A Hong Kong student studying at Huaqiao University briefs the Legislative Council delegation on Tuesday about life on the Chinese mainland. The university in Xiamen, Fujian, has more than 2,900 students from Hong Kong, among 7,600 non-mainland students. (Photo courtesy of LegCo)
Hong Kong legislators on Tuesday said the city should increase support to Hong Kong students studying at Chinese mainland universities, adding they will form a talent pool for the special administrative region.
The legislators are part of a 33-strong delegation on a five-day trip to Fujian province that started on Saturday.
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During a visit to Huaqiao University’s campus in Xiamen city on Tuesday morning, the legislators met with Hong Kong students who are furthering their tertiary education in the province and toured the history museum and library.
Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who led the delegation, said that many students from Hong Kong had expressed their desire to integrate into national and global development after graduation. He said he believes that in time, young people will be able to display their strengths and contribute to the future of Hong Kong and the motherland.
Lillian Kwok Ling-lai, a lawmaker and a registered teacher, said that the diverse range of courses offered by universities in Fujian, particularly in media studies, are attractive to Hong Kong students.
Kwok mentioned that Hong Kong students are facing challenges in the recognition of their qualifications when they return to their home city. She proposed that Hong Kong establishes a mutual recognition mechanism with mainland universities.
During the meeting, the students presented the delegation with a set of picture books on how to tell good Chinese stories in the hope that it will contribute to the city’s efforts to promote patriotic education. The book has been handed out in schools in Malaysia and Myanmar to deepen understanding of China.
Stanley Ng Chau-pei, a lawmaker and president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said the SAR government should allocate more resources to support Hong Kong students who are studying on the mainland. Mainland universities are talent pools for Hong Kong, which is sparing no effort to attract professionals from outside the city with a wide range of initiatives, Ng said
Starry Lee Wai-king, leader of Hong Kong’s largest political party, said she would work with other legislators to promote recruitment programs of the city’s Civil Service Bureau targeting students at mainland universities. She said quite a few of those she met in Xiamen had indicated their desire to join the Hong Kong Police Force after attending a recruitment fair by the disciplinary forces.
On Tuesday evening, the delegation met with Hong Kong entrepreneurs doing business in Xiamen.
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Leung said the legislature attaches great importance to Hong Kong enterprises doing business on the mainland and has asked the SAR government regularly to devise effective supporting policies for them.
Hong Kong is the biggest source of overseas investment in Fujian province and Fujian has established over 1,300 companies or branches in Hong Kong, with a total investment of HK$100 billion ($12.8 billion), Leung said.
On Wednesday, the delegation will visit the Xiamen area of the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone and a big data center in the FTZ before returning to Hong Kong in the evening.
This trip to Fujian follows a similar trip by lawmakers to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, including Guangzhou, in April.
