Foreign countries are competing to absorb young professionals from around the world, but Hong Kong has been forcing out the younger generation at all costs since the anti-sending to China and the “Hong Kong Area National Security Law”. Hong Kong young people’s distrust of the government has gradually turned into a wave of immigrants drop out of school, had been studying in traditional prestigious schools in six students Ray frankly can not see the future in Hong Kong, has started to transfer to boarding schools in the United Kingdom, but also learned that more than 30 people have dropped out of the same level; a university admissions staff revealed that the number of international students enrolled in the coming year fell by more than 20%, the number of mainland students enrolled has increased significantly.
Some school counselors expect that the number of Hong Kong students going to study in the UK will increase by 60% this year, and some parents have sent their 5-year-old children to study in the UK early. Yang Zijun, who has taught in the British Chinese and female pluck, believes that all this reflects the loss of confidence of students and parents in Hong Kong education, even the elite are unwilling to stay in Hong Kong.
There is invisible pressure in Hong Kong to move to the UK to study in the hope of becoming a professional
Ray (a pseudonym), who attends a traditional school, said that in the past there might be three or four students who would leave to study abroad, but last year there were as many as 30 people leaving, a rare situation. He comes from a middle-class family, his parents are professionals, he was intent on obtaining professional qualifications in local universities, but the anti-sending campaign and the “Hong Kong National Security Law” made him change his mind. He chose to give up his DSE and fly to the UK after finishing Form 5 in August last year, and enrolled in a British boarding school in September for a two-year A-Level course. He recalls watching the news during the anti-sending period and already feeling an invisible pressure, sighing, “It’s like hiding inside a cave in order to concentrate on my studies, and Hong Kong society will only have more shocking news appearing every day.”
Ray (a pseudonym), a student from a prestigious school who does not want to show his face, said that in the past there might be 3 or 4 students who would leave to study in foreign countries, but last year there were as many as 30 people leaving, a rare situation.
Ray used to discuss social issues with his classmates at school, but not enthusiastically, and did not have a deep understanding of past political events, so the anti-sending can be considered a great impact on their generation, “Honestly, we have read general knowledge, it turns out that some books have taught is correct, suddenly it turns out to be wrong.” At the time, some students on campus formed a concern group, and Ray saw that his classmates not only had to juggle organizational matters, but also had to prepare for the public exams, so they were simply too busy. Every day he wandered through the news and felt his life was being “dominated” by the overwhelming news. He felt that he could not see a future in Hong Kong, his academic performance had deteriorated, he could not get into the university of his choice, and he was forced to get involved in politics at any time.
He is also disappointed by the increasingly conservative education policy, “General Studies has become a pass or fail subject, and may become an elective subject, and the whole examination system tends to be a duck and fill education, which has a high chance of ignoring critical thinking.” He did not want to become a “Chinese honors student” who only knows how to memorize books, and finally decided to propose to his parents to go to the UK to study and find another way out. He said he was sad to make the decision to leave, “I mean, really, who doesn’t like Hong Kong, it’s my home.” He hopes to spend the next few years figuring out his path in life and then consider whether he can come back to live in Hong Kong after he completes his university studies.
The British boarding school provided everything he needed to live, and with the strong atmosphere of studying on campus, he felt that after only six months of his stay he slowly stopped feeling as tightly boxed in as before and could focus on his studies, “having more time to rest and really relax and enjoy the scenery.”
Ray knows that boarding school tuition fees are expensive, a year tuition fees together with accommodation costs about 400,000 Hong Kong dollars, in order not to waste the efforts of his parents, he is determined to enter the University of Cambridge or Oxford University, to his voluntary step forward.
Local institutions are not favored by the youngest 5-year-old into a host family
In fact, Ray’s case is not the tip of the iceberg, a local university staff responsible for admissions revealed that after the passage of the “Hong Kong National Security Law”, the number of applications from local international school students fell by more than 20%, and some students even took the initiative to withdraw their applications. These students have stronger family financial strength, generally will be the first choice to study in foreign universities, local universities as a backup, but the number of applicants fell this year, reflecting that students no longer see local universities as a choice for further study. The staff also revealed that the number of mainland students enrolled this year but not down but up, some institutions or consider increasing the number of mainland students, “may be the National Security Act they feel more secure.”
The founder of the education consultancy British Knowledge Education Chen Siming also pointed out that in January this year, they applied to study in the United Kingdom has increased by about 150 to 200 students, he expected that the annual increase will be increased by up to 60%, and the applicant also has a younger trend, he said that the general children at least 7 years old to be arranged to the British host families, but this year there are parents for 5-year-old children in the United Kingdom to arrange guardian companies, hoping to send their children to foreign countries as soon as possible, it can be seen how anxious they are.
Ryan Black, Head of International Residential Sales at Knight Frank, said the number of family clients enquiring about UK property has risen significantly since July last year. Unlike general investors, inquiries from family customers will target properties in university areas such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and even some second-tier cities such as Manchester and Birmingham, reflecting the increased demand for overseas study from Hong Kong people.
Ryan Black, Head of International Residential Sales at Knight Frank, said that the number of family households enquiring about properties in university areas in the UK has increased since July last year, reflecting the increased demand for overseas study among Hong Kong people.
Teachers sigh that Hong Kong lost valuable talent
Yang Zijun has taught at the Ying Wa College and Diocesan Girls’ College, an old colleague revealed to him that more than 30 students known to the female Diocesan are considering emigration, and the school is even more rare in the school year during the recruitment of interlocutors. He thinks the numbers are exaggerated but not surprising, “Those families are supposed to be smart or have plans, and when Hong Kong can’t give them what they want, they will choose to leave.” Previously, there were even tear gas canisters hitting the women’s school campus, forcing students to suspend classes, and he believes that all this has made parents and students feel that the environment in Hong Kong has been very bad.
Yang Zijun believes that the famous school students drop out of school represents even the elite class have lost confidence in Hong Kong education, or will stimulate a greater wave of migration.
Yang originally thought that most students of prestigious schools only focus on their studies and may not pay attention to social developments, but after he was shot in the right eye by a police bullet in the 612 incident, a female student fought for the establishment of a “Lennon wall” in the school, and even wrote cheerful words on sticky notes during his medical stay, spelling out a small “Lennon wall” to give him as a souvenir, which made him very touched.
The students’ words proved that the younger generation is not a numb memorizing machine. He felt that before the students opposed to sending China, they still believed that Hong Kong was a fair and just society, but the reality told them otherwise, “No matter how hard you try, if you are not pro-regime, if you don’t try to be a Hong Kong pig, it will be very painful for you to stay in Hong Kong.” He believes that this mental pressure makes young people feel that Hong Kong is not a suitable place for development, which is why they choose to leave.
Although he could not take up the teaching whip again, he still feels sorry for the large number of students emigrating because it represents that Hong Kong society will lose valuable talents, “Everyone has been proud of Hong Kong’s economic development, but if the middle class and above also decide to leave, it may be a message telling everyone that Hong Kong is not a suitable place to live anymore.” Going forward, it is more likely to trigger a larger wave of immigration, “may live in the present will think, the most astute people have left, do I want to remain in Hong Kong?”
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