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UK UNIVERSITY FEES
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Line To Take
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NATIONALITY BILL
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Because of the small size of the reservoirs on the Island, it gets two-thirds of its supply from the mainland. Usually the yield of the Island reservoirs is sufficient to supplement the cross-harbour supplies. Nevertheless, measures were initiated early last year to reduce drawoff from Island reservoirs by maximising deliveries of water from the mainland. However, since the beginning of the last dry season, HK has experienced very low yield at a probability of occurrence of once in 50 years. Work is underway to boost the cross-harbour feed, with three new pumping stations by 1982 and a further pipe by 1983.
The announcements of the emergency and long-term loan schemes were generally welcomed, albeit with calls for more to be done. The Heung Yee Kuk and the HK Federation of Students vowed to continue to fight for home status. The Federation said 5,000 HK matriculants in UK were not eligible for loans and about 45 per cent may have to return because of an increase in their fees. The UK Federation of HK Students threatened to boycott the loan schemes, saying only grants could help. The press and public were in support of students in so far as calls for more places in HK were concerned. The consensus appeared to be that the loan schemes were fair, based on the feeling that overseas students should not be given undue preference over local students.
The HKG will continue to press for home status. The loan schemes were devised to meet particular circumstances, i.e. university fees in the UK, with which HK has close links, were increased significantly and to a level higher than in any other country to which a large number of students go. As supported by public opinion, consideration had to be given to the level of assistance offered to students in HK. Financial assistance is being given to university and polytechnic students only because of the shortage of spaces and restricted range of courses offered in HK, problems which do not apply to matriculation studies.
Response that HK people were being made second-class citizens. Fear that HK passport holders would be discriminated against in third countries. Widely if loosely believed that proposed legislation aims to keep out HK's current UK citizens in 1997. Concern over position of those who serve the Crown.
Also over nomenclature passports. Feeling that the Bill is another example of UK discrimination against HK. If has focused much media attention on 1997 itself. Two 'concessions' were announced during the committee stage at the beginning of April, i.e. registration of BDTCs after 5 years residence and discretionary citizenship for Crown Servants.