XN000022-1976-05-28 — Page 3

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1976

+1 BELIEVE THAT THIS REPORT AND THE PROLONGED DEBATE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY THAT PRECEDED IT HAVE PROVIDED ALL THE MATERIAL NECESSARY TO ENABLE US TO DECIDE WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IS NECESSARY AND TO DRAFT THE LEGISLATION REQUIRED. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE HEALTH OF THE UNIVERSITY REQUIRES THAT WE SHOULD DO SO AS QUICKLY AS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL, PROCESSES ALLOW.

+BECAUSE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATION, I HAVE TAKEN THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS ADVICE THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT FOR A REVISED CONSTITUTION. A WORKING GROUP WILL BE SET UP, COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY THE END OF JULY FOR THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE REPORT, WITH THE OBJECT OF INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION INTO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER. WHEN THE NEW DRAFT LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED THERE WILL BE THE USUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR REPRESENTATIONS AND DEBATE BEFORE THE FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN.

+1 HAVE OBTAINED CLARIFICATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON PARAGRAPHS 82 AND 90. THIS MAKES CLEAR THAT THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESENT BOARDS OF GOVERNORS IN RESPECT OF COLLEGE TRUST FUNDS, LIQUID ASSETS AND ALL REAL PROPERTY SITUATED OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE VESTED IN THE NEW BOARDS OF TRUSTEES WHICH THE REPORT RECOMMENDS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED. IT ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF ALL BUILDINGS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, INCLUDING COLLEGE BUILDINGS AND OTHER FIXED ASSETS, SHOULD LIE WITH THE UNIVERSITY REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP. THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS BOTH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. IN THE LIGHT OF THE EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT OWNERSHIP OF BUILDINGS PAID FOR WHOLLY OR IN THE MAJOR PART BY THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE VESTED IN THE UNIVERSITY, AND THAT BUILDINGS PAID FOR IN WHOLE OR IN THE MAJOR PART BY THE COLLEGES OR THEIR BENEFACTORS SHOULD BE VESTED IN EITHER THE NEW BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OR THE UNIVERSITY - THE CHOICE TO LIE WITH THE BOARDS OF GOVERNORS. THE WORKING GROUP WILL APPROACH THE COLLEGE AUTHORITIES TO DETERMINE ON THE ABOVE BASIS WHAT PROPERTY WITHIN THE CAMPUS SHOULD BE OWNED BY THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES. I HAVE ALSO ASKED

THE WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS WITH CHUNG CHI COLLEGE AUTHORITIES WHETHER SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN RESPECT OF THE CHAPEL AND SEMINARY.

IT WILL BE FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO DECIDE HOW AND TO WHAT EXTENT RECOMMENDATIONS NOT COVERED IN LEGISLATION SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, SUCH AS THE METHOD OF ASSIGNING MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE COLLEGES. THE METHOD OF ALLOCATING STUDENTS TO THE COLLEGES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOLS OF STUDIES.

/HE QUE