Secretary for Education Christine Choi on Monday said the government plans to raise university tuition fees in the next few years.

Local undergraduate students at University Grants Committee-funded institutions pay an annual tuition fee of HK$42,100 – an amount that has remained unchanged since 1996.

In an interview with RTHK marking the second anniversary of the current term of government, Choi said a fee increase for such students will be implemented in stages.

"After all these years... there's been 40 percent inflation, but we haven't raised tuition fees at all. So we think it's time for a review and to maintain fiscal discipline," she said.

Choi said the government will make an announcement in advance so that universities can introduce more grants and bursaries for students in need.

In addition, the minister said she expects more institutions to offer applied degree programmes that combine theory and practical skills.

Chief Executive John Lee proposed in his policy address last year to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and to facilitate the establishment of universities of applied sciences.

Choi stressed that each university has its own strengths, so there should be a division of labour regarding the courses they offer in the future.