This meeting took the wise course of appointing a sub-committee of workable size and representative in character to report on the situation. The Chairman was the Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., and the members were:- the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G., the Hon. Dr. Atkinson (P.C.M.O.) the Hon. Mr. Chatham, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works), the Hon. Mr. (now Sir) H.E. Pollock, K.C., Dr. Wright, Dr. Thomson, Mr. F.B.L. Bowley and Mr. Turner. The report submitted by the sub-committee was extremely discouraging. They found that "the University proper, even of two faculties, could not be established with the funds in hand or in sight at the present moment." That report was presented on September 25, 1908.
The Governor was not discouraged. He rejected an alternative scheme proposed by Dr. Ho Kai in which instruction in Chinese was to be a chief feature, and suggested instead a scheme for housing both the College of Medicine and the Technical College in the University and for gradually developing the University. This scheme was accepted by the sub-committee.
All was not yet plain sailing. Mr. (later Sir Henry) May, who was then Colonial Secretary, advanced doubts, and he was supported by Mr. Chatham, whether the design for the University buildings could be erected for the sum promised by Mr. (later Sir H.N.) Mody. The latter announced that he was prepared to erect the building whatever it should cost, but would not be responsible for anything further if the cost of the buildings exceeded his promised sum of $180,000. Mr. May was also of opinion that the University should not be opened until an endowment fund to produce £5,000 per annum should have been secured.
A meeting was held which approved of the project; and the immediate erection of the buildings. They recommended that the College of Medicine and the Technical Institute should be housed in the buildings and conducted as before until the endowment fund was collected, when the University should be incorporated and the College of Medicine and the Technical Institute should be merged in it.
These proposals were accepted by the College of Medicine, but rejected by Mr. Mody. The latter said that as the Committee had decided that a sum of £110,000 was required before the University scheme could come into operation, he would leave his offer open for six months from January 1, 1909, in order that the sum might be raised.
The challenge was accepted. A Committee was appointed to raise the funds, being composed of:- Sir Frederick Lugard (Chairman), the Bishop of Victoria (Dr. Lander), Sir F.E. May (Colonial Secretary), Mr. A. Thompson (Colonial Treasurer), Mr. Chatham (Director of Public Works), Mr. A.W. Brewin (Registrar General), Mr. Irving (Director of Education), Sir Paul Chater, Mr. Mody, Mr. B.E. Pollock, Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Wei Yuk, and Mr. (afterwards Sir) C. Clementi. Mr. Murray Stewart, Mr. Turner and Mr. Lau Chu-pak joined at a later date.
Splendid support for the endowment fund was speedily forthcoming. The Chinese of Hongkong made a magnificent response to the appeal for funds, and the project found favour among
3. *.
*
This meeting took the wise course of appointing a sub-committee of workable size and representative in character to report on the situation. The Chairmen was the Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., and the members were:- the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G., the Hon. Dr. Atkinson (P.C.M.0.) the Hon. Mr. Chatham, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works), the Hon. Mr. (now Sir) H.E. Pollock, K.0., Dr. Wright, Dr. Thomson. Mr. F.B.L. Bowley and Mr. Turner. The report submitted by the sub-committee was extremely discouraging. They found that "the University proper, even of two faculties, could not be established with the funds in hand or in sight at the present moment. That report was presented on September 25, 1908.
#
The Governor was not discouraged. He rejected en alternatiw scheme proposed by Dr. Ho Kai in which instruction in Chinese was to be a chief feature, end suggested instead a scheme for housing both the College of Medicine and the Technical College in the University and for gradually developing the University. This scheme was accepted by the sub-committee.
All was not yet plain sailing. Mr. (later Sir Henry) May, who was then Colonial Secretary, advanced doubts, and he was supported by Mr. Chatham, whether the design for the University buildings could be erected for the sum promised by Mr. (later Sir H.N.) Mody. The latter announced that he was prepared to erect the building whatever it should cost, but would not be responsible for anything further if the cost of the buildings exceeded his promised sum of $180,000. Mr. May was also of opinion that the University should not be opened until an endowment fund to produce £5,000 per annum should have been secured.
A meeting was held which approved of the project; and the immediate erection of the buildings. They recommended that the' College of Medicine and the Technical Institute should be housed in the buildings and conducted as before until the endowment fund was collected, when the University should be incorporated and the College of Medicine and the Technical Institute should be merged in it.
These proposals were accepted by the College of Medicine, but rejected by Mr. Mody. The latter seid that as the Committee had decided that a sum of £110,000 was required before the University scheme could come into operation, he would leave his offer open for six months from January 1, 1909, in order that the sum might be raised.
.
The challenge was accepted. A Committee was appointed to raise the funds, being composed ofi- Sir Frederick Lugard (Chairman), the Bishop of Victoria (Dr.Lander, Sir F.E. May (Colonial Secretary), Mr. A.. Thompson (Colonial Treasurer), Mr. Chatham (Director of Public Works, Mr.A.W. Brewin (Registrar General,) Mr. Irving (Director of Education), Sir Paul Chater, Mr. Mody, Mr.B.E. Pollock, Dr. Bo Kai, Mr. Wei- Yuk, and Mr. (afterwards Sir) C. Clementi. Mr. Murray Stewart, Mr. Turner and Mr. Lau Chu-pak joined at a later date.
Splendid support for the endowment fund was speedily forthcoming. The Chinese of Hongkong made a magnificent res- ponse to the appeal for funds, and the project found favour among
:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.