XN000022-1991-08-18 — Page 4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1991

UK/HK GOVERNMENTS JOINT FUNDING SCHEME

NEW STUDENTS INTENDING TO PURSUE TERTIARY EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AS FROM THE 1991-92 ACADEMIC YEAR ARE 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 HIGHER TUITION FERS 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 TO 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 HAS BEEN INCREASED STARTING FROM THE YEAR 1990-91.

STUDENTS,

CONSIDERABLY

HAVING CONSIDERED THE NEED OF HONG KONG

A NOTIONAL 'HOME FEE' IS ADOPTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING STUDENTS' FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1991-92, THE NOTIONAL 'HOME FEE' WILL BE 669 POUND STERLING,

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

AN INTEREST ON THE LOAN BORROWED BY APPLICANTS IS CHARGEABLE AT THE RATE OF 2.5% 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).

/ENQUIRIES MAY