TNAG-0941-FCO40-1160-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1980 — Page 53

CONFIDENTIAL

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 26-29 SEPTEMBER

BRIEF NO. 6: DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR OFFICIALS:

OVERSEAS STUDENTS' FEES

POINTS TO MAKE

ORIGINAL DECISION

1.

Reason for decision to charge full cost fees purely financial.

Need for saving in Government expenditure. £90 million per year

saving on DES Vote.

CURRENT EXEMPTIONS

2.

Indiscriminate nature of previous subsidy.

Exemption for European Community (and Gibraltarian) students

agreed because reciprocal and EC regulations would shortly have

required it.

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

3.

Acknowledge special position of dependent territories.

Intend

Financial

to seek approval for exemption for students from dependent terri-

tories as first priority. Will fight hard, but it will take time

and not over-optimistic about favourable decision.

realities so tough that even £4.5 million in 1980/81 is a lot to

ask. May be too late to find final solution for this academic year.

Appreciate hardship but better to take longer, using right tactics,

than to have proposal totally rejected.

HONG KONG CONTRIBUTION

4. Aware of Governor's proposal. Had originally seen it as fall

Suggest our officials now discuss.

back.

STUDENTS FROM FRENCH OVERSEAS DEPARTMENTS (Defensive)

5. Only nine students from French Overseas Departments studying in

UK last year.

CONFIDENTIAL