CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948 — Page 34

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Eastern Department recognize the great difficulty with which the Grants Committee is faced by the fact that the

existing higher education allocation is already so fully mortgaged to other projects in the Colonial Empire. The importance however of this question to Malaya is such that they feel bound to ask for the Committee's sympathetic con- sideration of the Malayan request. Indeed the allocations already made to other parts of the Empire are bound to increase, not diminish, the difficulties of the situation in Malaya if no means can be found of providing an adequate allocation for Malaya itself. The size of the allocations to other areas are bound to become public knowledge in Malaya and if the allocation made to Malaya itself is on a substantially smaller scale it cannot fail to carry the implication (however mistaken) that H.M.G. regard the Malayan project as one of lesser importance than the others.

It is earnestly hoped therefore that the Committee will find a way of recommending the contribution of one million pounds towards the Malayan University which the Governor and High Commissioner have requested.

Eastern Department,

Colonial Office.

May, 1948.

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