Hong Kong universities proved to be a big draw at the 11th China International Education Exhibition Tour that concluded yesterday, while Western universities and schools, which used to be popular among Chinese students, found themselves losing prominence.

Shenzhener Huang Wenya said she hoped her daughter, a first grader at a senior middle school, would be able to attend a Hong Kong university.

"My son is a fourth grader at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and he is doing very well. He has no problem landing a decent job in Hong Kong or mainland," said Huang, adding that she wanted her daughter to study in China so she wouldn't "return home a foreigner."

Hong Kong universities are boosting admission from the Chinese mainland. The Polytechnic University plans to increase mainland enrollment by 20 to 200, said Agnes Kwok, program manager of the Polytechnic University's Academic Exchange and Collaboration Office. To attract more mainland students, the school is offering a 100,000-yuan (US$12,330) scholarship to extraordinary mainland students this year.

However, entering a Hong Kong university is not easy. Hu Jun, whose son is taking the NCEE this year, said it was very difficult to enter a Hong Kong university, although his son's teacher believed the boy could enter the prestigious Zhongshan University in Guangzhou.

"I hope my boy could enter a Hong Kong university, because Hong Kong education is more international. But I'm afraid entering a good Hong Kong university is too difficult for him," said Hu, in front of the booth of the City University of Hong Kong. Yao Jun, with the university, said the university had higher cut-off standards than mainland institutions. Yao's university enrolled 150 mainland students last year and planned to increase the number to 170 this year.

Wang Yikai, secretary general of the Shenzhen Education Association for International Exchange, said Hong Kong universities are becoming increasingly popular among mainland students, especially from Guangdong, because Shenzhen parents are more rational than before.

"Hong Kong universities have lower costs, and closer cultural link compared with foreign universities. British universities are losing appeal because of the high cost, while American universities are also losing student sources after the terror attack in 2001," said Wang.

Shirley Wu, with the China Campus of the Monash College, one of the Group of Eight universities in Australia, said international education is facing increasingly fierce competition in recent years.

Boarding schools for young students have scarce visitors. "Some negative reports about young overseas Chinese students damaged the popularity of schools targeting young students," said a lady with the Brooke House College, a well-known boarding school in Britain.

Editor: Yan