CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949 — Page 3

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6. It will be convenient to consider first the question of the publication of the Committee's report. The passages sidelined in the copy of the report placed with this file make it, in the view of the Department, extremely undesirable that the report should be published. They include references direct and indirect, to:-

(i) British prestige in the Far East

(paragraphs 2 and 13)

(ii) the spreading of British culture and

influence in China (paragraphs 6, 15, 17 and 27 - see especially the quotation of the Foreign Office 1939 view in paragraph 15 that "the University is a valuable instrument for propagating British ideals and spreading British influence in China....")

(iii) the Imperial purpose to be served by

the University (paragraph 20)

(iv) the uncertainty of the future status

of Hong Kong (paragraphs 4, 5, 24 and 26).

7. It seems to us that the arm University Committee's report is not very suitable for publication, and that, in view of the above passages,at the present time might have very awkward repercussions. We strongly advise against publication, at any rate, at this particular time. This is of course a matter on which we should have to consult the Foreign Office and, if the above view is accepted, I would propose to send them, for comments, a draft telegram to the Governor, setting out the objections to publication.

8. If the report is not to be published, the reference to the recommendation of the Committee in the draft statement will require to be amplified. I should be inclined to aim at including in this statement a very brief summary of the recommendations of the Committee, including their opinion that unless the University is re-established on a larger basis it should not be re-established at all, so that if and when the question of the publication of the report is raised we shall be able to say that we have already given its main recommendations and points. Apart from this, we consider that the draft statement will require amendment in other respects. The terms of this statement will, of course, have to be settled in consultation with the Treasury and the Foreign Office.

9. As regards the House of Commons, the Secretary of State said in reply to a Question on the 29th January, 1947, that he hoped to make a statement on the future of the University in the near future and referred to that reply in answering a further Question on the 25th June, 1947. I presume that in view of these Questions it will be desirable to arrange for a further Question to be put when the public announcement is to be made, so that the House can be informed of the decision that has been taken.

10. Submitted