§ Mr. Wallasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has authorises the change in status of Hong Kong students from "home" to "overseas"; and what is the reason for the change.
§ Mr. BlakerThere has been no change in the status of Hong Kong students. The Government decided in July 1979, as part of their overall policy to reduce expenditure, to phase out the indiscriminate subsidy on tuition fees for overseas students, at a saving of approximately £100 million a year. New entrants to British universities, except those from the United Kingdom and the European Community, are required to pay fees at full cost from the present academic year, and Hong Kong is included among those countries to whom the new rates apply.