14-SEP-1995 14:42 FROM FCO CRD
TO
72703387
P.05
Your reference: (12) IN SFAA 253/13 (II) Our reference: PCS 285/393/2
June 1995
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Ambrose Wong Esq
Student Financial Assistance Agency
7/F and 9/F National Mutual Centre 151 Gloucester Road
Wan Chai
!
Hong Kong
By fax: 00 852 519 3846
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 0171
UK/HK GOVERNMENTS JOINT FUNDING SCHEME 1995/96
1. Thank you for your letter of 11 May about the estimated costs for the UK/HK Governments Joint Funding Scheme in 1995/96.
2.
The figures supplied by you indicate a forecast contribution from the UK Government of £613,500. If this forecast is accurate we face another substantial underspend on HMG's 1995/96 allocation of £900,000. I am a little confused by your statement that the forecast contribution from HMG is higher than our allocation as this is not in fact the case. Our allocation of £900,000 for the 1995/96 programme was based on figures given to us in Michael Leung's letter of 16 July 1993 to Peter Ricketts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I would be interested to know what figure you hold as HMG's expected contribution for 1995/96 programme.
3. If, as with last year's programme, we face a substantial underspend on HMG's allocation we need to redeploy the funds as soon as possible. The latest we can effectively re-deploy such resources is mid-July 1995. I would therefore be grateful if you could let me have an immediate response as to the likelihood of HMG's contribution remaining at £613,500. look forward to hearing from you soon.
I
Lauren Johnstone (Mrs)
Overseas Students Policy Section Cultural Relations Department