Dispersal and Renewal: Hong Kong University During the War Years

1. The Test of War* (Part 1)

The Test of m,r* (Part 1) Lindsay Ride T HROUGHOUT most of its half century of existence, the University of Hong Kong has had to live in an atmosphere of almost continuous international unrest. At the time of its birth the storm caused by the revolution in China had not abated, and when the distant disturbances caused by the First World War had died down, Hong Kong was swept by the cross-currents of the civil wars that raged on the mainland for years. Then came the disturbance due to japan's invasion of China, culminating in the attack on the Colony in 1941 with the japanese entry into the Second World War. The War of 1914-1918, which broke out when the University was only three years old, had little direct effect on its early growth. The ViceChancellor , the registrar, the professor of engineering and some other fulltime staff had assumed their duties before the outbreak of the war, but the recruiting of further staff from abroad was naturally affected by manpower requirements in Europe. Medical teaching, however, hardly suffered at all, because the lecturers in this faculty were mainly part-time staff from the Hong Kong College of Medicine who had offered their services to the new University when it was founded. The danger of enemy military attack in the Far East was very small and was soon disposed of by the japanese capture of the German base at Kiaochow. But the danger of naval attack was a real one, especially after the setback at Coronel on 1 November 1914, and the Emden's daring raid on Penang shipping. However, any threat to Hong Kong that might have * This chapter is reprinted from The First Fifty Years, University of Hong Kong, 1911-1961, edited by Brian Harrison. Hong Kong University Press (1962). 9 10 Lindsay Ride existed was removed by the destruction of the Emden after an action with the Australian cruiser Sydney near North Keeling Island on 19 November 1914, and by the defeat of the German Pacific Fleet on 8 December off the Falklands. In the meantime, most British people in the Far East had joined one or other of the volunteer organizations in their various communities. This meant that the early days of the war were strenuous ones in Hong Kong for everyone; this was definitely so for the University staff who had to plan and set up their new departments, carry out full teaching programmes, and in addition fulfil the guard duties or the training obligations of the service they had joined. The financial crisis of 1915, which the University was only able to weather by the generous help of Mr Loke Yew, the additional commitments thrown on its meagre staff, and the difficulties of recruiting overseas personnel, all had their effects on the young university. Consequently the University entered on its post-war period under-staffed and under-developed. After the war, however, the recruiting situation steadily eased; most of those who joined the staff in the 'twenties had had years of war service, and this experience they turned to good account during the general strike and boycott which started in june 1925. In the few weeks during which it lasted, this civil disturbance completely paralyzed the Colony'S normal activities, those of the University included; it was a much severer test of loyalty and service than the war had been. The staff carried out their numerous additional tasks cheerfully and efficiently with a minimum of interference with their University duties. To the students, however, must go much more credit. This was their first big test in citizenship and very well did they acquit themselves. In addition to the physical stress of additional and unaccustomed work, they were subjected to fierce political pressures. Their behaviour under this unusual strain was wholly admirable. During the 'thirties the military operations of the japanese in China caused increasing alarm throughout the Far East, and as the true meaning of the Axis alignment became apparent, defence preparations were stepped up in Hong Kong. Worse was to follow, for the japanese, our allies in World War I, chose to be our enemies in the developing Second World War. As in the First World War, the combatant services stationed in Hong Kong were again augmented by local Volunteer forces; the medical services were reinforced by the St john Ambulance Brigade, the British Red Cross, The Test...