TNAG-2075-FCO40-2955-Joint-Funding-Scheme-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-increase-i-1990 — Page 21

Fax no: LOT 191

Commissioner, London

20 April 1990

Secretary for Education and Manpower

(Attn: Mr Albert Lai)

(79)

EMB/GL 11/1938 II

19 April 1990

HKB

2.

UK/HK Governments Joint Funding Scheme

Thank you for your fax of 19 April 1990.

I would like to point out that the extra work and trouble to this office is not our main worry or the reason for considering that it is inappropriate to issue application forms and Important Notes separately. Our main point is that it would be irresponsible for the Government to issue application forms without telling students what they are applying for. Looking at the revisions inserted in the Important Notes (Ref your memo (72) in the same series dated 11 April 1990) viz:

286

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

26 APR 1990

DESK OFICER

INDEX

RE

(a) The operation of the Scheme is now being reviewed but the level of assistance provided is expected to be maintained at the existing level.

(b) For the 1990-91 academic year, the

Government intends to charge a 2.5% interest p.a. on the loan borrowed by applicants, calculated from the commencement date of the loan repayment period. Applicants will be informed separately of the Government's decision on whether the interest charge will apply to them or not.

This shows that major changes to the scheme have yet to be decided and to call for applications at this stage does not put the administration in a good light.

3.

I appreciate the problems you mentioned in (a) to (e) of your para 3. Perhaps the solution would be to get policy endorsement within the next 2 weeks because the application forms will have to be issued by early May at the latest if on-course students are to receive them before the examination period.

MW/SW

сс

FCO-HKD

(Maureen Wong) (Ms) for Commissioner

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