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A. Targeted schemes and other measures announced by the
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 8 February 1983
12. The Government accept that schemes targeted at particular groups of students is the most appropriate way of providing
support. This was the approach adopted by the Overseas Students Trust Study. In what follows, the Study's recommendations most
closely related to Government action are set out with a note of
the Government's intentions.
(i)
Students from British dependent territories should pay the home level of fee (Hong Kong being the major
beneficiary of this concession). (Para 7.10): Wherever
possible and appropriate, shared funding should be
introduced. (Para 7.39)
The Government accept that there are strong arguments for charging lower fees to students from British
dependent territories. But there are practical difficulties in the way of conceding home fee status.
A similar effect could be secured by other means.
The Government propose to establish, on a cost sharing basis already proposed by the Hong Kong Government, a scheme for students on first degree and equivalent courses at universities and institutions in the public sector.
Subject to a means test in Hong Kong, students
supported under the scheme would pay the home rate
of tuition fee while the balance of cost between that
fee and full cost would be paid on their behalf.
The Hong Kong Government have estimated that HMG's
contribution to the shared funding scheme will be
approximately £1.9 million in the academic year 1983-84. This estimate is based on a number of assumptions, and it will not be possible to cost the scheme accurately until applications for grants have been processed by the Hong Kong Government. In response to the Hong Kong
/Government's ·