Five Hong Kong universities continue to rank among global top 100, helping to consolidate status as international education hub
An Education Bureau (EDB) spokesperson said today (September 30) that the rankings of Hong Kong's universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 continue to be highly commended, fully demonstrating the robust strength of Hong Kong's higher education system and its world-class levels in teaching, research, and international outlook, and also reflecting the Government's continuous resource investment and policy support over the years, which have successfully laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong's higher education institutions.
According to the latest THE World University Rankings, the University of Hong Kong ranks globally at 33rd, the Chinese University of Hong Kong at 42nd, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology at 58th, and the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have risen to 70th and 79th respectively, continuing to rank among the global top 100.
The spokesperson said, "The long-standing high rankings of Hong Kong's universities at the forefront of international rankings not only reflect the achievements of the local higher education sector in striving for excellence and scaling new heights, but also bear witness to the Government's proactive leadership in guiding the post-secondary education sector to achieve outstanding results through policy measures such as seeking innovation and change, and expanding capacity while enhancing quality. The Government will continue to spare no effort in promoting the comprehensive integration of the higher education sector into the overall national development, contributing to the country's endeavour to build a leading country in education."
The recently promulgated First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address further strengthen Hong Kong's development momentum and build the city into an international hub for high-calibre talent. Measures include driving the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) under "One Town, Five Elements" to promote capacity expansion and quality enhancement of post-secondary education. The Government will consolidate Hong Kong's internationalised and diversified educational advantages under "one country, two systems", align with the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, strengthen basic, emerging, and cross-disciplinary development and the nurturing of top-notch talent, deepen international co-operation, and promote the integrated development of education, technology, and talent to better serve the country's endeavour to develop into a leading country in education.
To dovetail with the development of the NMUT, the Government will implement a series of measures, including increasing the number of the University Grants Committee-funded research postgraduate places to 9 600 by the 2030/31 academic year; gradually increasing the annual quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme to 550 places by the 2029/30 academic year; providing additional funding of $20 million per academic year to support knowledge transfer; and allocating $40 million annually to the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education. With the continuous relaxation of the ceiling for non-local students enrolled in self-financing local post-secondary programmes, and the intensified promotional efforts through the cross-departmental Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, local institutions will continue to attract exceptional students from over 100 countries and regions across the globe, consolidating Hong Kong's leading position as an international post-secondary education hub.
The spokesperson concluded, "Even in the face of intense global competition, the performance of Hong Kong's universities continues to remain stable and excellent. Looking ahead, with the comprehensive implementation of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, the promotion of the integrated development of education, technology, and talent, and the development of the NMUT, Hong Kong's higher education is ushering in a golden period of development full of promising potential. We will continue to promote the all-round connectivity in areas such as talent training, frontier scientific research, and industry-academia-research collaboration, optimise resource allocation, support various institutions in consolidating their existing advantages while pioneering innovation, and nurture more outstanding talent equipped with both international perspective and exceptional capabilities, thereby making greater contributions to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the country."
Source: AI-found images
DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 30) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.
In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:
- Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
- Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
- Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
- Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
- Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
- Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.
In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:
- Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
- The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
- Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.
The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.
Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
- Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
- While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
- Seek shade;
- Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.
Source: AI-found images
