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

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3. At this stage and in present circumstances I frankly do not think that the Treasury could be induced to reconsider their view by the prospect of securing voluntary subscriptions from the local Chinese communities, even though they might amount to not less than £100,000 if H.M.G. supports the Committee's recommendations. I do not feel therefore that we should attempt to make out a case to the Treasury, on the basis of No.41, for a reconsideration of the whole question now. At the same time I think we might well use this information to support the suggestion in paragraph 3 of No.40 that we should examine whether funds could be made available from other sources, including the C. D. & W. fund, towards meeting part at least of the cost of re-establishing the University which we hoped would be borne by Imperial Funds. It seems to me that, if the local Chinese really are prepared to support the University financially, they might be induced to do so generously if we were able to announce that H. M. G. view the Committee's recommendations with sympathy, and that, although their present financial position precludes them from assisting the University financially for the time being, they will be prepared to give the question further favourable consideration when the financial situation here improves; and if at the same time we could announce that limited sums are meanwhile being found from other sources (including C. D. & W Funds) without prejudice to an eventual grant from the Imperial Exchequer. The Governor has not been informed of the 3 propositions which we have put to the Treasury in No.40; but if those propositions are accepted and we are able to make a limited start with the rehabilitation of the University in the sense recommended by the Committee, we ought certainly to try and get in as much as possible by way of voluntary subscriptions. This is a point which we could certainy discuss with M. Sloss, but meanwhile I suggest that we might mention it to the Treasury as in the draft letter opposite, and that we should at the same time seek the Governor's views on it as in the draft telegram herewith, which I have drafted as a personal one from you to the Governor since we do not yet know how the Treasury will react to the proposals in No. 40.

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Ansalsway

12.9.47.

Mr. Mayle

We discussed Sir Bernard Gilbert's letter of 12th September, 1947, (44) in reply to Sir Thomas Lloyd's letter of 23rd August (40). I am afraid we must accept as the best we can get that the project may be reviewed next year. The suggestion that

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