CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 26-29 SEPTEMBER
BRIEF NO. 6: DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR OFFICIALS:
OVERSEAS STUDENTS' FEES
POINTS TO MAKE
ORIGINAL DECISION
1.
Reason for decision to charge full cost fees purely financial.
Need for saving in Government expenditure. £90 million per year
saving on DES Vote.
CURRENT EXEMPTIONS
2.
Indiscriminate nature of previous subsidy.
Exemption for European Community (and Gibraltarian) students
agreed because reciprocal and EC regulations would shortly have
required it.
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
3.
Acknowledge special position of dependent territories.
Intend
Financial
to seek approval for exemption for students from dependent terri-
tories as first priority. Will fight hard, but it will take time
and not over-optimistic about favourable decision.
realities so tough that even £4.5 million in 1980/81 is a lot to
ask. May be too late to find final solution for this academic year.
Appreciate hardship but better to take longer, using right tactics,
than to have proposal totally rejected.
HONG KONG CONTRIBUTION
4. Aware of Governor's proposal. Had originally seen it as fall
Suggest our officials now discuss.
back.
STUDENTS FROM FRENCH OVERSEAS DEPARTMENTS (Defensive)
5. Only nine students from French Overseas Departments studying in
UK last year.
CONFIDENTIAL