Higher Education in Hong Kong: the context of and rationale for rapid expansion

Hong Kong is now engaged in implementing a programme designed rapidly to expand its Higher Education sector. This policy will effectively shift the role of higher education away from providing for the needs of a small and elite segment of school leavers to one which provides for a significant proportion of the relevant age cohort.The paper initially identifies the factors which have contributed to the emergence of the new policy. Central amongst these is the impending return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to the PRC in 1997. Subsequently the policy is analysed with reference to the context within which it will be implemented. This includes the shifting demographic structure, the level of emigration and the number of students who study overseas. Finally the paper anticipates the probable impact of the expansion on both higher education itself and on other sectors within the education system.