RONESS CHALKER ́S
RECEPTION
FRIENDSHIP FOR THE SINO-BRITISH SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME COMMISSIONERS, ́LANCASTER HOUSE, 3 JUNE 1992
DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE
I am delighted to welcome our visitors from the State Education Commission in Beijing and their counterparts from the
Britain has the pleasure of Y K Pao Foundation in Hong Kong. hosting the annual meeting of Commissioners only once every three years, so this is for us an important occasion.
2.
We were all sad to hear the news of Sir Y K's death last September. I would like to record our sense of debt to him for Since the his great vision in creating this scholarship scheme. scheme began in 1987 more than 1100 Chinese students and tutors at universities have come to Britain to study.
a unique tripartite
3. They have been the beneficiaries of
a whole range of ways the relationship which has helped in a students themselves, the receiving institutions, and ultimately China's modernisation programme. The students benefit from the exposure to British research techniques and the experience of living in a different culture, the British universities gain from the international dimension and experience which their Chinese guests bring, and China benefits from the advanced skills with which the students return.
4.
I am glad to have had an opportunity this evening to meet And I have been greatly some of the Friendship Scholars.
impressed by their enthusiasm and commitment.
I wish them well
in their continuing studies and on their return to China.
5.
I am delighted also to see my predecessor Chris Patten here and two former senior Commissioners, Crispin Tickell and John Caines. I know that all of them share my enthusiasm for the scheme and join me in wishing the Friendship Scholars every success in their chosen areas of work.
JSM.03