logo
Doors 'wide open' for affected Harvard students: CE

Doors 'wide open' for affected Harvard students: CE

RTHK27-05-2025

Doors 'wide open' for affected Harvard students: CE
Hong Kong's doors are "wide open" for those potentially affected by the US government's efforts to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students, according to the SAR's leader who called the policy "discriminatory and unfair".
Chief Executive John Lee also said on Tuesday that he would consider further raising the ceiling for non-local student intake at the city's eight higher education institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC).
The Trump administration sought to revoke the Massachusetts-based Ivy League school's ability to enrol international students, which was later blocked temporarily by a judge after the university sued to stop the decision.
"Hong Kong will welcome any students who have been discriminated by the US policy, who face difficulty to study or continue their studies in US universities," Lee told reporters ahead of an Executive Council meeting.
"The Hong Kong SAR government, together with the eight UGC-subsidised universities, will do all our best to facilitate and assist any students who suffered from this discriminatory and unfair treatment, so that they will find a way to study in Hong Kong."
The chief executive announced in his 2023 Policy Address that public universities would be allowed to double the number of non-local undergraduate admissions, raising the enrolment ceiling from 20 percent to 40 percent.
"We have room in this quota to accept students who have problems studying in the US to come to these eight UGC-funded universities. If there's the need, I will consider further raising this ceiling," Lee said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Remove barriers to speed up Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis, Xia Baolong says
Remove barriers to speed up Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis, Xia Baolong says

South China Morning Post

time5 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Remove barriers to speed up Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis, Xia Baolong says

Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged local authorities to speed up work on the Northern Metropolis megaproject by removing barriers while also safeguarding national security against the threat of 'soft resistance', according to the city's leader. Advertisement Seeing off Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) director Xia Baolong at the border at the end of his five-day visit , Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that the city was told to take advantage of the stability and safety brought by the national security law's implementation five years ago by boosting development and the economy. Xia, whose inspection trip marked the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed law, had set out the future directions of the city's development during the trip, Lee said. The city leader added that Xia had reaffirmed his support for the administration's work. Xia also praised the work of community care teams, who helped needy households, and encouraged them by composing a poem for the carers, Lee said. 'Director Xia reminded us to continue safeguarding national security,' Lee told reporters at the Shenzhen Bay crossing after Xia's departure. 'The risks still exist especially when the geopolitical situation is complex, and we should always stay vigilant against soft resistance. Advertisement 'We should work on security and development by taking advantage of the safety and stability.'

Xia Baolong leaves HK after five-day visit
Xia Baolong leaves HK after five-day visit

RTHK

time6 hours ago

  • RTHK

Xia Baolong leaves HK after five-day visit

Xia Baolong leaves HK after five-day visit John Lee says Xia Baolong gave Hong Kong clear directions on development during a speech at a forum to mark five years since the National Security Law came into force. Photo: RTHK The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, departed Hong Kong on Sunday evening after a five-day inspection tour of the city. He spent around 15 minutes at a community living room in To Kwa Wan, where he was joined by Chief Executive John Lee and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun. Xia also met district councillors at the government's headquarters in Tamar, and visited Beijing's liaison office in Western. Lee was at Shenzhen Bay Port as Xia and his team left the SAR on a minibus in the evening. The chief executive said Xia gave Hong Kong clear directions on development during a speech on Saturday at a forum to mark five years since the National Security Law came into force. "Hong Kong must implement the country's concept of comprehensive national security and use high-level security to safeguard high-quality development," Lee said. "We should also make full use of the SAR's unique advantages in internal and external connections and promote high-quality development through our openness." Lee added that the director told Hong Kong to rely on its rule of law, maintain its executive-led system and improve governance to help the territory push for high-quality development. The chief executive said Xia also wrote a poem to district councillors affirming their work, saying they should do everything they can for the people, regardless of how big or small the issue in question is. Lee went on to say that the director affirmed his work, as well as that of the SAR government, quoting him as saying local officials should balance security and development and make use of the stable environment to focus on improving the economy and people's livelihoods.

National security work never ends, says Eric Chan
National security work never ends, says Eric Chan

RTHK

time12 hours ago

  • RTHK

National security work never ends, says Eric Chan

National security work never ends, says Eric Chan Eric Chan (fourth from left) stressed that the SAR government will keep improving laws regarding national security. Photo: RTHK Chief Secretary Eric Chan said on Sunday that safeguarding national security is always an ongoing process. He stressed that the SAR government will keep improving the legal system to construct systemic safeguards for long-term peace and stability. The minister was speaking at a flag raising ceremony by disciplined forces and youth groups marking five years since the National Security Law came into effect. "The Hong Kong National Security Law is a stabilising force and a strong shield that protects the SAR. It protects the fundamental well-being of the people, as well as the long-term stability of the One Country, Two Systems principle," he said at the ceremony held at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy in Tseung Kwan O. "Over the past five years, the judiciary has strictly tried national security cases in accordance with the law, demonstrating the fairness and authority of the law." Chan went on to say that the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance under Article 23 of the Basic Law last year complimented the security law introduced five years ago. He said the laws protect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, allowing society to focus on economic development.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store