Hong Kong’s leader will further increase the non-local student quota to a maximum of 50 per cent in next Wednesday’s policy address, while the number of places for local students will remain unchanged, the Post has learned.

A source close to the matter told the Post that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu would announce an increase in the non-local student ratio to no more than 50 per cent, emphasising that local students would not be affected as their annual quota of 15,000 places would remain the same.

“The non-local students are not necessarily from the mainland; they can be from the Belt and Road countries and the United States,” the insider said.

“Some US students find the city a suitable place to study given the current political environment in their country.

“Having said that, the local students will not be affected, as the annual quota of 15,000 will remain the same.”

The source added the move aimed to align with Lee’s vision to transform Hong Kong into an international education hub and strengthen the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand, as outlined in Lee’s policy blueprint last year. This included measures to develop the city into a world-class tertiary education hub through scholarships and other incentives.