When Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 it was promised universal suffrage, under a “one country, two systems” principle. On August 31st of this year the National People’s Congress in Beijing announced the decision that it will only allow pre-screened candidates to stand in elections, leading to controversy that is currently dominating news headlines.

In the last two weeks thousands of students at both secondary and tertiary level have commenced a boycott of classes, backed by some academics, with the motto of ‘boycott classes but not boycotting learning’. The movement to occupy the Central district of Hong Kong is currently accelerating, and may make getting around difficult for visitors.

Surveys have also been released that suggest that intention to emigrate from Hong Kong is at the highest since before the handover, suggesting long term pessimism towards Hong Kong’s future.

The longer term implications of this issue are however not yet clear. Affordability and the lack of local tertiary provision are likely to remain the primary drivers of student mobility to the UK, however sentiment to leave Hong Kong could also provide an additional motivating factor. Safety and security is always a top concern for parents, the current protests might also encourage studying abroad.

However, should families make study abroad decisions with emigration in mind, countries with favourable immigration policies such as Australia and Canada might be expected to benefit more than the UK, potentially reducing the UK’s market share of outbound students.

The British Council will continue to monitor this situation and report on any implications for UK Education or institution visits to Hong Kong. Any institutions who are planning an imminent visit to Hong Kong are welcome to contact us. 



Should you have any queries about the Hong Kong market and prospects for student recruitment or TNE, please contact Steve Corry at Steven.corry@britishcouncil.org.hk.