Hong Kong students told to take up part-time jobs to cover 5.5% annual university fee rise

Lawmaker Lau Chi-pang says university tuition fees, set to rise from 2025-26, should not be a ‘very big problem’ for students

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University tuition fees will increase by 17.6 per cent over the next three years. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 3:33pm, 20 Jun 2024Updated: 4:14pm, 20 Jun 2024

Hong Kong students can easily cover an annual university tuition fee increase of about 5 per cent by taking up more part-time jobs, an academic turned lawmaker has said, dismissing the impact of the move on undergraduates.

But a student representative on Thursday disagreed with lawmaker Lau Chi-pang, saying some of his peers would also have to support their families with their jobs on top of dealing with other expenses.

Authorities announced tuition fees would rise by HK$2,400 (US$307) to HK$44,500 in 2025-26 and another HK$2,500 in each of the following two years after a nearly three-decade freeze.

While the annual increase stood at 5.5 per cent on average, tuition fees would rise 17.6 per cent from the current level over three years.

Lau, also associate vice-president of institutional advancement and external affairs of Lingnan University, said the annual increase should not be a “very big problem” for students.

“On campus, the lowest hourly wage paid for part-time jobs is HK$60 to HK$65,” he told a radio programme.

“If you spread the increase out, it will only be HK$200 to HK$300 monthly, you can make it back if you work for two to three hours. I do not think this is a very big problem.”