A process to choose the top 10 outstanding non-local students in Hong Kong for this year was launched on Saturday in support of the city’s vision of becoming an international post-secondary education hub and deepening its integration into national development through talent strength.

Previous winners of the "Study in Hong Kong" 10 Outstanding International  Students in Hong Kong Selection program said the special administrative region’s inclusive, diverse and international environment have unleashed students’ imagination and creativity, and vowed to tell more people about their study journeys in the city.

At the launch ceremony, Sun Yue – founder of the selection organizer, the Youth Expats Association – said the program is aimed not only at honoring individuals, but also uniting young Hong Kong people and inspiring them to align personal goals with the nation’s development, contributing to the SAR’s integration with the nation and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s high-level talent hub ambition.

She noted that 2026 marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and Hong Kong has responded to the central government’s expectations of becoming a world talent hub through concrete measures.

The HKSAR government’s promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, as well as the nation’s and the city’s expectations for the coordinated innovation-education-industry development in the Northern Metropolis, have added greater impetus for the education sector, Sun said.

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Hong Kong is home to a growing international student community that not only reflects the city’s multicultural vibrancy, but is also a core force driving its social development and integration into the national agenda, she said.

The panel of judges comprises prominent representatives of the political, business and academic sectors, including legislators, Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress, eminent professors and industry leaders. They’ll assess candidates on factors like academic innovation, social contribution and leadership, cultural and athletic talent, and overall potential.

The winners will receive benefits like overseas exchanges, corporate visits, career support, personal branding, and networking access.

This year’s event marks the second edition of the program. Reda Zhao Xiaorong – one of last year’s winners and was studying then for her master’s degree at The Education University of Hong Kong – said she has a found a “satisfying” job in the city.

Hong Kong’s inclusive, diverse culture, and a highly international platform have greatly broadened her horizons and opened up many career opportunities, she said, and encouraged non-local students to keep an open mind, seize every learning opportunity to improve themselves, and actively integrate into the local environment.

Zhang Boya – another winner last year and now a third-year student at Hong Kong Baptist University – said she plans to pursue her postgraduate degree in communication in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s higher education system has few rigid rules, allowing students to fully unleash their imagination and creativity, Zhang said, adding she’s now adapted to Hong Kong’s food and culture. She also finds her local classmates friendly, able to learn each other’s dialects and get along well.

The results of this year’s selections will be announced in October, with an awards ceremony to be held the following month. Last year's ceremony was attended by senior HKSAR officials, including Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin and Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Clement Woo Kin-man.

Woo urged students to use Hong Kong as a connector and align their aspirations with national development, especially through opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

Contact the writer at gangwen@chinadailyhk.com