Trump's War on Foreign Students Is a Gift to Hong Kong

You'd think Donald Trump is a genius, always looking for ways to give the US an edge. But the reality is, many of his policies—both at home and abroad—have ended up being a massive boost for China. That's why he's earned the nickname "川建國" (Chuan Jianguo), or "Trump Builds China." And now, it seems Hong Kong is also cashing in on his moves, making "川建港" (Chuan Jiangang), or "Trump Builds Hong Kong," just as fitting.
 
His latest stunt? A crude crackdown on foreign students that has sent shockwaves through US universities. Fall enrollment has plummeted, with the number of Chinese students dropping by 12%. This has choked off a vital revenue stream for many institutions, forcing them to slash salaries and staff just to stay afloat.
 
Meanwhile, Hong Kong is doing the exact opposite. By throwing its doors wide open, it's attracting students from the mainland and beyond who are now thinking twice about the US. This isn't just a win for the universities' bank accounts; it's a shot in the arm for the entire economy. So, yes, we really have "Chuan Jiangang" to thank for this unexpected windfall.

Thanks, Trump: As the US slams its doors, mainland students are flocking to Hong Kong.

A Campaign of Control

Right after taking office, Trump launched an iron-fisted campaign to whip everyone into line, from the government and military to intelligence agencies and the judiciary. Universities quickly became a prime target.
 
After a drawn-out battle to bring Harvard to heel, he issued a memorandum last week called the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" to nine top universities, including MIT.
 
The deal? Follow the government's "ideological guidelines" to control student thought and cap foreign undergraduate enrollment at 15%. In return, universities get to keep their federal funding and research grants—a blatant case of using cash to buy compliance.
 
Even before this 15% cap, US media reported that Trump was already using every trick in the book to keep foreign students out. We're talking delayed visas, restricted visa numbers, and intense scrutiny of applicants. Add to that the government's move to expel students who participated in protests, and it's no surprise that many who had their sights set on the US are now looking elsewhere.
 
The Numbers Don't Lie

The latest data from the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) paints a grim picture. August is usually the peak season for foreign students arriving in the US, but this year, only 313,000 entered on visas—a staggering 19% drop from last year. Asian students, who have long been the majority, saw the steepest decline of 24%, falling to just 191,000. Within that group, the number of Indian students plummeted by 44%, and Chinese students were down 12%.
 
For many American universities, international students are a financial lifeline. This sharp decline in enrollment has hit them hard and fast, plunging them into a financial crisis. Reuters spoke to 10 universities, and every single one reported a drop in foreign students, with one seeing a 19% decrease. With tuition income drying up, some schools have been forced to make drastic cuts just to survive.
 
Take DePaul University in Chicago, a private institution that saw 755 fewer foreign students this year, a 30% reduction. Facing a deficit, it had to slash spending, cut executive pay, lay off staff, and freeze hiring. It's a story playing out across the country. At least 35 institutions have had to lower their budgets, and the University of Southern California has cut 630 positions. It's a scene of widespread misery.
 
America's Loss, Hong Kong's Gain

Trump has his own twisted logic for this "expulsion" policy. He thinks that by reducing the number of foreign students, he's creating more spaces for America's own "excellent students," completely ignoring the economic fallout.
 
The truth is, foreign students are big business. It's predicted that the 30% to 40% drop in international students this fall will result in a $7 billion economic loss and 60,000 fewer jobs. And that doesn't even touch on the decline in foreign graduate students, which will cripple research in many fields and ultimately weaken America's economic strength.
 
While US universities are left high and dry by Trump, Hong Kong is reaping the rewards. In recent years, the Hong Kong government has gone in the opposite direction, boosting the proportion of non-local students in government-funded universities to 40% in the 2024-25 academic year, with 26,600 students currently enrolled. Next year, that figure will rise to 50%, opening the floodgates.
 
