TNAG-2765-FCO40-3982-UK-Hong-Kong-Scholarship-Scheme-donation-to-the-UK-Governme-1993 — Page 67

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the matter is that the savings on FCO SAS are becoming available now and that we risk losing them if we do not put in a bid this year.

5. The flaw in these arguments is of course the fact that we have a poor take-up under the sponsored visits programme for Hong Kong even in relation to its present modest dimensions. I understand that our current allocation stands at 6 Category I and 6 Category II visitors in the current financial year, and that so far we have found no takers. I cannot tell from here whether this is because the programme simply has no attractions in Hong Kong, or whether more could be done and better results be obtained if you marketed the programme more energetically.

6.

I apologise for springing this question on you at such short notice, especially given that both you and Hugh Davies have so recently arrived in post. But I should be grateful if you could quickly put your heads together and let me have your joint reply to the following questions:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Is there action that can be taken to make the sponsored visits programme in Hong Kong more attractive and to fill the current quota of places with worthwhile candidates?

If so, and given the circumstances of the transition, should we be working for an expansion of the scheme up to and beyond 1997?

If so, what would be a sensible bid for the next three financial years?

If the answer to the first question (and therefore to the subsequent questions) is no, I am sure you will say so. But I thought it right to put the questions.

7. I fear that timing is tight. The meeting of my Command Board to consider my TMR return takes place on the

afternoon of Monday 11 October, and my return has to be in by the end of the week. It would be ideal if I could have

your guidance by 1400Z on 11 October. But if this is quite impossible, I understand: in that case the sooner you can

reply next week the easier it will be for me.

CC:

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H L1 Davies Esq, JLG, HONG KONG

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