EDB progressively relaxes quota for admission of Mainland students by self-financing institutions
The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (February 26) that an agreement by the Ministry of Education (MoE) has been obtained to progressively relax the quota for admission of Mainland students by the six self-financing institutions with the approval to admit Mainland students to degree programmes, and to allow relevant institutions to admit students from all provinces (regions/municipalities) of the country, with a view to further supporting the healthy and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary education sector, making more proactive contributions to Hong Kong's development into an international post-secondary education hub. The six institutions concerned are Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Tung Wah College, and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong under the Vocational Training Council.
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, "I am very grateful for the support of the MoE towards the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of self-financing post-secondary institutions. Following the doubling of the enrolment ceilings for non-local students of Government-funded post-secondary institutions to 40 per cent from the 2024/25 academic year, this relaxation arrangement can help harness the advantages of Hong Kong's self-financing sector in terms of its flexibility and diversity to nurture talent for the country and Hong Kong, supporting the high-quality development of the country, while adding impetus to Hong Kong."
She said, "The EDB has long been supporting the healthy development and continuous quality enhancement of the self-financing sector by providing targeted support and strengthening regulation, including the plan to introduce a bill to amend the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320) into the Legislative Council shortly. The EDB will continue to keep in view institutions' track record of operating self-financing programmes, performance in student admissions and utilisation of the prevailing quota, and liaise with the MoE to explore feasible further enhancements as and when appropriate. The EDB will also continue to collaborate with institutions to attract more students from around the world to build Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent."
With effect from the 2025/26 academic year, the quota for Mainland, Macao and Taiwan (MMT) students of full-time locally-accredited self-financing local sub-degree and undergraduate (including top-up degree) programmes of relevant institutions will be increased in phases to 40 per cent, in accordance with an orderly and progressive approach having regard to the utilisation of the prevailing quota by relevant institutions. The EDB will require relevant institutions to submit reports on matters and statistics pertinent to, among others, their admission arrangements and student support services to determine the quota applicable to each institution.
At the same time, the EDB will rationalise the calculation methodology of the relevant quota, with a view to providing self-financing institutions with greater certainty in admission planning and more effectively utilising the educational resources of institutions. The EDB will maintain communication with relevant institutions to facilitate their understanding and implementation of the relevant admission arrangements, while upholding a robust quality assurance mechanism to ensure the quality of self-financing post-secondary programmes and safeguarding students' interests.
In accordance with the prevailing policy, save for MMT students, there is no quota restriction on the admission of non-local students to full-time locally-accredited self-financing local sub-degree, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Currently, the quota for MMT students enrolling in full-time locally-accredited self-financing local sub-degree and undergraduate (including top-up degree) programmes is 10 to 20 per cent. There is no quota restriction for postgraduate programmes. So far, there are a total of six local self-financing institutions which have been approved by the MoE to admit Mainland students to their degree programmes (including undergraduate and postgraduate programmes).
CHP reminds public not to consume raw oysters and observe food safety as two more food poisoning clusters involving raw oyster consumption reported
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 8) investigating two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting a total of five persons. The CHP reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.
New food poisoning clusters
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The clusters involve two males and three females aged between 30 and 38. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 14 to 49 hours after having dinner at Chef's Cuts located at Unit 229 and 230, 2/F, THE SOUTHSIDE, 11 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, on January 30.
Three of the affected persons sought medical advice but did not require hospitalisation.All of the affected individuals are currently in stable condition.
A preliminary investigation revealed that raw oyster was the food item that the affected individuals had in common at the aforementioned restaurant. Officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch) conducted an investigation at the restaurant and the raw oyster suppliers Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited. The CFS immediately instructed Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited to suspend the sale and supply of raw oysters, and issued press release on the follow-up actions on February 6, instructing the trade should stop selling raw oysters supplied by the company concerned immediately if they possess them. All of the newly reported cases consumed raw oysters concerned before preventive and control measures instituted by the CFS.
The investigation of the CHP and the CFS is ongoing.
Recent surge in norovirus-related food poisoning cases
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"Food poisoning cases have continuously increased over the past few weeks, rising from one case a week on average in late December last year to four cases a week on average in January. A total of 27 cases have been recorded in the first week of February. Over the past three weeks (between January 18 and February 7), the CHP has recorded 34 food poisoning cases, affecting 108 persons. Among which, 30 cases (88 per cent) were related to norovirus, affecting 94 persons. Epidemiological investigation showed that all the affected persons of the food poisoning cases related to norovirus had consumed raw oysters during the incubation period. Among the affected persons, five persons were hospitalised for treatment. All are in stable condition. The CHP has notified the CFS on all the food poisoning cases for follow up," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
"As oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw and partially cooked oysters are considered a high-risk food. Persons who consume undercooked or contaminated oysters may contract food-borne diseases such as norovirus, hepatitis A virus or other bacteria. In view of the drastic increase in food poisoning cases related to consumption of raw oysters recently, members of the public, especially pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, shall stay vigilant and avoid consumption of raw oysters or partially cooked bivalve shellfish to prevent infection," Dr Tsui explained.
"In addition to food poisoning, norovirus can also cause acute gastroenteritis (AGE). According to the CHP's surveillance data, the AGE activity level has continued to increase since early January, including AGE outbreaksin institutions and schools. Laboratory testing indicated that over 60 per cent of the outbreaks were caused by norovirus.In addition, there have been increases in the norovirus activity in other popular travel destinations for Hong Kong citizens, including Japan and Korea. Members of the public should remain vigilant and maintain personal, environmental and food hygiene at all times to minimise the risk of being infected while travelling," Dr Tsui added.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Norovirus infection typically causes food poisoning and AGE with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, low-grade fever and malaise. The symptoms are usually self-limiting and most people will get better within one to three days.
In general, norovirus is more active in winter (around December to March). As norovirus is highly contagious, individuals may become infected after being exposed to even a small amount of norovirus. The virus can be transmitted through various means, such as eating contaminated food, contacting with the vomit or excreta of infected persons, and contacting with contaminated objects. In settings where people are staying close together such as schools, elderly homes etc., there is a possibility of a large-scale outbreak.
"As the Lunar New Year holiday is approaching, members of the public have more opportunities to have parties with food delivery services or hotpot. To prevent food poisoning, apart from maintaining personal hygiene, they should also consume thoroughly washed and cooked food. For shellfish, the shells should be well scrubbed and the internal organs be removed before consumption. To prevent AGE and norovirus infection, members of public should perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before handling food or eating, and after using the toilet. Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds, then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel or hand dryer. Since alcohol is not effective in killing norovirus, alcohol-based handrubs are not a substitute for handwashing with soap and water," said Dr Tsui.
Source: AI-found images
