HK1AFG
BACKGROUND
1.
to remove the subsidy from
students aroused considerable
aggravated by the fact
the French Overseas
In 1979 HMG's decision
tuition fees for overseas
feeling in Hong Kong. This
that students from the
territories and Gibraltar,
Home Students.
2.
was
EC,
continued
to
to be classified as
establish a scheme
In 1983 HMG and HKG agreed
jointly funded by the two Governments to subsidise Hong
Kogg students in Britain. Whilst HMG accepted the
principle of a joint funded scheme for Hong Kong
students it was unable to commit itself to equal funding
by the two Governments because of limited funds and the
open-endedness involved. We eventually agreed to provide
50% of the costs of the scheme, which involves means
testing, for 1983-84, up to a maximum
million.
limit of £1.9
commitment for
the light
light of the
The Hong Kong
I t was agreed that the
subsequent years would be reviewed in
actual costs in the year 1983-84.
Government, for their part, agreed to match HMG's contribution and to provide any other funds required in
the form of a loan. The Hong Kong Government suggested, and HMG agreed, that the arrangements be reviewed after 5 years as it was thought that by 1987 the number of places
available at
universities in Hong Kong would have
increased significantly.
3.
HMG's
million, the
announcement
to
£1.27
expenditure in 1983-84 amounted underspending being due to both the late the scheme and the rigorous means testing applied by the Hong Kong Government. For 1984-85 HMG's contribution will amount to £1.65 million, the original
been £2.4 million having
revised in the provision
of
light of actual spending in the first year of the scheme.
HMG's
contribution
for
1985/86 has
been set at £2