Reference
CONFIDENTIAL
From: Dr R O Iredale
Date: 12 January 1990
Mr Raleigh
Hong Kong and the Commonwealth after 1997
Please see attached papers.
A "think tank" has been commissioned to put together ideas on how benefits which Hong Kong currently receives from Commonwealth membership as a UK dependency might be maintained after 1997 as part of China. The Diplomatic Wing has asked for our comments in respect of Hong Kong's relationship with the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).
2.
The tidy and straightforward administrative answer is to say that Hong Kong will not be eligible for awards under CSFP after 1997 but will then presumably become eligible for alternative awards under the Technical Co-operation Training Programme (TCTP) for China and the Sino British Friendship Scholarship Scheme. There is no current TCT Programme for
Hong Kong.
3.
This is the initial response line which the "think tank" is recommending for reply to any enquiries which might arise (paragraph 3 of Mr Martin's letter of 18 December). However if we wished and the Government of China and
Commonwealth countries agreed, we could, subject to legal advice, continue awards under CSFP. Mr Martin talks of the question of retaining Commonwealth links possibly arising at a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Hong Kong in May/June 1991.
The specific point of educational links might surface earlier than this during discussion of the Plan at the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Barbados in November 1990.
4. But Hong Kong is not only a receiving country (some 20 scholars/fellows holding awards in the UK annually and a few more in Australia and Canada); it also offers awards (in 1987, 7 scholars/fellows from Australia, Bahamas, Singapore, Tanzania, Trinidad (2) and Uganda). Thus the question for the Commonwealth would not only be could Hong Kong continue to receive awards but would it still be able to offer awards. The Commonwealth might only be willing to agree on a two part package, if indeed all. On the other hand it might to continue to offer awards. situation.
5.
it was willing to agree at be willing for the UK alone We have no feel for the
In respect of eligibility for UK awards this is governed by the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980 Sections 15 to 17. Section 15 (3) says
"The persons to be selected .... shall be Commonwealth citizens or British protected persons
(within the meaning of the British Nationality Act 1948) except where the Commission for special reasons, approved by
CONFIDENTIAL
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