Latest news with #non-local talent
South China Morning Post
02-08-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's policy change for children of non-local talent ‘to ensure fairness'
Hong Kong's plans to impose a required residency period for children of non-local talent before they can apply for subsidised tertiary education is part of efforts to ensure fairness and the reasonable use of public funds, a minister has said. Advertisement Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin on Saturday defended the coming policy change, noting the number of relevant applications had increased fivefold between 2022 and last year. In a bid to provide a transition period, the policy will initially require such dependants to have lived in Hong Kong for at least one year before they can apply in the 2027-28 academic year as local students and receive reduced fees. The threshold will then be increased to two years for 2028-29 applications. 'Everyone is naturally concerned about a small number of individuals – dependants of talent scheme arrivals who may have never lived in Hong Kong but have completed their secondary education exams in mainland China or elsewhere as private candidates,' she told a radio programme. Advertisement 'They then use their [Diploma of Secondary Education] results and their local resident status to apply for subsidised university places at our government-funded tertiary institutions at local students' fees.'
South China Morning Post
01-08-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
New university subsidy rules will benefit those committed to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is not known as a land of opportunity for nothing. The vibrant economy and good career prospects continue to draw many from overseas, as evidenced by the enthusiastic response to the talent admission scheme introduced in late 2022. But while the measure can improve the city's competitiveness and demographics, it also creates room for abuse. In a belated move, the authorities have rightly tightened rules to prevent the children of non-local talent from enjoying university education subsidies without settling in the city. Under the new arrangement, they need to stay for a minimum of two years to be eligible for subsidised tertiary education places – currently at a favourable annual fee of HK$44,500 (US$5,700) – or pay three times higher as non-local students. The adjustments came in response to claims that some people and intermediaries arranged for talent from the mainland who had no intention of settling in Hong Kong to apply for various admission schemes to obtain dependent visas for their children's tertiary education in the city. Some successful applicants also reportedly arranged for their children to continue living on the mainland and prepare for the city's university entrance exams. As of May, about 142,000 children were approved for entry as dependants under various talent admission schemes. They will add to future manpower and economic productivity, giving a needed boost to the city, with its low birth rate and ageing population. But there is a difference between those who just take advantage of the benefits of the scheme and those who have come and made Hong Kong their home. The number of dependants admitted to the annual 15,000 government-funded first-year first-degree places may be small. But the rising trend, up from 62 in 2022-23 to 68 in 2023-24 and 185 in 2024-25, clearly warrants attention.
South China Morning Post
31-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Non-local talent children must reside 2 years in Hong Kong for education benefits
Children of non-local talent in Hong Kong will be required to reside in the city for at least two years to become eligible for local students' benefits at publicly funded tertiary education institutions starting in the 2027-28 academic year, as part of the government's efforts to prevent abuse. The government announced on Thursday the key change requiring holders of dependent visas or entry permits under the age of 18 to have lived in the city for two years before applying for subsidised sub-degree, undergraduate and post-graduate programmes as local students. 'To clarify the eligibility criteria for government-subsidised post-secondary student institutions and subsidies and to ensure the proper use of public funds, the Education Bureau ... considers it necessary for dependent children to reside in Hong Kong for two years before becoming eligible,' the bureau said. 'Holders of a full-time employment visa/work permit or a visa/entry permit for various admission schemes will no longer be eligible for government-subsidised post-secondary student places.' The bureau said the revision would take effect from the 2027-28 academic year, with the application cycle starting in October 2026. It added that the time frame would ensure reasonable time for applicants to make their own plans. In October 2024, a group of parents claimed that some individuals and intermediaries arranged for non-local talent who had no intention of settling in Hong Kong to apply for various admission schemes to obtain dependent visas for their children's tertiary education in the city.
