The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong has met Polytechnic University Council Chairman Lam Tai-fai and its President Teng Jin-guang in Beijing.

Xia told them that the SAR’s universities have a long history, boast a glorious tradition, have a good international reputation and are valuable resources for the nation’s higher education.

He pointed out that Hong Kong’s major universities shoulder the important mission of fostering virtues, adding they should not only devote themselves to this mission, but should also give firm support to the Chief Executive and the SAR government, and together work to level up higher education in the territory.

Xia fully affirmed the work of the PolyU, saying it has pulled together in recent years and achieved excellent results in areas such as research and innovation, and had contributed to major national projects.

He also said central authorities firmly support the Hong Kong SAR in developing the education sector in accordance with the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.

Xia expressed the hope that all tertiary institutions in the SAR will focus on the needs of the country and the strengths of Hong Kong and harness the strength of the “One Country Two Systems” principle to keep up with the times and strive to foster talented people to help realise national rejuvenation.