The curse of narrow vision

About 200 students from the University of Hong Kong marched this month to protest against the university's 'hasty internationalisation'. The student protesters fear that the excessive intake of non-local students will damage the university's local 'residential hall culture'.

It's a global trend, as well as government policy, to encourage universities to become more international in outlook and development. Compared with the world's top universities - where overseas students make up 20 to 30 per cent of the student population - universities in Hong Kong lag far behind. Their intake from overseas is restricted to 10 per cent.

In many foreign countries, first- and second-year students at top universities are guaranteed accommodation. But many university students in Hong Kong are denied that opportunity to experience a well-rounded university life because of a lack of funding.

It's legitimate for local students to call for the government to pay for more residence places for them. But they should not have made 'overseas' students - many of whom are top-flight students from the mainland - a target for attack. Their fear of competition will only hinder the university's development.

It is also ridiculous for students to think that a larger intake of non-local students will ruin the so-called 'hall culture'. Their readiness to exclude overseas students is tantamount to cultural and racial discrimination.

Unfortunately, the students at the long-established university do not seem to be ashamed of what they have done.