The college, and Hong Kong's two polytechnics, which offer almost all degree programmes, have long striven for university status.

Last year, the Government introduced university pay scales to degree-level teaching staff at the three institutions. Self-accreditation status was awarded last July.

Now the UPGC believes the three are ready to be upgraded and will submit their recommendation to the Executive Council.

To prepare for the change, the Baptist College set up a working party comprising representatives from the school council, student union and alumni association, as well as heads of faculties and teaching staff.

The panel supports the name ''Hong Kong Baptist University'', believing it a natural reflection of the upgrading which also retains its familiarity and honours the school's founding church.

A letter has recently been issued to old boys of the school, urging them to express their opinions and communicate these to the president, Dr Daniel Tse Chi-wai, before November 4.

Meanwhile, the two polytechnics are also busy with their name changes.

The director of Hong Kong Polytechnic, Professor Poon Chung-kwong, said the institute had more difficulty than others in deciding on a new name.

He said that unlike the Baptist College and the City Polytechnic, where a simple change from ''college'' or ''polytechnic'' to ''university'' would be sufficient, Hong Kong Polytechnic cannot become ''Hong Kong University'' as this name is already in use.

The professor said the school had thought of using ''institute'' instead of ''university'', as many overseas universities do, citing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States as an example.

However, the word was not common in Hong Kong and many people thought an institute was of a lower standard than a university, he said.

Faced with these difficulties, Professor Poon did not rule out the possibility that the school might consider a completely new name.