ENG-1984 — Page 177

EDUCATION

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To mark its 50th anniversary, the council sponsored two concerts by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, with Sir Charles Groves conducting. An exhibition of contem- porary textile art, a visit from the United Kingdom by Marion Thorpe to chair the judging panel for Radio Television Hong Kong's Young Pianist of the Year Competition, and the appearance of two street entertainers during the Festival Fringe illustrated the variety of the rest of the council's cultural programme.

Hong Kong Students in Britain

The Students Division of the Hong Kong Government Office in London is responsible for the welfare of Hong Kong students and nurses in training in the United Kingdom. The division continued to work closely with the Education Department and other government departments in Hong Kong. It monitored developments in education in the United Kingdom and, in order to promote the interest of Hong Kong students, maintained close relations with universities and colleges, departments of the British Government, local education authorities, the British Council, welfare organisations and in the case of trainee nurses, medical authorities. The Hong Kong Students Centre in London, which serves as a focal point for the student community, provides accommodation for up to 90 students.

Hong Kong Students Overseas

The Overseas Students and Scholarships Section of the Education Department gives advice to students wishing to further their education overseas and supplies information on educational establishments in Britain and other countries. Altogether, 5 394 students went to Britain during the year; 3 284 went to Canada; 2 049 to the United States and 428 to Australia.

Student Finance

Financial assistance is made available to Hong Kong students attending higher education institutions in Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom through two means-tested schemes administered by the UPGC Secretariat.

Full-time students attending the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the Hong Kong Baptist College and the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong may receive grants to cover their faculty expenses, tuition fees and student union fees together with interest-free loans to meet their living expenses. During the year, 8 860 students received grants totalling $32 million and 9 970 students received loans totalling $81 million.

Under a joint-funding arrangement between the United Kingdom Government and the Hong Kong Government, grants are made to full-time students attending first degree or Higher National Diploma courses in the United Kingdom to meet the difference between home and overseas student fees. To be considered for a grant under the joint-funding arrangement, students must submit their applications by October 1 in any year. Late applications, received after October 1 and not later than November 1, are considered for a loan from the Hong Kong Government. Upon conclusion of the first exercise in February, grants totalling £3.40 million were paid to 130 institutions on behalf of 1 350 students and loans totalling £51,000 were paid to 16 institutions on behalf of 20 students.