TNAG-1742-FCO40-2461-Proposed-visit-by-Lord-Glenarthur--Minister-of-State-for-For-1988 — Page 13

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VISIT OF LORD GLENARTHUR: PRESENTATION TO THIRD UNIVERSITY

1. WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE VICE CHANCELLOR WILL BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE THE COMPUTERS FROM LORD GLENARTHUR AT THE TRADE COMMISSION AT 11 AM ON 10 JANUARY. THE GENERAL MANAGER OF ACORN IN HONG KONG, MARTIN RILEY WILL BE PRESENT AND ALSO THE ACTING BRITISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE HARLEY BROOKES.

2. FOLLOWING IS A DRAFT NOTE THAT LORD GLENARTHUR MAY CARE TO DRAW

ON:

'VICE CHANCELLOR, GENTLEMEN,

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING THE SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TOMORROW. I HAVE FOLLOWED WITH KEEN INTEREST THE PROGRESS IN THE PLANNING OF THE UNIVERSITY. IT SAYS A LOT FOR THE PACE AT WHICH THINGS ARE DONE IN HONG KONG THAT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE COMPLETING ITS WORK, THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE DESIGNED AND BUILT AND READY FOR ITS FIRST STUDENTS. AND WHAT IS MORE, THANKS TO THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, IT WILL BE PAID FOR EXCLAM.

ALL THIS WILL BE A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AND THE ENVY OF SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS ELSEWHERE THAT HAVE TAKEN MUCH LONGER TO ESTABLISH. SOME OF OUR BRITISH UNIVERSITIES TENDED TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER. BUT THEN MANY WERE BUILT IN LESS HURRIED TIMES. OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE DATE FROM THE 12TH AND 13TH CENTURIES AND THE SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES OF ST ANDREWS, GLASGOW, ABERDEEN AND EDINBURGH FROM THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES.

HOWEVER, NOT ALL BRITISH UNIVERSITIES ARE THAT OLD. AS MANY AS 30 HAVE BEEN OPENED IN BRITAIN SINCE 1945 AND MANY OF THESE HAVE LED THE WAY INTO YOUR CHOSEN AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. I HOPE THERE WILL BE CONSIDERABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR CO-OPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THESE BRITISH UNIVERSITIES AND YOUR OWN. IN PARTICULAR, YOU MAY FIND IT INTERESTING TO LOOK AT OUR EXPERIENCE IN SETTING UP SCIENCE PARKS AROUND SOME OF OUR INSTITUTIONS. THESE SCIENCE PARKS CONTAIN HIGH-TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT HAVE FORMAL AND OPERATIONAL LINKS TO THE UNIVERSITY. THERE ARE 35 OF THE PARKS IN BRITAIN AND SEVEN MORE ARE PLANNED. THEY HAVE PROVED VERY

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