CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949 — Page 218

REVISED DRAFT

UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY.

244

After

In 1939 a Committee appointed by the Chancellor recommended a modest scheme for the development of the University in order that it might more adequately fulfil the purposes for which it was established, namely: to be a centre of British University life not only for the Colony but for the contiguous areas of China. The Committee's recommendations were approved by the Government of Hong Kong and gained the sympathetic interest of His Majesty's Government. War came before most of the changes recommended could be initiated. the liberation of Hong Kong the whole question of the future of the University was considered by a Committee in London, appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This Committee recommended the re-establishment of the University with staff and facilities on a much more extensive scale than hitherto, involving capital and recurrent expenditure which the Committee tentatively estimated at approximately £1,000,000, and £85,600 per annum respectively. The Committee took the view penditure of heat if the University could not be re-established with the

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standards which they recommended so that it could bear comparison with Universities in the United Kingdom and with Chinese Universities, it would be better not to re-establish it at all. The Committee's recommendation involved substantial financial assistance from United Kingdom funds, /consideration of it has unfortunately had to be deferred owing to the present conditions in the United Kingdom. The Hong Kong Government and the Secretary of State for the Colonies do not, however, consider that it would be right to delay any further a decision on the re-establishment of the University, and it has been decided that steps should be taken now to restore the University, as rapidly as possible, to its status and scope of 1940, despite the uncertainty as to whether it will be found possible later to carry out the wider developments contemplated by the Committee,

While these matters have been under discussion care for higher educational needs in the Colony has been met by the provision of teaching for men and women to aim at courses leading to degrees in Arts, Science, Civil Engineering and Medicine. The need of the Colony for teachers, civil engineers and doctors is sufficient reason for this attempt to maintain the continuity of training for the professions in Hong Kong. To achieve this end, an Interim Committee was established to organize and conduct essential teaching, and a temporary Provisional Powers Committee was established by Order-in-Council to carry out certain essential functions of the University. The Interim Committee, with full approval of the Provisional Powers Committee, determined that, faced by shortage of staff and destruction of the greater part of the University buildings, laboratories and equipment, it could only reconstruct an institution of University status by building up, as it were, from the bottom, and therefore admitted in 1946 students to first year classes, and in 1947 students to first year and second year classes. year by year, the student body of the University is being re- established. Buildings have been restored as they were required and equipment ordered (mainly in England) has come to hand, but very much more slowly than was hoped, and at greater cost.

So,

The success of these extemporized measures has been such that it is now believed that the time has come formally to resta. the University by the re-establishment of its governing authorities. This has been made practicable by a generous