• Hong Kong's Education Bureau calls on universities to attract students impacted by the U.S. ban on Harvard's international student enrollment.
• The ban, effective for the 2025-2026 school year, cites concerns over antisemitism and links with China.
• Universities in Hong Kong, including HKUST, promise unconditional offers and support to incoming Harvard students.
• Hong Kong intends to position itself as a top destination for international education amid shifting global dynamics.
• Local leaders emphasize the importance of accommodating students facing "discriminatory" treatment from U.S. policies.

In response to the recent ban by the Trump administration on Harvard University’s enrollment of international students, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau is urging local universities to enhance their appeal to top talent. The announcement follows the revocation of Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, compelling current international students to either transfer to another institution or risk losing their legal status in the U.S., as reported by Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The ban will take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year, with the U.S. government accusing Harvard of fostering antisemitism and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. This decision affects around 7,000 international students, many of whom are from China, accounting for approximately 20% of Harvard's foreign student body, according to Newsweek and Middle East Eye.

In light of this development, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has voiced a strong welcome to students feeling "discriminated and unfairly treated" by U.S. policies, indicating a possible increase in quotas for non-local students at local universities, which have already doubled in the past year. Lee's remarks emphasize that Hong Kong's doors are “wide open” for these students, as reported by South China Morning Post.

In a proactive move, the University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in Hong Kong has extended an open invitation to current Harvard students, offering unconditional admission and academic support for a seamless transition, as noted in statements from both HKUST and the Education Bureau, which highlighted the importance of supporting students during this shifting global educational landscape. This initiative has been echoed by other institutions in Hong Kong eager to attract displaced students amid this uncertainty, according to Middle East Eye and Newsweek.