(i) The Colonial Universities Grants Committee can act only on recommendations from the Colonial Office and the C.0. will act only on the recommendations of the Inter-University Council; the Inter-University Council can only act on the Report of a visiting commission to Hong Kong.
(ii)
The Far Eastern Department of the Colonial Office is vitally concerned that Hong Kong's claims should get adequate
consideration from the University Grants Committee but cannot move until the visiting commission has reported.
(iii) Inevitably in the Inter-University Council and in the Grants
Committee there are people who, uncertain or pessimistic about the future of Hong Kong, will be unwilling to risk the loss of British funds in Hong Kong. The political implications of their attitude will have to be dealt with by authority in the Colonial Office. The University must follow the line of the Hong Kong Government; we intend to hold and to develop Hong Kong. If we do not get direct backing from the C.0. the pessimists will win.
(iv)
(v)
There is a tendency to regard the "Lugard" function of the University as ended by (a) the foundation of the Malaya University and (b) by the Communist win.
On this I argue as to (b) We don't know how Communists are going to act. We know something of Li Chi-Sun, of Mo, of Chou En-Li and others and of what their attitude has been; I don't think that we can immediately conclude what their attitude hereafter may be. I'm not hopeful but I haven't given up hope.
J
There is another aspect of this. A large proportion of Lingnan and St. John's (Shanghai) students come from overseas. The Overseas Chinese community is larger than ever. The desire of Chinese for education in China or in a Chinese environment will remain until Overseas Chinese are renationalized and when that ? It is freely admitted that students who in other conditions would have entered Hong Kong now will go to Malaya but I foresee that from the Dutch Indies, the Philippines and elsewhere very many who hitherto went to Lingnan, Amoy, Shanghai will want to come to Hong Kong. (Relatively few of this class are likely to be Communists) but they will remain Chinese and will be concerned to get an English (or American) education. Hong Kong and Malaya will be
asked to admit them.
In a modified way the "Lugard" function may have its importance. The visiting commission might look into this matter.
Reserves in the control of the University Grants Committee are low. The consideration of Hong Kong's case is unfortunately delayed and already is prejudiced by that delay.
The personal interest of members of the Inter-University Council who have first hand knowledge of Malaya, Makerere etc, has made for the sympathetic consideration of their claims. Nobody has a like knowledge of Hong Kong. The position that the University Grants Committee is concerned only with new institutions cannot be maintained - Malta already has had substantial aid. The Secretary of State, when the 1946 scheme was deferred, expressed the hope that Hong Kong would receive some aid from C.D. & W. funds. The Governor has probably already pointed out the resentment that would be felt in Hong Kong if our claims were rejected. This is not a matter that should be pressed on the visiting committee's attention
they have a sufficient academic problem but the C.0. will have to take account of it. The whole political issue, local and in respect to defeatism in face of the Communists is an issue rather for His Excellency than for the University.
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