One of the most common fallacies in the minds of those who know little about higher education is connected with the cost of providing instruction of a University type. For example, it may be stated that, in order to re-create a school of engineering at Hongkong such as now exists, a sum. of $2,500,- 000 in capital outlay on lamd for buildings and equipment would be required, and a further sum of at least $1,000,000 for endowment purposes for payment of staff and general maintenance. These figures are given on the assumption that there would be a steady income from the students' fees, which at Hongkong are $300 a year for instruction and $240 a year for board and. residence.
About the same sums would be needed to create and equip a medical school similar to that which now exists. In this connexion, it may be mentioned that the hospitals of Hongkong are most valuable training grounds for medical students and the Government officials of the Colony have always assisted the University in every possible way in providing facilities for the study of medicine and engineering.
THE UNIVERSITY'S VISITORS, During the last 10 years, some thousands of visitors have inspected the University buildings. They have usually expressed surprise on seeing the general life of the students and the facilities which are enjoyed. Although the University is situated to the west of the island of Hongkong, it is easily accessible from the centre of the city of Victoria. Anyone taking the excellent motor route round the island must pass the gates of the University.
In the early days, there was a general idea that the instruction provided at Hongkong was specially for students from South China. That was a mistake. There are students from all parts of the Far East. Some have come from India, Java, Sumatra, the Straits Settlements, the Philippines, Siam and nearly all the provinces of China. One is from Japan. Various nationalities are represented, but the majority of the students are Chinese. One British student went on active service and was awarded a war degree, as was done in London and other British Universities.
It should be remembered that, from the commencement, the standard aimed at for the Degrees was that of the University of London. The medical and engineering degrees have that guarantee because
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.