The passing of the new National Security Law and subsequent fears over Hong Kong’s future autonomy, coupled with social unrest since the previous summer, appears appears to have escalated local parents and students’ plans to study overseas. Local news outlets have reported that the number of enquiries to study in the UK and Australia have soared by 50% compared to this time last year. Applications to study in Mainland China and Taiwan have also increased by 13% and 69% respectively compared to last year’s numbers according to figures provided by China Education Exchange (Hong Kong) Centre Limited and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.. However, a local student counselling and career guidance centre commented that those students considering studying in Mainland China and Taiwan likely still regard local universities as their first choice of study destination. In addition, with a shrinking secondary school student population, although levels of interest may continue to grow, actual numbers may be less significant.

Comments by Karen Hsu, Education Services Manager for Hong Kong

It is not unusual for local socio-political issues to cause HK parents and students to consider moving overseas to study. HESA data for 2014/15 following the Yellow Umbrella Movement indicated more than a 10% increase in the number of HK students studying in the UK from the previous year's figures. 

Since the social unrest began in 2019 British Council has seen a growing interest in UK education from local parents and students. Pre-registration figures for recent British Council’s Study UK fairs have been considerably higher than previous years, with January's Fair seeing a pre-registration increase of 47% compared to 2019. 70% of pre-registrants also indicate during the registraiton process that they were considering studying abroad within two years.

In response to the new National Security Law for Hong Kong the UK government announced a new route for HK’s British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders to live and work in the UK and thereafter apply for citizenship. It is estimated that some three million people will be eligible for this route. With concerns for the city’s future and the potential impact on the economy due to the US-China trade war, the British Council anticipates more last-minute applications from Hong Kong than usual this summer.

The British Council is launching a new digital engagement platform to support institutions to connect with prospective students during Clearing  - Join the biggest virtual recruitment platform in East Asia! For more enquires, please contact Anna Lee, Head of Services for North East Asia at  anna.lee@britishcouncil.org.hk .

Sources:

• Applications to universities outside Hong Kong soar amid concerns over protests, looming national security law, South Morning China Post
• UK to change immigration rules for Hong Kong citizens if China passes National Security Law, The British Council