Hong Kong should seize on US rejection of foreign students, John Lee says
Chief executive makes remarks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Trump administration will ‘aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students’
Hong Kong should capitalise on the Trump administration’s hostile stance over foreign enrolments by showing off the city’s prowess in higher education, the chief executive has said, pledging to provide “the best assistance” to Chinese students facing “unfair treatment”.
Rubio said the United States would also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future applications from mainland China and Hong Kong.
During a question and answer session at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, Lee said the city would “completely welcome” all foreign students suffering “discrimination” and “unfair treatment” in the US.
“The affected students come from countries other than the US, presenting a big opportunity for Hong Kong … The government and local tertiary institutions will provide the best assistance and arrangements for those who choose to continue their studies in Hong Kong,” Lee said, in response to lawmaker Lau Chi-pang’s question on whether the local administration would adopt a more high-profile approach to attract them.
Lee said the government would liaise with the Harvard alumni club to convey the administration’s commitment.