CHINA: Appeal of Hong Kong universities fades

High-school teenagers and their parents in Beijing are showing less interest in universities in Hong Kong because of the high costs, although the universities will offer some scholarships. "We received 4,000 mainland students applications in 2009 but in the years before, we received more than 10,000 applications," said Laura Lo, Director of Chinese Mainland Affairs at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, write Wang Wen and Wang Wei for China Daily.

Increased tuition fees is a major reason behind the decrease in the number of mainland applicants. While Hong Kong University enlarged its enrolment plan from 270 to 300 for this year, it also increased tuition fees from HK$100,000 ($12,818) to HK$119,000. According to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University living expenses can cost HK$40,000 every year and the tuition is HK$80,000 per year. The enrolment plan is about 230 students from the mainland and most of the students will need to pay the full expenses.
Full report on the China Daily site