2.
after several meetings found itself bogged down on basic structure. The unofficials (with Browne I think a moderating voice) convinced themselves (largely ignoring the Executive Council decision) that the Plain Straightforward Businessman approach was the only way, and they have been hankering after a wholly independent non-profit-making company to run the Polytechnic under the Companies Ordinance! They were chiefly attracted to this, I gather, by the thought that they could then set salaries arbitrarily and hire and fire at will in the bad old business way: and could demand a blank cheque from Government to support their activities. Nothing the officials could say would convince them that you cannot run either a teaching organization or a subvented organization in this manner.
Finally, P.Y. Tang came to see me and said almost openly that the Committee wanted me to tell them what to decide, or they could make no progress. At his request, therefore, I have written and told him what I think the general structure should be, and I hope things will now become unstuck. But it has not been a very successful essay into bringing unofficials into the processes of policy making so far, although I hope these particular unofficials will learn something by their experience eventually.
Naturally we will push this along as fast as we can, but inevitably it's a longish and fairly complex business.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 -2 SEP 1969
HKK9/3
ever
Yuus
David.
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