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AKB 020/14.

FROM: A NR MILLINGTON

FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT

DATE:

12 June 1989

MR MCLAREN

PS

Miss Mande

W/136

cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur

PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Hong Kong Department

News Department

CRD

Mr Teasdale

CHINESE STUDENTS' PETITION TO PRIME MINISTER

92

PROBLEM

1. Should the Prime Minister receive a group representing "All of

Chinese Students in the UK who wish to present a petition on events

in China?

you m

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend that the Prime Minister should not receive this

group but that they should be seen at the FCO by FED. Instead I

recommend that the Prime Minister should hold a meeting with the

Chinese Students and Scholars Association. I submit a draft PS

letter to No. 10.

BACKGROUND

3. There are currently about 2,800 Chinese students in the UK.

About 50 students are wholly funded by the British Government under

our bilateral aid programme. Some 800 are jointly funded by the British and Chinese Government. Typically, we pay the fees and the Chinese provide living expenses. Nearly all the remaining students

are financed by the Chinese Government.

Within the student

community, there are a large number of different groupings. The

biggest is the Chinese Students and Scholars Association. It claims

TM6 AAA

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