TNAG-1155-FCO40-1435-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-(MPs)-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 178

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d) Overseas Students' Fees at UK Institutions

5.5 HMG's decision to raise the recommended level of tuition fees

for overseas students has aroused considerable feeling in Hong Kong,

in view of the Territory's special relationship with the UK. This is aggravated by the fact that students from the EC, the French

overseas territories and Gibraltar are classified as home students.

The Hong Kong Government introduced in 1981 a scheme by which

means-tested loans are available for Hong Kong students on first

degree or equivalent courses in Britain. It has welcomed the

publication of the Overseas Students' Trust report on policy towards

students from overseas, which recommends that Hong Kong students should be considered as home students, with a subsidy paid jointly

by HMG and the Hong Kong Government. This is now being considered

by HMG.

THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

5.6 The Chinese consider the Treaties relating to the cession of

Hong Kong and the lease of the New Territories (paragraph 1.1 above)

as "unequal treaties" forced on China during a period of internal weakness and they do not, therefore, recognise them. They have, however, hitherto regarded Hong Kong as a problem left over from history, to be settled when the time is right, and have been content to leave things as they are, particularly in view of the practical

value of Hong Kong to them. Hong Kong is a valuable direct source

of convertible currency (estimated at between 35% and 40% of the total Chinese earnings of foreign exchange) mostly earned from foodstuffs, invisibles and remittances to relations in China.

also, as China's only deep water port, an important entrepôt.

It is

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