TNAG-2765-FCO40-3982-UK-Hong-Kong-Scholarship-Scheme-donation-to-the-UK-Governme-1993 — Page 132

CODE 18-77

David Sargent, Joint Directorate Bay 903, Kingsgate House, London

HKB

Reference

285/1

File

RECEIVED N GISTRY

DESK

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Auton Taken

55

CBI OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS: HONG KONG

1.

You asked in your minute to FCO Departments for our views on the list of proposed candidates for this award. We have asked the British Trade Commission (BTC) in Hong Kong for their views and also why the response from Hong Kong had been so unenthusiastic in recent years. I attach a copy of their reply.

2.

We very much agree with Mr Smith-Laitten that it would be a great pity to lose this link between British companies and young up-and-coming Hong Kong engineers. In the longer term it would be likely to benefit Britain as well as Hong Kong. We therefore endorse the BTC's request that you should make a strong plea at the 25 June meeting for the two scholarship places to be awarded to Hong Kong. But you would also need to raise the two questions of:

(i) A slight increase in the monthly allowance to bring it more in line with what other schemes offer and;

(ii) The return airfares to Hong Kong. The British Council's offer to share the cost of airfares in this way with the CBI is one which we hope the CBI will be persuaded to accept.

k.

Sanders

KAM Saunders

Hong Kong Department

WH 311

270 3544

23 June 1993

sar.let.PR

SLM