A view of Loke Yew Hall of the Hong Kong University Photo: VCG

 Universities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have seen rapid growth in the number of applicants from the Chinese mainland, a report from an educational counseling service showed.

Some students kicking off the new semester at Hong Kong universities told the Global Times that their choices were based on trust and confidence in the city's improved socio-political environment and COVID-19 prevention efforts. 

From January to July 2021, enquiries from Chinese mainland students to study in HKSAR increased significantly, up 126 percent year-on-year, according to a report by EIC Education, one of China's biggest overseas educational counseling service providers. 

A number of mainland students who are about to enroll or are applying for universities in Hong Kong told the Global Times that in addition to the leading academic strength and educational resources, their choices were based on social stability and the city's efforts in COVID-19 prevention and control.

A mainland student surnamed Gu, who is starting the semester at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in September, told the Global Times on Monday that because the city's social and political atmosphere has greatly improved, and the epidemic situation is far better than that of the UK or US, she believes that studying in Hong Kong is a good choice.

"The enactment of the national security law for Hong Kong has laid the foundation for the city's social stability. Compared with studying in Western countries, my family has fewer concerns about my safety," said a mainland student surnamed Xu, who is applying for a master's program from Hong Kong universities.

They also said that due to the improving social environment in Hong Kong, they are confident in the recognition of degrees awarded by Hong Kong universities in the job market.

Joma, an overseas education consulting practitioner based in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, told the Global Times that during and after the yearlong social turmoil in Hong Kong, the number of students considering programs in Hong Kong dropped sharply. But the number of such applicants rebounded after the national security law took effect. 

She pointed out that after getting out of the shadow of social unrest, the time span of programs, the quality of universities and the cost of living in Hong Kong are all important reasons for the return of students.

"Especially after many Western countries let COVID-19 outbreaks get out of control, many applicants took Hong Kong as a back-up, while many students who originally intended to apply to UK and US universities have turned instead to Hong Kong," Joma said. 

The report showed that the pandemic caused the return of students from overseas. Among the mainland students admitted by the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, nearly 30 percent previously attended overseas universities.

In the past four years, 39 percent of the mainland students in Hong Kong studied business majors. Due to booming employment opportunities in the high-tech industries in the Greater Bay Area, the proportion of those seeking admission to engineering and technology majors has also been considerable. 

Affected by the rapid development of the mainland's e-commerce and related industries, e-commerce, logistics and supply chain management are gradually gaining popularity among students.

Xu Ran also contributed to the story