UNIVERSITY
格明 物 德
VIRTUS
OF HONG KONG
SAPIENTIA FT. VIRT
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
PROFESSOR C. M. TURNBULL B.A., PH.D. (LOND.)
(HEAD OF DEPARTMENT)
TEL
5.8592864
5-8 59 2 8 6 1
PROFESSOR L. K. YOUNG, O..E., B.A. (Birm.), M.a., D.PHIL. (OXON.), J.P.
TEL 5.8592860
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Dr. Peter Carey,
Asian Studies Centre,
St. Antony's College, Oxford OX2 6JF, ENGLAND.
February 17, 1986
Dear Peter,
Further to my note of 13th February 1986, I was pleased to learn from your letter of 1st February that the University has given its official blessing to a Southeast Asia post, which makes the world of difference in negotiating support. The problem seems to be to avoid fishing in too many ponds at once while not missing out by waiting too long for a decision from any one quarter.
2.
I feel it would be best to aim first for an endowment of a chair from an indigenous Southeast Asian source, preferably Brunei or Thailand, and to keep other possible sources of funding in reserve either for the chair, if those approaches failed, or for property and scholarships.
3.
In view of the delicate relations between the management of the National Bank of Brunei and the Bolkiah family, it transpires that Khoo Teck Puat would not be the best approach at this time, and an influential Briton who is respected in Brunei would be more appropriate. I understand, for instance, that when the American banks broke into the Brunei market they used the services of Lord Shawcross with great effect. A suitable intermediary in this project might be Sir Peter Tapsell, M.P., a former Merton men and partner in James Capel in London, who has close ties with Brunei and visits there fairly frequently. My husband knows Sir Peter well and could request him to lend his voice if it was appropriate. Since Brunei has already indicated some interest in the project, however, it would seem to be desirable at this stage for the High Commissioner to press them further to try to clear up their doubts and get a firmer indication of agreement, on the grounds that Oxford University has now given the green light and there is a need to act soon.
Understandably the Bruneians want to be persuaded that this will benefit Brunei. The advantages for the sultan, the royal family and the state seem fairly obvious, since this would give prestige in perpetuity to the Bolkiah family and to Brunei as the smallest, newest and most vulnerable member of ASEAN. The unknown quantity is the position of their new University, the attitude of Sharom Ahmat and his situation vis-a-vis the Brunei authorities, and I think every effort should be made to stress that the Oxford venture would be helpful and in no way a rival
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.