'HK unis should contribute to national development'

Hong Kong's universities should further diversify their curriculum to better integrate and meet the development needs of the nation's 15th Five-Year plan, said Education Convergence chairman Ho Hon-kuen on Sunday. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Ho said plans for attracting global talent should be strengthened to better consolidate Hong Kong's international status. "Hong Kong should give full play to these three things — how you integrate into and serve the overall development of the country; how you reaffirm Hong Kong's strategic position; how you can build an international high-end talent hub," he said. "Therefore, Hong Kong's education cannot just be satisfied with five universities entering the top 100; you have to look at which subjects can really meet the three major directions I've just mentioned. In fact, there are many subjects such as international diplomacy studies, carbon studies and AI, that can be planned in many universities." Not only universities, but primary and secondary schools could also play a role in the nation's development, he added. Ho said these schools should open their doors to non-local students. He noted there were more Direct Subsidy Scheme schools admitting non-local students, but other types of schools should also attract them. Edited by Tony Sabine