14 -
Year
Text-book costs
Subsidies
GBP
GBP
90-91
37,940
58,700
91-92
33,120
50,000
92-93
41,000
34,000
93-94
25,230
32,150
94-95
18,600
The scheme was phased out and eventually suspended in 1994-95, partly as a result of the major reorganization of the London Office to refocus the office's efforts to meet changing needs, taking into account:
'(a)
(b)
the need to plan for, in the long term, the role of the London Office as an economic and trade office under the Sino-British Joint Declaration; and
a more efficient utilization of resources."
as was reported to this Council on 2 November 1990 when the Finance Committee was asked to note, inter alia, the reorganization of the London Office into an economic and trade office. As part of the reorganization exercise, the then Community Services Division of the London Office, which had all along handled the scheme, was disbanded in September 1995, because liaison with the Hong Kong community, among others, would cease to be a function of the re-structured London Office.
At the same time, with the change in circumstance in UK, it was deemed that there was no paramount need to continue providing financial assistance for Chinese language class. With the increased affluence of immigrants in the local community, they are now much more able to self-support running of the classes themselves. These classes are well-established and ably run. The withdrawal of financial assistance by the London Office has not caused serious hardship. In fact, as far as we are aware, no class was closed for financial reasons as a result. As regards textbooks, by 1994-95, the UK Federation of the Chinese Schools had developed their own set of textbooks up to GCSE level which are widely circulated and better suited for children living in the UK. There was therefore no further need for the London Office to supply Hong Kong textbooks to the classes.
Moreover, following an inquiry by the House of Common in 1984-85, a report entitled 'Chinese Community in Britain' was published which affirmed that the local governments should support Chinese language teaching in the Chinese communities. As a result, the Chinese residents have been able to make some success in getting regular support from local governments for classes for Chinese language studies.