TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 237

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2.72 Student financing and tertiary-level fees

Grants and

interest-free loans for needy students at the two universities are

provided from public funds under a government scheme administered

by the Joint Universities' Committee on Student Finance: this

ensures that students are not prevented by lack of means from taking

up a university place. The amount of public funds available for

student financing has increased substantially over the years. For

the 1980-81 academic year $10 million in grants and $28 million in

interest-free loans have been provided. The student financing scheme

was extended to Hong Kong Polytechnic students in 1976-7, with grants

and loans administered by the Polytechnic Committee on Student Finance.

Some $1.6 million in grants and $17.8 million in loans have been provided

by the government for polytechnic students in 1980-81. Needy students

in the technical institutes, the colleges of education and the Technical

Teachers' College have for many years been eligible for grants and loans

administered by the Education Department, which in 1980 also introduced

a system of financial assistance for students of the three approved

post-secondary colleges in accordance with the principles set forth in

the 1978 White Paper. Public-sector senior secondary and tertiary level

education is heavily subsidised, existing fees ranging from $800 p.a.

for a place in Form VI or a college of education to $1,000 p.a. for a

Polytechnic course and $2,050 p.a. for a university course. As a result

of a recent general review, fees will rise in the universities and

the Polytechnic by 1983 to maxima of $3,010 p.a. and $2,200 p.a.

respectively. Fees in the assisted approved post-secondary colleges

are somewhat higher since only part of the colleges' income comes

from public funds. Student financing schemes are adjusted periodically

to take into account such factors as fee increases and cost-of-living

The government has recently announced the introduction

movements.

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