Friends in the education sector tell me that some mainland students, spooked by Trump's harsh policies, have scrapped their plans to study in the US and are coming to Hong Kong instead. As a result, applications from non-local students are surging at all universities. HKUST and PolyU each received over 20,000 applications, and even a private institution like Hang Seng University saw over 10,000. Once the university town in the Northern Metropolis is complete, the number of non-local students is set to skyrocket.

The Trump Effect: US universities face financial ruin as foreign students flee his crude "expulsion" tactics.

A Bright Future for Hong Kong

The more the US tightens its grip, the more Hong Kong's education industry thrives, and the economic benefits are already clear. A UBS report out today predicts that between 2029 and 2030, the number of non-local university students will hit 140,000. To tackle the housing shortage, the government is encouraging hotels to convert into student dorms, which is great news for hotel operators. The sustained demand for private rentals will also give the property market a healthy boost.
 
While US universities are being wrecked by Trump, shrouded in gloom, Hong Kong's institutions are looking at a bright future. For that, we really have to say a big thank you to "Chuan Jiangang."
  
Lai Ting-yiu

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Long after the Black Riots ended, key pan-democrats who stuck around Hong Kong played it safe—low profile, out of headlines. But these same figures kept cozy ties with foreign consular powerbrokers, facts anyone can see from repeated public invitations. On this occasion, Anson Chan, Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung showed up as VIPs at the British Consulate. The warmth? It’s no mystery, if you know their backstory.

Reunion at the Consulate: Anson Chan, Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung pose at the British King’s birthday luncheon

Raising Questions, Finding Evidence

A friend dropped a telling remark after seeing the photo: British decision-makers groomed Anson Chan for power even before the Handover, and those links never really faded. The relationship is unusually tight—two behind-the-scenes stories make that fact plain. Must be why the British still roll out the red carpet for Chan.

After quitting the government in 2001, Chan inched closer to the opposition and even won a Legislative Council seat. For years, US and UK consuls wined and dined her—plenty of evidence in social media posts and diplomatic cables—to allegedly “discuss strategies” for Hong Kong. It’s not gossip; it’s documented pattern.

When the 2019 unrest exploded, Anson Chan took sides on the so-called “international front.” Prosecutors stated in open court that, behind the scenes, Jimmy Lai directed “Stand With Hong Kong” (SWHK)—led by Andy Chan, Andy Li, and Finn Lau—to carry out international lobbying and publicity campaigns, spending large sums of money.

Court documents further show that Anson Chan wasn’t a bystander: back in 2019, she brought Andy Li to a luncheon with then British Consul Andrew Heyn. Martin Lee, Dennis Kwok, and Charles Mok were also there. The prosecution records are clear—Chan leveraged her foreign contacts to make connections for SWHK, all with Jimmy Lai’s shadow looming in the background.

2019, Behind Closed Doors: Anson Chan sits down with Consul Andrew Heyn

Not Just a “Chat Over Tea”

There’s more. During anti-extradition protests, surveillance and eyewitnesses caught Anson Chan on August 13, 2019, holding secret discussions at a hotel with Andrew Heyn and his aide—documents in hand. That was no idle chat. The British Consulate’s involvement raises eyebrows, especially as staff like Simon Cheng were repeatedly spotted at protest sites. Cheng ran off to the UK, claimed political asylum, and neatly sidestepped questions about his activities.

With the national security law approaching, Chan made a quick exit from politics—claiming “retirement.” She kept out of jail, but her dealings with foreign diplomats never stopped. When the new US Consul General Julie Eadeh met her right on arrival, Beijing protested—an incident widely reported by state outlets and foreign press alike. Now, Chan’s red carpet invite to the British King’s birthday party again stirs scrutiny.

The rest of the guest list tells its own story. Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung all made appearances. Notably missing: Martin Lee, once the darling of the British. No explanation given—just another twist in an old game. For the establishment camp, only Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk attended, showing that official ties with the British remain careful and distant.

Looking at these staged reunion snapshots, my friend shakes his head—those glory days are long past. Wise up, he says: the era is over, and flirting with foreign consulates only ended up undermining Hong Kong’s stability. It’s time for these figures to accept reality and leave wishful thinking in the past.