Bequest. After several frustrating years of delays and contradictory advice we have finally received advice from the Solicitor General at the Law Offices in UK that the best way forward would be to set up a Royal Sign Manual. This would officially bequeath the funds to the appropriate parties according to the wishes of Sir S K Tang and leave the FCO with no further involvement in the funds administration.
5. However, the two thirds set aside for scholarships require some form of administration further to a Royal Sign Manual. The Solicitor General has suggested that we avoid setting up a separate trust to administer the funds, which may prove costly and unwieldy, and instead agree with the British Council's suggestion of a Declaration of Trust between us and them. The British Council drew up a draft declaration in 1988 but the terms have yet to be decided between us. We must secure that only the interest may be used, and would like to ensure that funds must go towards Hong Kong students to study in the UK and that the criteria for choosing those students is made in agreement with both us and the British Council. If possible we would like to arrange for the funds to be left in the UK HK Merit Scheme and continue with the administration which already exists. We have pledged our support for the scheme, alongside the Jockey Club, until the end of 95/96 when the accrued interest will be exhausted. A review is due to be held in 1994/95 to decide the future of the scheme post-1996 and the decision may then be taken to move funds to the UK in 1996; bringing forward the review may lead the Jockey Club to withdraw its' contribution early. Once the funds were brought to the UK, the British Council could then be responsible for devising a new scholarship scheme with the reduced funds.
5.
In Summary we would like to arrange for the Royal Sign Manual to be set up; for one third of the funds to go straight to Imperial Cancer Research and the other two thirds be left in Hong Kong for the UK HK Merit Scheme. The Declaration of Trust could then be set up between us and the British Council so that we would be ready to go into action with a new scholarships programme when it is necessary to transfer the funds to the UK. The Legal Adviser and Cultural Relations Department agree with these proposals.
SJ Haspel,
SKTANG/subjan