TNAG-1550-FCO40-2114-Proposed-donation-by-Sir-Shiu-Kin-Tang--Hong-Kong-philanthro-1986 — Page 46

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Mr Leeks,

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PPOSED DONATION BY SIR SHIU-KIN TANG

1.

introver

Cer 1714

We have given some preliminary thought to Hong Kong's

enquiry (your minute

April refers).

refers is

2. It is probably reasonable to assume that an endowment of £1 million at present interest rates would yield an annual income of about £70,000..

3. We agree there should be a Hong Kong connotation. ing from that, our first thoughts are that:-

4.

Follow-

a) the use of the funds should be readily identifiable

with the name of Sir S K Tang;

b) they should preferably benefit an area not already

covered;

c) if possible, we should avoid establishment of yet another separate Trust, with the paraphernalia of trust deed, trustees, administration etc, but

d) if the funds are to be channelled through an existing

organisation such as the British Council, a university, the UK Overseas Students Association (UKOSA) or the Chinese community centres in Britain, we should ensure that the funds will serve the specific purpose laid down by HMG.

Subject to further consultation outside the FCO we consider that priority might be given to either:

5.

a) establishment of a Chair or senior professorship of

Hong Kong studies at a British university, perhaps in a field of study that would be beneficial post-1997;

or

b) assistance to Hong Kong student welfare, bearing in

mind possible post-1997 needs.

Some research in CRD has shown that £1 million should be more than sufficient to endow a Chair or senior professorship in perpetuity. The British Council Higher Education Department have given the perhaps too conservative estimate of £25,000 per annum (of which £21,000 would pay the salary). A Chair of Modern Japanese Studies was established in perpetuity at Cambridge in 1984, with an endowment of £650,000, for which the fund-raising target was only £550,000. A proposal is now under discussion for a Centre of South East Asian Studies at St Antony's College, Oxford, for which the estimated requirement is £500,000 (for a Reader or Professor, and a small study library, and possibly in due course an independent physical centre, though it is not clear whether the latter is included in the £500,000).

6.

The University of Hong Kong have given some advice about this prospective new Centre, and I attach a copy of Professor Turnbull's letter of 17 February to Dr Carey at St Antony's which may be of interest, especially para 6, which quotes fl million for a Chair and two scholarships.

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