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Alice Wu

Last week, my son asked me why “problems” were bad. I disagreed with the question because not everything can or should be looked at through the good-vs-bad binary spectacles. Problems, like puzzles and mysteries, are opportunities for growth and insight. We learn from them and are better for it. If the problem arose from ignorance or negligence, we know not to do it again.
I wonder how Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin sees problems.
Choi had to solve a big problem over the summer. At the end of July, the Education Bureau announced a change in policy on student benefits at publicly funded tertiary education institutions. Children of non-local talent are now required to stay in Hong Kong for at least two years to be eligible for resident student benefits, which include the local annual tuition fee of HK$44,500 (US$5,705). Those not eligible pay three times that amount.
The authorities had to tighten the rules to prevent the abuse of talent recruitment schemes by those with no intention of settling in or contributing to Hong Kong. Local parents have raised the issue of “examination immigrants” – the children of those who game the system so their offspring can study in Hong Kong’s esteemed universities as “local” students.
The policy change came after months of criticism by former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who questioned whether Hong Kong’s aggressive talent schemes were being properly assessed and monitored, and whether the city had the capacity to handle the impact of the increased housing, medical and educational needs. It won’t be the first time Leung is exhorting the government to put Hongkongers first.
In announcing its tighter rules, the Education Bureau said it was to address concerns that opportunities for local students to gain admission to universities were being affected by those who had not lived in Hong Kong. Evidently, it is aware of the problem and has taken steps to address it.


Yet Choi recently told this paper in an exclusive interview that Hong Kong’s eight public universities had the capacity to take in more non-local students. The threshold is set at 40 per cent of local students and some universities have hit this quota, already doubled from the last academic year. In all, non-local students studying undergraduate programmes at public universities are at nearly 30 per cent of local student places.
Choi believes we should increase the quota further. After all, if we are to be the hub of tertiary education, we must take in more non-local students.
There is nothing inherently wrong with that or the government’s ambitions. A more international student body will be good for all, including our students. A more diverse student body would open eyes and minds to different perspectives and broaden outlooks. For local students who have been insulated in the back-breaking grind of tests and exams, this can only be beneficial.
But while Choi believes our universities have the capacity to take in more, what about the concerns that opportunities for local students to gain admission to universities are being affected by those who have not lived in Hong Kong?
Surely, having already doubled the quota – a drastic increase – and so quickly, to consider increasing it further now would fuel these concerns. We can all do the maths.


Here’s a percentage to consider. In the 2024-25 academic year, 72 per cent of the 17,161 non-local students attending Hong Kong’s public universities were from mainland China. The diversity we would like to have isn’t quite there. Perhaps priority should be given to increasing student diversity before we further increase the non-local quota.
Numbers like these have created friction in our society, and for Leung, probably reminiscent of when he was in office. He turned away pregnant mainland mothers with non-local fathers who entered Hong Kong just to give birth and obtain right of abode for the child. He also severely restricted the buying of infant milk powder to take across the border to safeguard the supply for Hong Kong mothers. Clearly, to Leung, this government has forgotten the lessons his administration learned.
It is true non-local students would bring in more money. And for the universities that have had their funds clawed back by the government, a bigger quota would be good news – more students they can charge higher fees on.
But what about our students? Those who sat for the Diploma of Secondary Education – Hong Kong’s university entrance examinations – this year have complained about tougher competition. As our students and their families feel the crunch, social discontent will brew.
The government must proceed cautiously, and a more comprehensive study on how an even bigger non-local university quota would affect local admissions must be done before it jumps headlong into more trouble.


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Opinion

Hong Kong Opinion

News

Hong Kong

Education

While a more diverse student body is beneficial, the impact on Hongkongers of raising the non-local quota too much too soon should not be taken lightly


While a more diverse student body is beneficial, the impact on Hongkongers of raising the non-local quota too much too soon should not be taken lightly.


Universities in Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong society

Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)

Anti-mainland China sentiments

China

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Think twice about letting more non-locals into Hong Kong universities

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}While a more diverse student body is beneficial, the impact on Hongkongers of raising the non-local quota too much too soon should not be taken lightly

While a more diverse student body is beneficial, the impact on Hongkongers of raising the non-local quota too much too soon should not be taken lightly