TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 186

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Servants and some others as British Citizens. It has also been

agreed by HMG that BDTCs from all Dependent Territories should be

described as "British Nationals" in their passports, although this

does not reflect any change in their immigration status into the UK.

Hong Kong recently asked if it was possible for HMG to remove the

endorsements which are currently inserted in most BDTC passports,

stating that the holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act, 1971. HMG agreed in August that the endorsement can be omitted

and replaced by 'Holder has right of abode in Hong Kong' (or the relevant Dependent Territory). About 3 million Hong Kong residents are BDTCS: the remaining 2.3 million are holders of Hong Kong

residence permits which give no citizenship status under UK law.

a) Overseas Students' Fees at UK Institutions

5.5 HMG's decision in 1979 to remove the subsidy from tuition fees

for overseas students aroused considerable feeling in Hong Kong.

This was 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. After the

publication of the Overseas Students' Trust (OST) report on policy

towards students from overseas, which recommended that Hong Kong

students should be considered as home students, with the difference

in fees being paid by HMG and the Hong Kong Government, it put forward proposals for a joint subsidy scheme involving a means test.

On 8 February, HMG announced its response to the OST report. This

included an acceptance in principle of the Hong Kong Government's proposals, up to a maximum contribution by HMG of £1.9 million in

1983-4. The Hong Kong Government will match HMG's contribution, and

provide any other funds required in the form of a loan. The scheme

will come into effect in the academic year 1983-4.

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