THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MARCH
Ceremony In Ruins Of University
IN A CEREMONY WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN ALMOST
UNIQUE IN UNIVERSITY HISTORY, INASMUCH AS IT TOOK PLACE IN THE RUINED SHELL OF THE GREAT HALL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, ROOFLESS AND WIDE OPEN TO THE SKY, MEDICAL DEGREES WERE YESTERDAY CONFERRED ON UN- DER-GRADUATES WHO WERE COMPLETING THEIR COURSES IN DECEMBER 1941.
The rubble and wreckage left by the Japanese had been re- moved for the occasion, and the stark walls and the al fresco atmosphere seemed to lend addi- tional impressiveness to a cere- mony which was without pre- cedent in more senses than one.
In his opening speech, Mr. T. M. Hazelrigg, Chairman of the Hong Kong Medical Degrees Emergency Committee, set up by an Order of His Majesty the King in Council, said:
CHINA COMPANIES
LAW
Shanghai, March 22.
Fear of drastic curtailment of foreign business in China by, the new companies law was allayed yesterday when Randall Gould, Shanghai "Evening Post and Mercury” editor, received an assurance from T. V. Soong, Executive Yuan President and Dr. Sun Fo. President of the Legisla- tive Yuan.
American businessmen said they will immediately put plans into operation for resumption of their pre-war trade with China.-Associated Press.
equivalent to the comparable courses of study and examina- tions at the University of Hong Kong.
It is possible that there may be present to-day people who do not read that thrilling In respect of each of the can- periodical known as the Hong didates upon whom degrees will Kong (British Military Admin- be conferred to-day the Com- istration) Gazette. It, there- mittee is satisfied that the re- fore, seems desirable that there quirements of the Statutes of should be some explanation of the University and of the Order. the substitution of this after- of His Majesty in Council have noon's simple procedure for the been fulfilled. pomp and ceremony usually as- sociated with a Congregation of the University.
One final point. It is parti- cularly declared by the Order in Council that degrees conferred The events of December, in accordance with its provi- 1941, disrupted the lives of the sions shall be deemed to have undergraduates and called a halt been conferred at a Congrega- to the activities of this Univer-tion of the whole University. sity. Many of the undergrad-
We are fortunate in having uates, however, escaped into with us to-day Mr. G. P. de China and pursued their studies Martin, who at one time acted in the Chinese Universities amid as Registrar of this University great difficulties. Some of the and who is, I believe, the oldest medical students, after passing surviving member of its Court. their examinations, went on to Mr. de Martin has kindly con- render valuable services in their sented to support the Committee profession.
and I now call upon him to ad- dress the meeting.
The Dark Days
When the dark days ended the University lacked the ma- chinery for awarding and con- ferring degrees. Obviously something had to be done about
it.
His Majesty the King in Council decided, just as less august bodies decide when in difficulties, that there must be a committee to deal with the mat- ter.
University's Vitality
Mr. de Martın said that it
visitors for their presence. was his privilege to thank the
necesarily truncated function "By joining with us in this
you bring with you a message of friendship and encourage- ment.
behalf of everybody here to con- "I take upon myself also, on
gratulate the new graduates
Accordingly it was ordered upon receiving the credentials
which will enable
them to as-
"This consummation of their University career has been made
the possible by
recognition
that there should be constitut- ed a Committee, to be known sume the duties of their great as the University of Hong Kong
profession. Medical Degrees Emergency Committee. This Committee was empowered to exercise, in so far as they relate to medi- given by His Majesty the King cine and surgery, the powers of to their own perseverance in ad- the Senate of the University to verse circumstances.
determine
what examinations and courses of study in other universities or places of learn- ing should be deemed equival- ent to examinations and courses of study in the University of Hong Kong.
The Committee was further empowered to propose persons for admission to degrees and to exercise the power
a
"Although I am a member of this University I do not belong to its staff so that I may, with- out impropriety, add the vitali-
Medical Faculty, ty of the vitality manifested by its indi- vidual members in various ways and places in these tragic years. "I can only speak of instances
To Pro here in Hong Kong.
Dr. Dean
fessor Digby and of the
Chancellor of the University to Smith, Stanley internees owed
confer degrees.
much and some of them indeed their continued existence.
I wish to make it quite clear "To the Vice-Chancellor We that each candidate for a de-
owe a debt of gratitude for al- gree must, as heretofore, have lowing us to have access to his completed a five years' course of valuable collection of books on study at a University or place English literature, on which of learning, including at least
subject also he lectured two years at the University of
tiringly. Hong Kong, and that no degree be conferred without ex- amination.
can
Requirements Fulfilled The principal function of the Committee has been to ensure that the course of study com- pleted and the examinations passed by the candidates were
un-
accom-
Remarkable Feat "Professor Brown plished the remarkable feat of organising and maintaining ¿ programme of
weekly lectures spread over a period of some- thing like three years.
"Professor Robertson lectured
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