Hong Kong has launched an urgent initiative to attract international scholars displaced by the U.S. government's controversial ban on Harvard University enrolling overseas students. The unprecedented move, which forces current international students to transfer institutions, has triggered campus protests and sparked global concerns about academic freedom in America.
Chief Executive John Lee declared on May 27 that Hong Kong "welcomes students facing discriminatory U.S. policies," pledging to expand non-local student quotas if needed. This came after Education Secretary Christine Choi's May 23 directive urging universities to implement emergency measures for affected scholars.
The response has been swift and coordinated: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) became the first responder on May 23, offering unconditional admission to Harvard students with dedicated transfer support. Within days, HKUST received over 50 inquiries. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) followed by extending its existing transfer program for top-50 university students, with Harvard professors reportedly circulating HKU's offer letter detailing scholarship and housing support. Chinese University has activated government scholarship programs for financial aid, while Polytechnic University established a special admissions team handling dozens of inquiries.
City University introduced a groundbreaking joint-supervision model allowing students to retain Harvard advisors, coupled with three-year post-doctoral employment guarantees. Lingnan University created dedicated visa pathways to ensure seamless transitions. Financial Secretary Paul Chan positioned Hong Kong as "the premier destination for U.S. tech talent," highlighting the city's unique advantage as home to five top-100 global universities.
The development comes amid student protests at Harvard, where banners proclaimed, "Harvard isn't Harvard without international scholars." Education experts warn the U.S. move could trigger a global talent reshuffle, with Europe and Japan also actively recruiting affected students. Hong Kong universities are leveraging this crisis to rebrand "Study Hong Kong," capitalizing on their world-leading programs and China connectivity to transform geopolitical challenges into opportunities for academic advancement.
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