Risen costs: Beyond efficiency savings of 1.5% (flm) in staff and running costs, the Council will make further efficiency gains of £0.86m in '90/91, by reducing
expenditure in three areas:
information provision
overseas running costs
home running costs
£0.20m
£0.45m
£0.21m
Beyond that the Council has been able to identify an extra £0.54m surplus revenue to help to close the gap. The Council could only meet the remaining shortfall, estimated at £3m at the time of the bid (and now higher?), by severely reducing overseas operational budgets (total £23m).
Programme Funds: The bid for additional funds to respond to "the expanding world of opportunities" for Britain is concerned notably with Europe East and West, and Southern Africa. Much of the £7.4m new money would attract joint funding. We estimate £3.4m of it would generate some £10m within 3 years.
Since formulating the bid significant new circumstances attach to China/Hong Kong and Argentina. The latter is not in the bid - although CRD now have details of a possible programme.
The element for Hong Kong is £0.23m for increased academic and higher educational links, and that remains a priority for expansion. But, in the light of our conversation, we have looked again at ways in which the Council might further help to stiffen the link and signify Britain's commitment. Apart from the Council participating in a new UK Centre and the possibilities of expanding our ELT operation, we believe there is now a good case for UK to offer more in three specific areas:
1. A major British contribution to the new Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, focussed on the endowment of a research centre in a field of technological and commercial significance. This would demonstrate commitment to the expansion of education in Hong Kong and its international links.
2.
Creation of an Education Trust Fund which would accumulate capital from a variety of forms. It would aim off against the limited opportunities available within Hong Kong for professional and academic studies, and might link onwards to a commitment to work in Hong Kong. It would be attractive to establish the Fund under royal patronage.
!
;