CO129-596-3 Hong Kong University- recognition of wartime training of medical students 24-1-1946 - 10-3-1949 — Page 48

HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Confidential

No. HKUAC 36

45254

the

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM DR. GORDON KING (DEAN OF THE MEDICAL FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY) TO MISS RUSTON DATED

23RD MARCH, 1946.

"I am sure you will be glad to hear that the long planned ceremony of the Conferring of Medical Degrees by the Emergency Committee was at last achieved yesterday afternoon in the ruins of the University Great Hall. It was an impressive ceremony, in the austere setting of the roofless and looted skeleton of the Hall, but we decided that there could be no more fitting place. About 180 people were present, including many members of the University Court and representatives of the Services and other bodies, both Chinese and British. Mr. Hazlerigg awarded the diplomas on behalf of the Committec, and the Commander-in-Chief gave an excellent address. Tea was served afterwards in the Cloisters, and the Library was thrown open for inspection.

It was altogether a very happy little ceremony, and all the comment I heard was most favourable. To me personally, it was a very gratifying occasion, for I felt as I scanned the names of the 33 graduates and thought of their strangely varied experiences during these last four years, that the efforts which we commenced on their bohalf in 1942 had at last come to fruition."

B.

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT GIVEN IN THE CHINA MAIL OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF'S SPEECH ON THAT OCCASION.

I

"In each stop of the re-building of the University it is the intention to bear in mind always the importance of co-operatiun with the Universities and cducational institutions of Ching. am sure the importance of liaison with China is going to be a groat factor in the future history of this University which numbers amongst its first students Dr. Sun Yat-sen. When I was in Chungking, the Generalissimo displayed great interest in the ro-building of this University and spoke to me about the importance of getting the University going again as soon as possible, a view which I naturally very much shared with him. Canton, I went to Ling Nam University and not only did I receive

During my visit to a very kind welcome but all the officials spoke most appreciatively to me of what Hong Kong University had done for Ling Nam before the Japanese attacked Hong Kong and also very kindly expressed their sincere wish to repay some of that debt by assisting Hong Kong University now. As you all know a number of students from Hong Kong are now at Ling Nam University.