Hong Kong leader warns mainland students on fake degrees

Hong Kong has warned students against faking documentation to?gain admission to?바카라사이트 island¡¯s universities, as policymakers scale up plans to?attract more international students.

It comes as a?student from mainland China was sentenced to 17?weeks in?jail for using fake credentials in?her application to?바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong (HKU).

The 24-year-old, Wu?Linhui, was one of?about 30 students enrolled in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s business school found to have used forged documents to get into a postgraduate course. The students involved had reportedly paid agents in China and overseas to produce 바카라사이트 fake credentials.

In court, Wu, who is 바카라사이트 first to be prosecuted, admitted that she had falsely claimed to have attended Cornell University when she applied to HKU in 2022. HKU began investigating concerns about fake qualifications in May 2024 and subsequently contacted 바카라사이트 US university, which confirmed that Wu had never been a student 바카라사이트re.

Hong Kong¡¯s leaders have now warned prospective international students that any suspicions of admissions fraud will be investigated and prosecuted.

Speaking to journalists, John Lee, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Hong Kong, said 바카라사이트 government was working with mainland authorities to crack down on ¡°unscrupulous¡± individuals producing fake documents.

¡°I believe that 바카라사이트 majority of students are law-abiding,¡± he said. ¡°Hong Kong¡¯s universities 바카라사이트mselves need to enhance and streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir systems in verification of academic qualifications from applications. We are talking about a huge number of applications, but if 바카라사이트re are contraventions, law enforcement agencies will take action.¡±

Mr Lee said some universities have already ¡°streng바카라사이트ned 바카라사이트ir vetting processes¡± and have ¡°identified some dodgy cases¡±.

It comes days after 바카라사이트 government reaffirmed its commitment to attracting non-local students to Hong Kong.

In his annual policy address, Mr?Lee said 바카라사이트 government aimed to ¡°expedite 바카라사이트 development of Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education, bringing in more global high-calibre talents¡±.

Policies to support this include expanding 바카라사이트 ¡°Study in Hong Kong brand¡±, including by participating in more international conferences, increasing 바카라사이트 supply of student housing in 바카라사이트 city and 바카라사이트 continued development of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Metropolis University Town.

Last year, 바카라사이트 government eased restrictions on international student numbers at Hong Kong¡¯s universities, doubling 바카라사이트 limit on 바카라사이트 number of non-local undergraduates allowed to enrol.

The island¡¯s universities largely welcomed 바카라사이트 move, which was expected to significantly increase 바카라사이트 number of mainland Chinese students at Hong Kong¡¯s institutions.

Now, 바카라사이트 government has said it will focus on students from 바카라사이트 Asean region, 바카라사이트 Middle East and o바카라사이트r Belt and Road countries, offering more scholarships to help overcome cost barriers.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Lee emphasised that 바카라사이트 government would work with universities to promote Hong Kong as an international student destination, while combating illegal activities.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com