CO129-618-1 Institute of Medical Research- proposed construction 21-4-1947 - 5-12-1947 — Page 2

C. I.N.

Dr.

مقدس

7

8th Meeting CD.O W. Cttee held on 21-4-47

of CD.OW.

Solung - Clarke

Orig on 19275/40/1473. Hong Koy

1.

tel.1169

2

17-6-47 18-7-47

Before Dr. Selwyne Clarke left for the Seychelles in June he had a discussion with Sir S.Caine, Mr.J.B. Williams, Dr. Maha

Dr. Mahaffy and myself about a project for the construction of a new Institute of Medical Research in Hong Kong to replace the present Pathologi- cal Institute and Animal Houses built in 1905, which are now said to be in an advanced state of dilapidation

2.

The discussion had been arranged at the request of the Hong Kong Development and Welfare Committee, of which Dr.Selwyn Clarke was a member. Dr.Selwyn Clarke left behind the minutes (registered at No. 1) of the 8th meeting of the Committee: the suggestion that he should see Sir S. Caine is contained at the bottom of page 3 of those minutes. It will be seen that the Committee suggested only that he should explain to Sir S.Caine the position that Hong Kong had reached in their development planning.

3. At the discussion, however, Dr.Selwyn Clarke strongly pressed that we should go ahead at once with the formulation of a scheme, to be financed partly out of Hong Kong C.D. & W. allocation and partly out of central research funds, for the construction of a new Institute of Medical Research. We expressed some doubt as to whether or not Dr. Selwyne Clarke's "mandate" really went this far but he was most insist- ent that it did.

4. In fact, however, I have not succeeded in obtain- ing anything like sufficient details on which to base an application. Dr.Selwyne Clarke's departure for the Seychelles was, I believe, slightly advanced and perhaps he did not in the event have time to supply the further details he had promised. The only information I have is that the estimated cost of the scheme would be $500,000 for the Institute and $250,000 for the Animal Houses. (This information is contained in the copy of a letter to Dr. Herklöts, registered at No.2, which Dr. Selwyn Clarke sent to Hong Kong on the eve of his departure for the Seychelles). He also promised that he would discuss the question with Sir.A.Grantham and obtain his approval for it in principle: but I have no information that in fact he did.

•

5, Since then we have had the tel, from Hong Kong which is registered at No.3. From that tel. it is I think, clear that Hong Kong do not propose to pursue this particular project for the present. In these circumstances I suggest we should explain the position to Sir A.Grantham as in draft s/o letter opposite.

6. In the final para. of that letter I have included Some guidance on the question of whether or not any part of the scheme, if it were approved, could be met out of central research funds. This guidance is based on views expressed by Dr. Mahaffy at the discussion to which I have referred, and may be of some use to Hong Kong. In fact, I venture to suggest that what the Committee had in mind in suggesting that Dr.Selwyn Clarke should discuss this particular question at the Colonial Office. was really nothing more than the hope that they would get some advance guidance on this particular spect of the question, and not that any concrete application would as a result be prepared in London. I am fairly sure that Dr. Selwyn Clarke's enthusiasm for this particular scheme rather took him outside his terms of reference.

L2/4/18

AllGalsworty

9.8.47.