LCQ16: Supporting local students to pursue further studies in Mainland

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (November 13):

Question:

     Regarding supporting local students to pursue further studies in the Mainland, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information in relation to Hong Kong students pursuing further studies in the Mainland in each of the past three years and this year to date (set out in the table below): (i) the number of Hong Kong students studying in Mainland higher education institutions and research institutes, (ii) the number of applicants for the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS), (iii) the number of subsidy recipients under the MUSSS, (iv) the amount of subsidy involved in the MUSSS, (v) the number of applicants for the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions (the Admission Scheme), and (vi) the number of students admitted to Mainland institutions through the Admission Scheme;
 

 
(2) apart from organising large-scale Mainland Higher Education Expo every year, what regular measures are taken by the authorities to introduce secondary school students information about further studies in the Mainland and the MUSSS, and whether such introductions are made in life planning activities and relevant organisations are invited to hold seminars at schools; if so, of the number of hours and frequency of such activities in each of the past three years; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) as some Hong Kong students pursuing further studies in the Mainland have relayed that they were unaware of the MUSSS and therefore did not apply for the subsidy, whether the authorities will step up publicity and promotion work on the MUSSS and conduct regular surveys on Hong Kong students to understand how much they know about pursuing further studies in the Mainland;
 
(4) as it is learnt that Hong Kong students may need accreditation of academic qualifications, no matter whether they return to Hong Kong or stay in the Mainland for development after graduation, but there are still difficulties in accreditation of academic qualifications in both Hong Kong and the Mainland, such as the requirement of a manual process for accreditation and registration of academic qualifications, which cannot be possible with the number as printed in the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, as relayed by some Hong Kong students pursuing further studies in the Mainland, whether the authorities will consider negotiating with relevant Mainland authorities to speed up the procedures and processes for accreditation of academic qualifications in both Hong Kong and the Mainland and work towards "mutual recognition of registration of academic qualifications" between Hong Kong and the Mainland in the long term; and
 
(5) along with increase in the number of Hong Kong students pursuing further studies in the Mainland, whether the authorities have invested additional resources to support their needs and considered expanding the scope of the MUSSS to include postgraduate programmes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

(1) The details of Hong Kong students pursing further studies on the Mainland and of the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) in the past three years and up to now this year are tabulated below:
 

Notes:
(1) According to the information provided by the Ministry of Education, including the numbers of undergraduate and graduate students.
(2) As of January 2022
(3) As of December 2022
(4) As of December 2023
(5) Since the application period for the 2024/25 academic year just ended in September 2024, applications for this academic year are currently being processed, and the figures are not available yet.

(2) and (3) The Education Bureau (EDB) has been publicising and promoting the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions (Admission Scheme) and the MUSSS through multiple channels, including school circulars, press releases, the EDB's website, social media, newspaper advertisements and seminars. Every year, the EDB writes to principals of all local secondary schools to invite schools to participate in the School Principal Nomination Scheme under the Admission Scheme, to introduce the MUSSS to eligible students who plan to study on the Mainland, and distribute posters and leaflets of the MUSSS to secondary schools. In addition, the EDB organises life planning education seminars for senior secondary school students, teachers and parents every year to introduce the details of the Admission Scheme and the MUSSS, as well as the situation of studying on the Mainland. In the past three academic years (i.e., the 2021/22 to 2023/24 academic years), the EDB has organised a total of five related seminars for senior secondary school students, teachers and parents.

     The EDB also provides secondary school students, teachers and parents with information on multiple career paths through the "Studies" section of the Life Planning Information Website, including reference materials such as the latest pathways further studies on the Mainland and information to note. The Handbook on the Admission Scheme provides detailed information on higher education institutions, details of funding schemes, sharing by students and graduates, etc. A new section, namely "The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area", was also added to the website in 2023 to introduce information on further education and career information in the Greater Bay Area cities.

     The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the EDB organise the Mainland Higher Education Expo every year to provide detailed information on the Admission Scheme and the MUSSS, etc. The Expo has resourceful content and is well-received. The EDB also disseminates information related to the MUSSS to Hong Kong students pursuing undergraduate programmes on the Mainland through the Mainland's higher education institutions every year.

(4) As we understand from the MoE, the Centre for Student Services and Development under the MoE is responsible for the management of the "China Higher Education Student Information" (CHSI) website. When students enrol at the Mainland's higher education institutions, the institutions will immediately register the student status on the CHSI, and the information regarding the student's academic qualifications and student status shall be consistent upon graduation. According to the information provided by the MoE, when registering students on the CHSI, the institutions can generally use different identity documents of the students (including the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents and the Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents), and the same identity documents must also be used in enquiries about the students' academic qualifications in the future. If Hong Kong and Macao students encounter any difficulties when using other identity documents in enquiries, they can contact their own institutions for follow-up action.

(5) The EDB will continue to stay in touch with the Mainland authorities on their policies and arrangements for Hong Kong students pursuing studies on the Mainland, and render assistance as necessary. The EDB has also engaged an organisation to provide a series of employment support services for Hong Kong students pursuing studies on the Mainland, including the launch of the "Online Platform for Internship and Employment Information for Hong Kong Students Studying on the Mainland Higher Education Institutions" (www.ujobs-mainlandhe.hk) since mid-2017. The online platform provides a variety of information, including the latest developments and government policies in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, internship opportunities, employment guides and consultation services. In addition to providing online information, the organisation also invites corporations or organisations in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, professional bodies and Mainland institutions to provide information on the development of various trades and industries, job openings, and further studies, and organises activities relating to internship and employment. The above measures facilitate Hong Kong students pursuing studies on the Mainland to plan for their future after graduation. The Government will also continue to subsidise Hong Kong students aspiring to pursue further studies on the Mainland through the MUSSS. There is now no plan to expand the coverage of the MUSSS to cover postgraduate programmes.