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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1981
THE LOAN SCHEME WILL BE REVIEWED IN A YEAR'S TIME TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF FURTHER INCREASES IN TUITION FEES AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS WHICH MAY COME TO LIGHT.
COMMENTING ON THE SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE NEED TO MAINTAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONG KONG STUDENTS TO SEEK HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH WHICH HONG KONG HAD TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC LINKS.
+PENDING THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW POST SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, THE DECISION REPRESENTS THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN TO ASSIST THOSE HONG KONG STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE LOANS, AND THE CONDITIONS ATTACHED, WILL BE SIMILAR AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO THOSE ADOPTED FOR THE LOCAL STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME. HOWEVER, THERE IS A BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SCHEMES: THE LOCAL SCHEME ENSURES THAT NO STUDENT WHO QUAL IF IES FOR A PLACE AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES OR THE POLYTECHNIC HAS TO TURN IT DOWN BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL NEED, WHEREAS THE UK SCHEME IS INTENDED TO AMELIORATE THE EFFECT OF THE INCREASE IN FEES FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES CONCERNED MUST PROVIDE THE STUDENT'S LIVING EXPENSES IN BRITAIN AS WELL AS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE FEE CHARGEABLE TO BRITISH STUDENTS, WHICH TOGETHER WILL AMOUNT TO ABOUT 4 000 POUNDS STERLING FOR 1981/82.
NEVERTHELESS, APPLICANTS WILL BE MEANS-TESTED TO ENSURE THAT ONLY NEEDY STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE HELP. THE AMOUNT OF EACH LOAN WILL DEPEND ON DISPOSABLE FAMILY INCOME.
LETTERS OF INDEMNITY WILL BE REQUIRED FROM AN APPLICANT'S PARENT AND ONE OTHER PERSON IN HONG KONG. LOANS WILL BE REPAYABLE BY 20 QUARTERLY INSTALMENTS OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE STUDENT'S COURSE.
BECAUSE THE LOANS CONSTITUTE PART OF THE ANNUAL TUITION FEES, THEY WILL BE PAID DIRECT TO THE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED.
THE EXAMINATION OF APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE OFFICE IN HONG KONG.
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