. concerned; there is the much wider question of scientific equipment and machinery which will be difficult to replace rapidly.

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