Lee announced plans to launch a “Study in Hong Kong” campaign last month during his political speech. The brand seeks to promote the city as a center of higher education.

“There are situations where middlemen try (dishonestly) to make money,” Lee said before a weekly meeting of the government’s key executive council.

“If our law enforcement agencies are aware of these situations, they will certainly take action and work with mainland agencies to combat these illegal activities. But I believe most of them respect the law.

Lee said Hong Kong was an attractive place to study in terms of the quality of its education. He added that this was especially true for students from the Middle East and other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is China’s plan to expand global trade.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the government would thoroughly investigate all applications submitted by suspicious education agencies.

“Once we have enough evidence to prosecute and they are found guilty, their college degrees will be revoked,” he said. “Because of the record, it might be very difficult for them to come back to Hong Kong, even to travel.”

Chan said that although the number of cases reported to police remained small, they had all been thoroughly investigated. The agencies involved would also be carefully vetted.

Many of these education consulting accounts advertise on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu. Many say they can guarantee enrollment in master’s programs at HKU and other Hong Kong universities.

Staff Writers

Question Prompts

1. Which of the following statements is false?

(1) Hong Kong hopes to become a hub of higher education.

(2) Executive Director John Lee believes that most academic advisors are not honest.

(3) Persons who apply with fake diplomas can still retain the qualifications they have acquired.

(4) Authorities thoroughly investigate reported cases of false identification information.

A. (1), (2) only

B. (2), (3) only

C. (1), (3), (4) only

D. none of the above

2. Using current events, list TWO reasons why John Lee wants to combat the problem of false qualifications.

3. According to Chan, what are TWO possible consequences if you are caught using fake credentials?

Illustration

Illustration: Henry Wong

Question Prompts

1. What do you see in the illustration and what does it represent? What does this have to do with John Lee’s plans for education in Hong Kong?

2. Do you agree with Lee’s statement that Hong Kong is an attractive place to study? Explain using current events and your own knowledge.

Glossary

“Study in Hong Kong” campaign: a plan by the Hong Kong government to promote the city as a center of higher education and attract foreign students. John Lee announced these plans in his recent political speech.

intermediaries: people or businesses that connect others. For example, a person applying for a visa can pay an intermediary to do the work for them.

Belt and Road Initiative: a strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and sea. The aim is to improve relations and encourage regional integration.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the government would thoroughly investigate all suspected cases of false qualifications. Photo: Dickson Lee

Example answers

News

1.B
2. John Lee wants to tackle the problem of fake degrees because it harms Hong Kong’s reputation as a place for high-quality higher education and harms his administration’s policies.
3. Two possible consequences of being caught using fake degrees are having one’s academic degrees revoked and being barred from returning to Hong Kong, even for travel.

Illustration

1. The illustration represents Hong Kong’s drive to make the city a destination for international students and a known place for higher education. This ties in with John Lee’s “Study in Hong Kong” campaign, which aims to promote the city to international students. The fight against fake degrees will also contribute to Hong Kong’s reputation as a university hub.

2. I think Hong Kong is an attractive place to study because it welcomes students and professors from all over the world. Students can have a rich and enriching experience. They can learn from knowledgeable people and make friends with people from different backgrounds. (accept all reasonable answers)