XN000022-1990-08-19 — Page 3

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 1990

JOINT UK/HK GOVT FUNDING SCHEME

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IN

THE

NEW STUDENTS INTENDING TO PURSUE TERTIARY EDUCATION UNITED KINGDOM AS FROM THE 1990-91 ACADEMIC YEAR WERE TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE UK/HK GOVERNMENTS JOINT FUNDING SCHEME.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY SAID THE SCHEME WAS JOINTLY FINANCED BY THE HONG KONG AND UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENTS TO HELP NEEDY HONG KONG STUDENTS MEET THE HIGHEST TUITION FEES CHARGED ON OVERSEAS STUDENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

"IT IS OPEN TO HONG KONG STUDENTS PURSUING FULL-TIME FIRST DEGREE OR HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA COURSES AT UNIVERSITIES, POLYTECHNICS AND COLLEGES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SUBJECT TO THEIR HAVING RESIDED CONTINUOUSLY OR BEEN DOMICILED IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR ΤΟ COURSE COMMENCEMENT, HE SAID.

"

"THE SCHEME IS MEANS-TESTED AND THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUITION FEES PAYABLE BY AN OVERSEAS STUDENT AND A BRITISH HOME STUDENT STUDYING THE SAME COURSE.

"THE BRITISH HOME STUDENT FEE WILL BE INCREASED ΤΟ 1,675 POUNDS STERLING IN 1990-91. HOWEVER, HAVING CONSIDERED THE NEED OF HONG KONG STUDENTS, IT IS DECIDED TO ADOPT A NOTIONAL 'HOME' FEE OF 637 POUNDS STERLING FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING STUDENTS FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE IN 1990-91, "THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE IN THE FORM OF GRANTS, BUT IF THE TOTAL REQUIREMENT EXCEEDS THE JOINT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, THEN EACH SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT'S SHARE OF GRANT WOULD BE PROPORTIONATELY REDUCED, WITH THE BALANCE MADE UP BY A LOAN SOLELY FINANCED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

WITH EFFECT FROM THE 1990-91 ACADEMIC YEAR, AN INTEREST ON THE LOAN BORROWED BY APPLICANTS SHALL BE CHARGEABLE AT THE RATE OF 2.5 PER CENT PER ANNUM CALCULATED FROM THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE LOAN REPAYMENT PERIOD.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY AT QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOW BLOCK, GROUND FLOOR, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.

APPLICANTS SHOULD BRING WITH THEM DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF THEIR HAVING BEEN ACCEPTED BY AN INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR ONE OF THE COURSES COVERED BY THE SCHEME (PROOF OF CONDITIONAL OFFER WILL BE ACCEPTABLE).

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ON 867 3547.

BY HAND ΤΟ THE

COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE RETURNED STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 1990.

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE BUT ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 1990 MAY BE ACCEPTED BUT WILL BE PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOANS ONLY.

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