CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 2227
OF 181015Z OCTOBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
VISIT OF MR RENTON.
19
CONFIDENTIAL
(222)
нии очень
FCEED IN REGISTRY
2 1 CCT 1985
ISTRY'
150 Tuken
BRIEFING TELEGRAM : JOINT-FUNDING SCHEME FOR HONG KONG STUDENTS IN BRITAIN.
LINE TO TAKE.
1. HMG SUPPORTS THE JOINT FUNDING SCHEME. FOR BUDGETARY REASONS, HMG'S CONTRIBUTION UNLIKELY TO INCREASE IN THE YEARS TO COME, BUT SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENT MADE ALREADY AND WILL CONTINUE BEYOND 1985/86.
2. NOT POSSIBLE, IN PRESENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, TO RETURN TO INDISCRIMINATE AND OPEN-ENDED SUBSIDIES.
BACKGROUND.
3. DIFFERENTIAL FEES FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS STUDENTS IN BRITAIN WERE INTRODUCED IN THE 1967-68 ACADEMIC YEAR. THE OVERSEAS FEE THEN REMAINED UNCHANGED UNTIL 1975-76, AFTER WHICH THERE WERE INCREASES EACH YEAR UNTIL FULL COST FEES WERE INTRODUCED IN 1980.
4. EMERGENCY LOAN FUND FIRST INTRODUCED IN APRIL 1978 WAS RESUSCITATED TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF STUDENTS FOLLOWING INTRODUCTION OF FULL COST FEES. LONG TERM LOAN SCHEME INTRODUCED IN 1981/82 ACADEMIC YEARS.
5. PROTRACTED DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN HMG AND HKG OVER FUNDING OF SCHEMES DESIGNED TO COMBAT THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBERS OF HONG KONG STUDENTS GOING TO BRITAIN. OVERSEAS STUDENTS TRUST (OST) PRODUCED A REPORT RECOMMENDING:
(A) NO RETURN TO PREVIOUS POLICY OF INDISCRIMINATE OPEN-ENDED SUBSIDY.
(3) STUDENTS FROM BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES SHOULD PAY THE HOME
LEVEL OF FEE WITH POSSIBLE JOINT FUNDING TO BE EXPLORED WITH THE
GOVERNMENT CONCERNED.
6. RECOMMENDATION ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE BY HMG BUT UNABLE TO GIVE
COMMITMENT TO EQUAL FUNDING. DISCUSSIONS HAVE CONTINUED ABOUT
ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1985/36 AND BEYOND. HKC UNABLE TO PERSUADE HMG
THAT BRITISH CONTRIBUTION SHOULD NOT BE PAID AT POUNDS 2 MILLION.
IF SO PEGGED, FINANCIAL PURDEN WOULD PROGRESSIVELY BE PUT BACK
ONTO STUDENTS THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF INCREASE PROPORTIONATE OF
ASSISTANCE WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF LOANS TO BE PEPAID.
CONFIDENTIAL
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