More top Chinese students opting to attend univ. in HK

Many of China’s top students are choosing to attend universities in Hong Kong.

A number of top performers at China`s National Higher Education Entrance Examination, or commonly known as Gao Kao, choose the University of Hong Kong or Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rather than Peking (Beijing) University or Tsinghua University.

A reason for the Hong Kong preference seems to be the ability to apply for universities in Hong Kong with Gao Kao scores and scholarships.

According to a University of Hong Kong source, the school has accepted 11 of the top Gao Kao scorers in seven Chinese provinces such as Hunan, Guangdong and Anhui.

All three top-scoring female students in liberal arts in Beijing will go to the University of Hong Kong. The Gao Kao champions in Shanghai in both science and liberal arts will also do the same.

The preference of top Chinese students for money-related majors such as finance, business and economics is also easing. The top three Gao Kao scorers in Beijing have chosen double majors in media, social sciences, business and economy, and law.

Calls have accordingly grown in China to improve the quality of top universities in the mainland.

mungchii@donga.com