The daughter of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is studying in Hong Kong under an assumed name.
Bona Mugabe - whose father and fellow leaders are banned from going to the United States and the European Union - began studying under another name at the University of Hong Kong in the autumn, a senior university source confirmed.
Her presence in Hong Kong emerged after her 43-year-old mother, Grace, allegedly assaulted freelance photographer Richard Jones as he took pictures of her shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui 10 days ago.
Mr Mugabe and members of his regime are subject to widespread international sanctions. Australia last year deported eight students whose parents are senior members of the Mugabe regime, saying it wanted to prevent those involved in human rights abuses giving their children education denied to ordinary Zimbabweans. The southern African country is in the grip of a spiralling economic crisis, political turmoil and a deadly cholera epidemic.
Asked about Ms Mugabe's admission, a university spokeswoman said: 'We believe that education should be above politics and young people should not be denied the rights to education because of their family background or what their parents have done.' She denied there had been any negative reaction from fellow students to the presence of Ms Mugabe, who is around 20.
The senior university source acknowledged that many students were unaware of the presence of Ms Mugabe - who is understood to be on holiday in Zimbabwe.