On May 28 local time, the U.S. State Department announced it would collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to begin revoking visas for Chinese students, including those studying in critical fields. The statement said the State Department would modify visa regulations to strengthen scrutiny of all U.S. visa applications from Chinese students, including those from Hong Kong.
At a regular Foreign Ministry briefing on May29, spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the U.S. has unreasonably canceled Chinese students' visas under the pretext of ideology and national security, severely harming their legitimate rights and interests and disrupting normal people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Well, Hong Kong welcomes students affected by U.S. Policies!
Following the U.S. State Department's announcement, Marco Rubio confirmed the news on social media. However, the State Department did not provide further details, such as which disciplines fall under critical fields or the potential scale of affected Chinese students.
At yesterday's briefing, Mao emphasized that the U.S.'s politically discriminatory measures expose the hypocrisy of its so-called "freedom and openness" rhetoric, further damaging its international image and credibility.
Increased social media scrutiny for U.S.-bound students
Over the past few years, due to U.S. visa restrictions, China has fallen from being the top source of international students in the U.S. to second place, behind India. The number of Chinese students in the U.S. dropped from a peak of 370,000 in 2019 to 277,000 last year. Recently, the Trump administration's pressure on international students and tightening of visa policies have escalated.
On May 27, U.S. media cited a memo signed by Rubio stating that the Trump administration is considering requiring all international students applying to study in the U.S. to undergo social media screening. U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed to suspend new visa interview appointments for student and exchange visitor applicants, though previously scheduled interviews may proceed.
On May 28, when asked about reports that the U.S. had ordered consulates to halt all student visa issuances, Mao responded that China believes normal educational cooperation and academic exchanges should not be disrupted.
"We urge the U.S. to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all international students, including those from China."
Time to promote Hong Kong's education globally
Analysts note that the U.S. government's rejection of global talent will inevitably weaken its higher education system, objectively presenting Hong Kong—which is actively building its "Study in Hong Kong" brand—with a rare opportunity.
Regarding the U.S.'s earlier revocation of Harvard University's eligibility to admit international students, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee stated at a Legislative Council Q&A session on May 29 that the government had already increased the non-local student quota for universities from 20% to 40% and is willing to review the quota further if needed.
Lee emphasized that Hong Kong, with its world-class education system, boasts five top-100 global universities within just 1,100 square kilometers, many of which offer programs ranked among the best worldwide. He reiterated that the government welcomes all students affected by U.S. policies or unfair treatment to study in Hong Kong, calling it both an opportunity for the city and a fair solution for discriminated students. These students could come from the U.S. or other countries, and the government will provide universities with full support to accommodate them.
Leveraging Hong Kong's international edge
Ms. Leung, a parent whose son studies at an Ivy League school in the U.S., criticized the Trump administration's actions as "outrageous." She believes that if forced to transfer, Harvard students would likely choose peer institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, or Stanford.
"Hong Kong is already strong on this, but to attract such talent, university resources still need improvement." She suggested that the SAR government and local universities introduce more favorable policies to draw top-tier talent.
Hong Kong scholar Samuel Chan, who is a Lecturer on Social Studies at Harvard University, recently told media he worries authorities may next target overseas scholars, such as by directly revoking visas. Chan will move to another institution with tenure next academic year, but described an atmosphere of uncertainty among fellow lecturers, PhD candidates, and even graduates.
"Previously, there might have been over a dozen job openings to apply for; now there are only a few, with five to eight people competing for each." He noted that Hong Kong universities offer competitive salaries and benefits, adding that some colleagues are already applying to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao; Carrie Tong, Lu, Sheng; English Editor: Darius)
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