JUN
ANK
'89 12152 BRITCHAM HK 6241335
17 June 1993
Mr James Smith-Laittan
British Trade Commission
Hong Kong
P.1/1
The British Chamber
of Commerce
in Hong Kong
香港
тс
VIA FAX
Dear James
CBI Scholarships
As you know, we have been reviewing the CBI scholarships for graduate engineers over the last few months. while we have continued to advertise and seek applicants for graduates for these on-the-job training positions, I'm afraid that over the last few years interest has been small.
In fact, the last year we came up with three candidates was 1989. Our own view has been influenced in some degree by the fact that in 1989, when we produced three excellent candidates, the CBI were unable to place them with any company in the U.K. This was a great pity as the candidates in question had gone to a great deal of trouble to arrange sabbaticals from their posts.
I think this is probably indicative of the general climate in Hong Kong, Young graduate engineers find themselves on a fast career track here and it is really only those in the public sector that have the job security to take time out to go to the U.K.
As you know, the economy in Hong Kong is booming and it is always been a city where people are anxious to earn as much as possible early in their career. Many people when they are planning to go abroad will think in terms of immigration and their ability to acquire a new passport. The graduate engineering scholarships are not in this category.
Having said that, I hope that in the future will be possible to place engineers with companies in U.K. But a reduction from 5 places to 2 per year would seem reasonable at this stage
Best wishes
Yours sincerely
Barre
Barrie McWhirter
Executive Director
BM/sh
1712 Shut On Centre, 8 Harbour Road, Hong Kong. Telephone: 8242211 Tuesimile: 824 1333 Telex: 82759 BRIT ITX
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