CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947 — Page 199

the Scarborough Report. The Secretary of State mentioned

the latter's

this matter to Mr. Bevin (who had been abroad #hen

solvin

to England

the Foreign Office reply was sent) and the Foreign

Secretary intimated that he personally was lavourably disposed towards the University roposals

faice

agreed was to

he has

Mr Creech Jones decorulingly wrote a further letter te

the

Mr. Bevin urging that his support in joint approach

to the Treasury should be without qualification, and

this was accepted in a letter from Ir- Bevin dated

of which a copy is amadoras 17th February. A memorandum was drafted here setting

brandum

out the basis of our financial proposals for joint

presentation to the Treasury. This the Foreign Ofrice

have accepted, and I hope that the matter may now be

put to the Treasury in the very near future.

All this has involved a very disappointing delay which will

are now able to But at least we make it clear to the Treasury

that the whole matter has been fully and carefully

considered by the two Ministers and has their support.

be personally disaffiruling 18 you as it we clos

That

Before he left this country Sloss asked whether

copies of the Advisory Committee's Report might be made

available to certain individuals and members of the

staff of the University in this country, and also whether

copies might be available for certain appropriate bodies

in Hong Kong. Our feeling here, at the time the Report

was presented, was that it should be kept strictly

confidential penaing a decision on its recommendations

and thut its distribution should be restricted to

members or the Committee itself and to two or three

other persons only. I am sorry to say that owing to

papers have

the fact that the file has been in constant demand

no action has yet been taken on sloss' request.

ho

Obey Concrete result's

Miss Ruston, to whom his letter was addressed, is

writing to him personally to apologise for this delay,

but before coming to any conclusion as to the desirability

or making further copies available we shall be very

glad to have your views especially as regards its wider

distribution in Hong Kong.

haust will

appear until after you have left Hong Kong