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Hong Kong asks Beijing for greater democracy

By WTOP Staff

KELVIN CHAN
Associated press

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader formally asked Beijing on Tuesday for legal changes that would ultimately let residents of the southern Chinese city elect his successor, but he downplayed calls for the public to nominate candidates free of China’s vetting.

The former British colony’s Beijing-backed top official, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, said in his report to China’s legislature that consultations with nearly 125,000 people and groups in the city found they were “eager” for universal suffrage. He advised Beijing that changes to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, were needed for democratic reform, kicking off a process that will let voters pick the city’s leaders starting in 2017.

The report, however, made scant mention of calls from pro-democracy groups to allow the public to put forth candidates without Beijing’s interference. It said that “mainstream opinion” held that it was best left to an elite nominating committee like the one that has hand-picked all of Hong Kong’s postcolonial leaders.

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities say such a committee is the only method allowed under the Basic Law but that has raised fears Beijing will screen out candidates it doesn’t like.

“After reading the report, I have come to see what fake universal suffrage could be like,” pro-democracy legislator Charles Mok said during a debate in the legislature. Raymond Wong, leader of a radical pro-democracy party, said government officials were following a “script written by the Communist Party.”

The report, also posted on a Hong Kong government website, is sure to add to discontent among residents already upset over Beijing’s growing influence in the former British colony.

It comes two weeks after an estimated half a million people took to Hong Kong’s streets in an annual rally to press for full democracy. Turnout was boosted after Beijing released a “white paper” policy document in June that enraged asserting its complete authority over Hong Kong, which is promised a high degree of control over its own affairs under the principle of “one country, two systems.”

Nearly 800,000 people last month took part in an informal poll organized by a pro-democracy group, Occupy Central with Love and Peace, to gauge support for genuine democracy in the city. The group has raised the heat in the debate over electoral reform by vowing to rally at least 10,000 supporters to shut down the Asian financial center’s central business district to press for democratic reforms that meet international standards.

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Online: www.2017.gov.hk/en/home in English and 2017.gov.hk in Chinese

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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