Hong Kong media: Hong Kong’s eight subsidized universities will submit study materials for review by the end of the year

　　China News Service, February 29. According to Hong Kong's "Sing Tao Daily", Hong Kong's new "Financial Budget" was released on the 28th. Although it did not mention adjusting the tuition fees of Hong Kong's eight subsidized universities, according to sources from the SAR government , the University Grants Committee is discussing tuition adjustments with the Eighth University in the three-year plan from 2025 to 2028, and is expected to submit it to the Executive Council for review by the end of the year.

　　The tuition fees of the eight subsidized universities in Hong Kong have been maintained at HK$42,100 (HKD, the same below) per year since 1997. The latest Budget did not include any adjustments to the fees of the eight universities. However, according to sources, the SAR government is reviewing university tuition fees to adjust the tuition fees. 18% is the cost recovery rate target and tuition level. The UGC is also preparing to discuss adjusting tuition fees with the Eighth University in the three-year plan from 2025 to 2028. It will listen to reports from the institutions this summer and is expected to submit it to the Executive Council for review by the end of the year.

　　It is understood that currently, the tuition fees of the eight subsidized universities in Hong Kong are based on the target cost recovery rate of 18% for degree course tuition fees determined by the former Governor in conjunction with the Executive Council in 1991. However, the cost recovery rate has not yet reached the target, and it fell further in 2015/16. to 15.8%.

　　Sources from the SAR government said that adjusting university tuition fees must take into account a basket of factors, including economic conditions, public affordability, etc., to determine whether to maintain the original cost recovery rate target and whether to adjust it in stages to achieve the 18% target.

　　There has been a long discussion about the adjustment of tuition fees for the eight major universities. Wang Jiache, Director of the Admissions and Student Financial Aid Office of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, believes that in view of factors such as the sharp increase in the consumer price index over the years, it is "justifiable" for the eight major universities to increase tuition fees. He believes that as long as the increase is reasonable, most students will still be able to do so. It is expected that the number of people applying for student financial aid from the SAR government may not surge as a result.

　　Wu Baocheng, student guidance counselor of the Hoa Yau Society, also expressed support for the increase in tuition fees for eight universities. He believed that it was a reasonable decision for universities to adjust tuition fees after calculating the costs of manpower, equipment, instruments, etc.

　　Wu Baocheng predicts that the increase in tuition fees will increase the financial pressure on some students from middle-class families.

He explained that this group of students may not be approved for financial aid because their family income is higher than the upper limit for applying for government student financial aid. "In addition to tuition fees, there are also other expenses such as exchange tours, and the overall economic pressure will increase." Therefore, it is recommended that the increase be less than 10%, the annual tuition fee will remain at 50,000 to 60,000 yuan, and the tuition fee will be increased in stages to take into account the financial needs of families from different classes.

　　As for whether lower-income students will have an increased financial burden due to the increase in university tuition fees, Wang Jiache believes that the SAR government has different student financial aid programs, and the eight major universities also have scholarships and bursaries for students to apply for, which can help relieve the financial pressure of lower-income students.

He pointed out that many students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong come from low-income families. If the tuition increase is implemented, the University will definitely strengthen scholarships and bursaries to support students with financial difficulties; the Eighth University also has many off-campus donors and charitable foundations that donate overseas exchange scholarships from time to time. .