University of Oxford yesterday opened its first China representative office in Hong Kong, to strengthen academic links with the mainland. The office, at Cosco Tower in Central, was also aimed at retaining connections with alumni in Hong Kong, said Jon Dellandrea, a pro-vice-chancellor for development and external affairs. 'Opening this office is an integral part of the University of Oxford's international strategy, and demonstrates the importance of Hong Kong and China to our present and our future,' he said. The mainland is the second-largest source of non-European Union students after the US. More than 800 mainland students study there.