The First Six Years 1963-69

In 1964, after consultation w ith University o f Hong Kong and The Chinese University o f Hong Kong, the Government invited Sir Edward H a le ， former Secretary o f the University Grants Committee in Great Britain, to visit Hong Kong w ith a view to advising on the feasibility and relative merits o f establish ing a UGC here. Sir Edward arrived in January 1965, and held consultations w ith academic and administrative groups in both Universities and w ith Government officials. The Hale report ， entitled The Financing o f Universities in Hong Kong, was widely circulated and agreement was soon reached between the Govern ment and the Universities on the conclusion that “ the Government o f Hong Kong should be advised by an expert and an impartia l committee on the financial needs o f university education in Hong Kong and its development, and the resources made available for meeting those needs should be allocated between the universities by such a committee." I t was also decided that the Chairman o f the UGC would be a resident o f Hong Kong and that a permanent Secretary would be appointed. The UGC was in itia lly composed o f three local members: M . A. R. H err ies ， Esq . ， Chairman Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd. T. K . A nn ， Esq., Deputy Chairman Soco Textiles (H .K .) Ltd. Patrick S. S. Yu, Esq., Barrister. and six overseas members: Professor W. Me lville A rnott , Professor o f Medicine ， Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Professor N. S. B ayliss ， Professor o f Chemistry, The University o f Western Australia. Professor W. G. B easley , Professor o f the History o f the Ear East, School o f Oriental and African Studies, University o fLondon. Dr. M. R. G a v in ， Principal ， Chelsea College o f Science & Technology. 10