Coming decade ‘golden opportunity’ for Hong Kong to develop higher education, minister says

Secretary for Education Christine Choi makes remarks at forum where university heads also debate best way to turn city into global hub for sector

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Secretary for Education Christine Choi told the forum the coming 10 years “is the golden opportunity to develop Hong Kong’s higher education”. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 10:59pm, 9 Oct 2024Updated: 1:05pm, 10 Oct 2024

Hong Kong will have a “golden opportunity” to develop its higher education institutions in the coming decade given Beijing’s support, a minister has told a forum where university heads also debated how to build the city into an international hub for students.

The presidents disagreed on the best way to reach that goal, with some arguing on Wednesday that universities needed to strive for excellence, while others said they should cast a wider net for all layers of talent and avoid being overly influenced by global rankings.

In her remarks opening the event, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin noted the resolution adopted at the nation’s third plenary session in July included supporting Hong Kong’s transformation into an international hub for high-calibre talent.

“The coming 10 years is the golden opportunity to develop Hong Kong’s higher education,” Choi told the forum held by media platform Master-Insight.

She said tertiary institutions shouldered the responsibility of nurturing talent and scientific research to achieve the country’s aim of becoming a leader in education.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said last year the city would double the public university admission quota for non-local students to 40 per cent as part of efforts to build Hong Kong into an international hub for postsecondary education.