Sessional_Paper_1938 — Page 258

254

MEMORANDUM A.

Memorandum of the Faculty of Arts endorsed by the Senate at its meeting on March 10th, 1938, on University

(1937) Report, Paragraph 53.

(a) WHEREAS the Committee has placed it on record that the Faculty of Arts. "seems to have attached itself like some half unwanted Stepbrother" to two scientific Faculties, the Senate would like to point out that the Arts Faculty from the beginning was an essential element without which the creation of a University was never envisaged, and that the public demand was then, and is now, fully as strong, for a Faculty of Arts as for either of the two other Faculties as shown by the following facts:-

(1) The recital of the Ordinance of the University, March 30, 1911, begins "Whereas it is desirable to establish a University within the Colony of Hong Kong for the promotion of Arts, Science and Learning.

"

(2) In a dispatch, quoted in the University Blue Bock of 1912, the Viceroy of Canton made specific reference to the Arts Course in the proposed University of Hong Kong, in addressing the chief officials of his jurisdiction, whom he expected to support the proposal.

(3) At the third meeting of the University Council, on September 7, 1911, before any classes in any Faculty had commenced, the Council promised, in reply to a telegram of specific inquiry from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that a Faculty of Arts should be started "at once if possible".

(4) As evidence that there was a strong public demand for the initiation of a Faculty of Arts, the minutes of the seventeenth meeting of the University Council, September 6, 1912, contain reference to a fund of ten thousand dollars per annum guaranteed by a number of prominent Chinese gentlemen, for the purpose of securing the permanent establish- ment of a Faculty of Arts.

(5) That this demand for the type of education offered in the Faculty of Arts has been well maintained, is shown by the fact that the numbers of ordinary graduates from the three Faculties to date are:-

Arts

B.A.

299

Medicine. M.B., B.S.

269

Engineering

B.Sc.

267

While the enrolment for September, 1937, when full courses were in operation in all Faculties were

Arts

(4 Yr. Course)

150

Medicine

(6 Yr. Course)

160

Engineering (4 Yr. Course)

131

(b) The Senate would further point out that misunderstanding may arise from the statement "Later on the Chamber of Commerce was induced to con- tribute towards the support of a department where Economics and some- thing like Accountancy could be taught (this contribution has ceased, but the department goes on)", as this statement leaves the impression that Economics and Accountancy were courses which originated in, and were contingent upon, funds from the Chamber of Commerce, whereas the facts

are :-