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Servants and some others as British Citizens. It has also been
agreed by HMG that BDTCs from all Dependent Territories should be
described as "British Nationals" in their passports, although this
does not reflect any change in their immigration status into the UK.
Hong Kong recently asked if it was possible for HMG to remove the
endorsements which are currently inserted in most BDTC passports,
stating that the holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act, 1971. HMG agreed in August that the endorsement can be omitted
and replaced by 'Holder has right of abode in Hong Kong' (or the relevant Dependent Territory). About 3 million Hong Kong residents are BDTCS: the remaining 2.3 million are holders of Hong Kong
residence permits which give no citizenship status under UK law.
a) Overseas Students' Fees at UK Institutions
5.5 HMG's decision in 1979 to remove the subsidy from tuition fees
for overseas students aroused considerable feeling in Hong Kong.
This was aggravated by the fact that students from the EC, the
French overseas territories and Gibraltar are classified as home
students. The Hong Kong Government introduced in 1981 a scheme by
which means-tested loans are available for Hong Kong students on
first degree or equivalent courses in Britain. After the
publication of the Overseas Students' Trust (OST) report on policy
towards students from overseas, which recommended that Hong Kong
students should be considered as home students, with the difference
in fees being paid by HMG and the Hong Kong Government, it put forward proposals for a joint subsidy scheme involving a means test.
On 8 February, HMG announced its response to the OST report. This
included an acceptance in principle of the Hong Kong Government's proposals, up to a maximum contribution by HMG of £1.9 million in
1983-4. The Hong Kong Government will match HMG's contribution, and
provide any other funds required in the form of a loan. The scheme
will come into effect in the academic year 1983-4.
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