48
conception, and the practical diffualties have not
Nevertheless, it does seem worth
been thought out.
looking at the possibility that judicious and timely
approaches on our party might lead to the diversion to
Hong Kong of some at least of the resources of
learning and money which have been devoted to various
universities in China, should fears concerning the
future of those universities be unfortunately
justified.
The benefits which it would bring to
Hong Kong and to British interests in general are
obvious, provided we arranged it so that the
resulting institution did not become in Chinese
eyes a mere centre for disseminating 'cold-war '
propaganda.
4.
Naturally, any views which you and we
might together reach in this direction would
require submission to Ministers; but there would be
much thinking to be done before we had anything
firm enough before us for that. I am therefore
writing now as a first tentative step, to ask you
whether any of your information leads you to suppose
that the interests behind Western universities in
Hong Kong have been giving thought to their position
if the new Chinese Government clamps down on them,
and whether you feel that there is any hopeful
chance of canvassing with them the general idea of
concentrating their activities on Hong Kong and its
university in such an eventuality.
Should you
think anything of the idea on this general aspect,
we could go on to consider detailed applications.
5.
Scarlett will be interested in all this, and
we shall hope for his advice on the political
consideration involved. I am therefore sending him
a copy of this letter.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.