Universities in Hong Kong enrolled 291 mainland students based on the results of the national college entrance exam (NCEE) this summer, including 17 top performers. The mainland's top university - Peking University - failed to enroll any of the four top scorers in Beijing, who all opted for Hong Kong universities. China Daily mobile news readers share their views.

In an age when education outweighs everything, many people pursue a higher diploma. If a mainland university wants to keep excellent students, it needs to make every effort to better equip itself to compete with its Hong Kong and overseas counterparts, rather than try to sway them with elusive hometown emotion. Therefore, instead of blaming their counterparts mainland universities should review the cause of why they are not attractive to students.

From Harbin, Heilongjiang province

Peking University is like a time-honored dumpling restaurant. During that period when there were only dumplings served, it was a privilege if one could eat dumplings at such a restaurant. But today people have other choices of what to eat with a better environment and better service. Peking University remains the same while the students are no longer like before.

From Shanghai

Mainland universities are facing great challenges attracting top students because they are still living in the past. With better facilities and a more humanistic atmosphere, Hong Kong universities have proved more attractive than their mainland competitors. Mainland university officials need to think more about the cause of their failure to attract top students.

From Chongqing

Territorial and cultural differences could be the main reason for Hong Kong universities' triumph in attracting the top NCEE students. The outside world is indeed very attractive, especially to the four high school graduates who topped the NCEE. Having lived and studied in Beijing for many years, they must want to go out and try a different life.

From Hangzhou, Zhejiang province

It is more accurate to say these excellent mainland high school graduates have chosen another education system and cultural atmosphere rather than Hong Kong universities per se. When the most fundamental, but also the most scarce principles of education, such as creative thinking, are given full respect in Hong Kong and overseas, it is easy to understand why Peking University and other mainland universities fail to enroll the top students.

From Jinan, Shandong province

The attraction of mainland universities is declining, even the prestigious universities like Tsinghua and Peking University lack innovation and a competitive edge. In contrast, many Hong Kong universities have reached international standards and possess the latest educational resources. Besides, Hong Kong universities have developed friendly cooperation with big companies that can provide excellent internships. That's why mainland universities lose the competition to attract the country's top performing students in the exam.

From Xi'an, Shaanxi province

(China Daily 07/11/2011 page9)