XN000022-1983-08-01 — Page 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1983

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GRANTS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS INCREASED

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STUDENTS AT TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGES AND APPROVED POST- SECONDARY COLLEGES WILL BENEFIT FROM A 50 PER CENT INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND LOANS TO BE EFFECTIVE THIS COMING ACADEMIC YEAR.

AT PRESENT, STUDENTS TAKING COURSES AT THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE AND AT THE APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES CAN APPLY EACH YEAR FOR A MAXIMUM GRANT OF $2 000 PLUS A LOAN OF $2 400, OR IN SOME CASES A LOAN OF $4 400. THESE AMOUNTS WILL NOW BE INCREASED TO $3 000, $3 600 AND $6 600 RESPECTIVELY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THIS INCREASE SHOULD OFFSET THE RISE IN COST OF LIVING SINCE THE PRESENT LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS SET IN SEPTEMBER, 1979.

FURTHERMORE, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE REAL VALUE OF ASSISTANCE COULD BE MAINTAINED, THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY IN FUTURE TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM GRANT AND LOAN EACH YEAR, WITH REGARD TO THE MOVEMENT OF CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A).

SIR EDWARD OFF TO PEKING

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR PEKING THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PART IN THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

HE WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO, AND THE VICE-CHIEF EDITOR OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG BRANCH), MR TAN GAN.

ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR TO PEKING WERE THE ACTING POLITICAL ADVISER, MR RICHARD MARGOLIS, AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF INTERPRETER, MR Y.P. CHENG.

SIR PHILIP HAS BEEN APPOINTED DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR DURING SIR EDWARD'S ABSENCE.

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