Hong Kong’s education hub ambitions take centre stage in US, UK visits
University Grants Committee secretary general James Tang meets management and scholars from top-tier higher education institutions
The head of a committee overseeing funding for Hong Kong’s public universities has led a delegation to the United States and the United Kingdom to promote the city as a destination for higher education.
James Tang Tuck-hong, secretary general of the University Grants Committee, attended a conference in San Diego, California, on May 25, before flying to the UK for another forum in Birmingham.
“During the visit, Professor Tang also met with senior management and prominent scholars from top-tier higher education institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom to exchange views on the latest developments in higher education,” a spokesman for the committee said.
Tang’s visits came as the government pushes ahead with its “Study in Hong Kong” campaign, launched in last year’s policy address, which targets overseas students, especially those from Southeast Asia and countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The campaign was launched after city authorities doubled the quota for non-local student intake in the city’s eight publicly funded universities to 40 per cent in September last year. After the increase, about 30,000 places are available for non-locals.
During the delegation’s visit to the US, Tang spoke at the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo about the strengths of the city’s higher education sector and the opportunities it could present to overseas students.