Mainland schools attracting more HK applicants

With better connectivity linking Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, Hu said the flow of students and young talent in the area will accelerate. He referred to the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which opened in September and has significantly shortened journey times.

Most of Yuen's non-Chinese students traveling across the border are from countries and regions taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative such as Pakistan, India and Nepal, among others. Yuen said his school's cooperation with mainland universities can nurture more talent that can contribute to the development of the BRI.

He said non-Chinese Hong Kong students studying on the mainland will be competitive in the job market. "They can speak at least three languages - their mother tongue, English and Cantonese. They also have an international insight, and know the cultures and the way of thinking in their own countries and in China."

The development of the BRI also gives young non-Chinese in Hong Kong more opportunities to advance economically, as their "mobility opportunity" in the city is limited, Yuen said.

Opportunities abound

According to a report in 2016 on poverty among ethnic groups in Hong Kong, most new entrants to the workforce from these groups were hired for grassroots positions, offering lower incomes. The report said these workers originated mainly from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Rivera, the Beijing Foreign Studies University student, said he wants to shape his career on the mainland, where he has plenty of opportunities. The college junior believes he can find the ideal job based on his ability to speak Spanish, English and a little Chinese.

Hu said he is confident the figure will rise, although the number of non-Chinese students from Hong Kong at South China University of Technology is limited.

Yuen added that students already studying outside of Hong Kong have established "a model", and this will inspire more to explore mainland higher education institutions.

Gong Wan, director of the China Education Exchange (Hong Kong) Center, said more non-Chinese Hong Kong students are pursuing higher education on the mainland, but predicts that in the short term there will not be a dramatic rise in the number.

Hong Kong secondary schools, parents and mainland universities still have numerous reservations about this emerging trend, Gong said, adding that the latter need to assess whether non-Chinese students from Hong Kong have the academic standing and aptitude for studying on the mainland. Parents and some secondary schools in Hong Kong remain doubtful whether mainland universities are the best route for their children.

Gong said it is not easy to enroll at mainland universities, especially those widely known for excellence in academic and scientific research, and he suggested that students assess their own abilities and academic records, and ensure they are qualified before moving to the mainland.