Hong Kong to review local university student definition amid claims of talent visa abuse
Some mainland Chinese professionals are accused of exploiting various talent schemes for their children to enjoy cheaper tuition
Undersecretary for Education Jeff Sze Chun-fai said concerns had been raised about the children being considered local students in the context of enrolment in government-funded universities, a status afforded to them under their dependant visas.
An online petition addressed to Legco was launched last Friday claiming that “some people and intermediaries” had arranged for parents who did not intend to settle in Hong Kong to apply for the city’s talent admission schemes so their children could obtain a dependant visa.
“These children prepare for the Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination through tutorial institutions outside Hong Kong, and sit the exam as private candidates,” petitioners said.
“In a short period of time, they can apply for universities as local students. Obviously, such candidates are purely ‘examination immigrants’, which is logically inconsistent with the concept and intention of ‘local students’.”