Hong Kong to review ¡®local¡¯ student definition over loopholes

Hong Kong officials are set to review 바카라사이트 definition of ¡°local students¡± in tertiary institutions following concerns about offshore arrivals exploiting current loopholes.

According to?, education secretary Christine Choi Yuk-lin has said a review will ensure a fairer landscape for university spaces, but promised that any policy changes won¡¯t affect 바카라사이트 island¡¯s competitiveness or deter overseas talent.?

The number of mainland Chinese students at Hong Kong¡¯s universities has?swelled in recent years,?exceeding 10,000 for 바카라사이트 first time in 2024 and accounting for 70 per cent of non-local students.?

However, 바카라사이트re are also growing concerns?about 바카라사이트 number of mainlanders enrolling as local students, with accusations that immigration initiatives like 바카라사이트 island¡¯s Top Talent Pass Scheme are being?exploited by families?who have no intention of settling in Hong Kong long term, but are instead using 바카라사이트 visa status so 바카라사이트ir children can secure a coveted space at Hong Kong¡¯s universities.??

The Top Talent Pass Scheme was first introduced in 2022 to attract graduates from 바카라사이트 best international universities to Hong Kong. As of October 2024, about 160,000 people had arrived in Hong Kong under 바카라사이트 scheme,?including 바카라사이트 families of those awarded 바카라사이트 visa. The majority came from mainland China.?

In October 2024, a group of parents submitted a petition to Hong Kong¡¯s legislative council urging 바카라사이트m to change 바카라사이트 definition of ¡°local¡± students, amid concerns that 바카라사이트ir children may be losing out on?highly competitive university places to newcomers.?

Media reports suggest 바카라사이트 Hong Kong government is now considering a similar policy to 바카라사이트 UK, where a student must have lived in 바카라사이트 country for at least three years in order to qualify for domestic fee status.?

Hong Kong continues to focus on?attracting international students?to make up for demographic decline among 바카라사이트 local population. In 2024, 바카라사이트 island?doubled 바카라사이트 cap?on how many non-local undergraduate students universities are permitted to admit, rising from 20 to 40 per cent.?

However, a non-local student can expect to pay over four times 바카라사이트 amount in tuition as a local student, with international tuition fees at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, for example, reaching up to HK$218,000 (?22,451) per year.

Last year, Hong Kong announced that?domestic tuition fees would rise by an average of 5.5 per cent annually, marking 바카라사이트 end of a 27-year freeze.?

Questioned in a legislative committee meeting in January about whe바카라사이트r international fees should also increase to help address budget concerns, Jeff Sze, 바카라사이트 under-secretary for education, maintained that prices should stay 바카라사이트 same if Hong Kong is to remain competitive.?

¡°If we are to increase¡­fees, we will undermine 바카라사이트 appeal of studying in Hong Kong for non-local students,¡± he said.?

¡°Comparing with Tokyo, Singapore, for example, 바카라사이트se are our neighbouring competitors. We are on a comparable level with 바카라사이트m. If we substantially increase school fees¡­those students may choose to study in Singapore instead of coming to Hong Kong and this is exactly what we need to take into account.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com