CONFIDENTIAL
OVERSEAS STUDENTS FEES : ESSENTIAL FACTS
1.
Decision in November 1979 to withdraw the general subsidy from fees paid by overseas students, including those from Hong Kong, made purely for financial reasons. Decision caused ill-
feeling in Hong Kong, which continues. Regarded as another sign of lack of British commitment to Territory.
2.
Subsequent drop of around 50% in Hong Kong students
coming to UK, eg new first-degree course students from Hong Kong in UK fell from 651 (1979) to 342 (1982); comparative increase in number going to United States and Canada. Hong Kong Government instituted emergency loan scheme to help needy students already on first degree or equivalent courses. term means-tested loan scheme came into operation in September 1981. But it has not achieved aim of maintaining numbers of
Hong Kong students coming to UK.
Long-
OVERSEAS STUDENTS TRUST REPORT
3.
Overseas Students Trust reported in June 1982 on long- term policy towards overseas students. Recommended home student
status for students from Dependent Territories with, in the case
of Hong Kong, joint subsidy by HMG and Hong Kong Government
(HKG) to meet difference in fees.
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS
Extra
4.
HKG have proposed HMG and HKG share equally difference in
cost between overseas and home levels of fees after means test
to determine students's possible contribution. No limit proposed to number of students eligible for assistance.
money (estimated around £1.6 million in 1983/4 rising to
£5.15 million in 1987/88) would be needed. (ODA are now
spending £40 million a year on subsidies for foreign students). Scheme would be reviewed after 5 years, by which time demand in Hong Kong may have lessened as a resultof increase in provision of tertiary education places.
CONFIDENTIAL
/PRESENT
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