XN000022-1981-03-17 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1981

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VISIT OF LORD CARRINGTON

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THE RT HON THE LORD CARRINGTON, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, ARRIVES IN HONG KONG ON MARCH 29 (SUNDAY) FOR A SHORT VISIT BEFORE LEAVING FOR CHINA ON APRIL 1 (WEDNESDAY),

LORD CARRINGTON, ACCOMPANIED BY LADY CARRINGTON, WILL ARRIVE FROM ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, WHERE HE WILL BE MAKING AN OFFICIAL VISIT.

HE WILL BE MET AT KAI TAK AIRPORT BY THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE.

DURING HIS STAY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS, MEET WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND URBAN COUNCILS, SEE A NUMBER OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG, AND WILL VISIT THE BORDER AREA.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS TO HAVE VISITED HONG KONG LAST SEPTEMBER BUT HAD TO POSTPONE THE VISIT BECAUSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEBATE ON THE GULF WAR.

EMERGENCY FUND FOR HK STUDENTS IN UK

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AN EMERGENCY LOAN FUND TO ASSIST HONG KONG STUDENTS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT INCREASE IN TUITION FEES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

A LONGER TERM LOAN SCHEME FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE OFFERED PLACES IN BRITISH TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IS BEING CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DETAILS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FINALISED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID A TOTAL OF $9 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO THE EMERGENCY SCHEME, TO PROVIDE FOR LOANS TO NEEDY STUDENTS ALREADY ENROLLED IN BRITISH UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 1 500 STUDENTS STARTED COURSES IN OCTOBER 1980.

THE SCHEME WILL APPLY TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN FIRST DEGREE OR EQUIVALENT COURSES, INCLUDING DIPLOMA COURSES AT POLYTECHNICS, WHETHER THEY ARE IN THEIR FIRST OR SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF STUDY.

INTERVIEWS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS ARE IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, AND THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE, WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, LONDON OFFICE.

THE INTERVIEWS