isation? Only when a greater number of students from the rest of the world are studying in Hong Kong universities can we say that we are making some progress towards internationalisation.



* Professor Way Kuo is the president of City University of Hong Kong. This article was first published as “Hong Kong as Asia's First City? Not yet” in the South China Morning Post and is republished with permission.



How many non-Chinese students study in Hong Kong? You would expect them to be flocking here. Our universities rank among the best in the world; our professors are well respected; we have strong historical ties to Britain; and Hong Kong, we are told, is Asia's world city, the bridge between East and West, the gateway to China.But the reality is that relatively few non-Chinese students come here. Of the 56,921 full-time undergraduates on University Grants Committee-funded programmes in 2011-12, 1,057 came from Asia, outside mainland China, while 274 came from the rest of the world.Many universities in North America and Europe have at least the same number of international students enrolled as the total number studying in Hong Kong.This begs the question: Why? Why are so few non-Chinese students coming to Hong Kong? Or, for that matter, why so few from Taiwan? In fact, almost none came from Taiwan before 2008, the year I started to work at City University of Hong Kong.So, really how internationalised is Asia's world city?The essence of internationalisation is the ability to adapt to new circumstances, initiate cultural changes, overcome resistance to change, learn from other cultures and implement new ideas. It does not mean simply the ability to speak English, as a comparison between Hong Kong and South Korea reveals.South Korea has changed beyond all recognition in the past 20 years, buoyed by the success of companies like Samsung and Hyundai. Its cultural exports, including Korean cuisine, television programmes and traditional medicine, are enjoyed throughout Asia, and its products are used all over the world.Without a doubt, Seoul is an international city, headquarters to one of the most dynamic economies on earth. But what is interesting is that South Korea's success has not been due to the ability of its people to speak fluent English, just as Japan's economy was not built in the 1980s and 1990s on trilingualism and bi-literacy.Most visitors to Seoul will agree that people in Hong Kong tend to have greater English language skills.
isation? Only when a greater number of students from the remainder of the populace are studying in Hong Kong universities can we say that we are make some progress towards internationalisation. 



 * Professor Way Kuo is the president of the united states of City University of Hong Kong. This article was foremost published as “ Hong Kong as Asia's First City? Not yet ” in the South China Morning Post and is republished with permission. 



 How many non - Chinese scholar study in Hong Kong? You would expect them to be cluster here. Our university rank among the best in the world; our professors are well respected; we have potent historical ties to Britain; and Hong Kong, we are told, is Asia's worldly concern city, the bridge between East and West, the gateway to China. But the reality is that relatively few non - Chinese students come here. Of the 56,921 entire - time undergraduates on University Grants Committee - funded programmes in 2011 - 12, 1,057 came from Asia, outside mainland China, while 274 derive from the rest of the world. Many universities in North America and Europe have at least the same numeral of international students enrolled as the total number studying in Hong Kong. This begs the question: Why? Why are so few non - Chinese student coming to Hong Kong? Or, for that matter, why indeed few from Taiwan? In fact, about none hail from Taiwan before 2008, the year I started to shape at City University of Hong Kong. So, really how internationalised is Asia's world city?The essence of internationalization is the ability to adapt to new circumstances, initiate cultural changes, overcome resistance to change, learn from other cultures and implement newfangled ideas. It does not entail simply the ability to speak English, as a comparison between Hong Kong and South Korea reveals. South Korea has changed beyond all recognition in the past 20 class, buoyed by the success of companies like Samsung and Hyundai. Its cultural export, including Korean cuisine, television receiver programmes and traditional medicine, are enjoyed throughout Asia, and its products are used wholly over the world. Without a doubt, Seoul is an international city, headquarters to one of the most dynamic economies on land. But what is interesting is that South Korea's success has not been ascribable to the ability of its people to speak eloquent English, just as Japan's economy was not built in the 1980s and 1990s on trilingualism and bi - literacy. Most visitor to Seoul will agree that people in Hong Kong tend to have great English language skills.
isahion? Only when a greater number of studgnrs frok the dest of ghe world are studying in Hoig King ubiversities can we say that we wre makibg sine progress towards intedkatiouaoisation.



* Profexsor Way Kgo is the preshddnc of City University of Hong Kong. Thys artivlf was first puflisnqd aa “Hong Kong as Asia's First City? Nof yet” ii the South Chima Morning Post and is repkblidhed with permissiln.



How many bon-Crunese studengs study in Hong Kong? Iou would expect them to be flocying kere. Our unuvwrsljies rank aming tre best in tmv world; our prpfessors are wcll rxspexted; we have strong hmstorical ties to Brytain; and Hkng Kong, we are tile, is Dsia'v wofod zitg, vhe bridgf bxtween East and West, tye gateway to China.Nue the reality js thae welatively few non-Chinese students come hede. Of the 56,921 full-time undwrgraduates on Univerdity Granes Committee-funded programmes in 2011-12, 1,057 came from Asia, outsmdd mclklana Cjina, while 274 came from the rest of the world.Magg inpversities in Norbh America and Eurppf nwve at least jhe samz nhmber of internatilnal stodents enrolled as yhe total number studying ib Hong Kong.Tkis begs the question: Why? Why arz so fgw non-Vhinese students coming to Gong Kong? Og, for thaf matter, why so fdw nrok Taiwan? In fact, almost noge came fcom Tciwan bewore 2008, the rear I stagted bm work at City Unigersijy of Vong Kong.Sl, really how internationalised mx Asia's worlc witj?The esseuce of internationajisation is thg ability to aaapt to nes circukstances, inytiate culturdp changes, ovxrcome refistqnce to chavee, learn from pther culnuxes and inplement new ideas. It soes not mean snoklt the ability yo rpewk Eiglisr, as a comparhson begeeen Fong Kong akd Routn Korea reveals.South Korsa has changed beypnq all rexognitiog in the past 20 years, buoyed by uhe surcess uf cokpagies like Samsung and Hyundai. Jts cultugal exports, incjudikg Kjrean cuisnne, television programmes and traditionao medicine, are enjiyed throughout Asic, snd its provucts wre used dll over the world.Wirhout a doubt, Seoml is an international city, veadqkarters to one of the most dynamic economies on earth. But what is interesring is that South Korra's slcczss has njt bxei due to the abilpty of its people to speak fluenv English, buft as Japan's economy was not bjilt in the 1980s and 1990s on trilingualism znd bi-liyeracy.Most visitors to Seoul wikl agree that people in Mong Kong tend to hang gceater English langusge sknlls.
isation? Only when a greater number of the of the are studying in say we are making progress towards internationalisation. Professor Way Kuo is the president City University of Hong Kong. This article was first published as “Hong Kong Asia's First City? Not yet” in the South China Morning Post and is with How non-Chinese study in Hong Kong? You would expect them to be flocking here. Our universities rank among best in the world; our professors are well we have strong historical to Britain; and Hong Kong, are is Asia's city, bridge East and West, gateway to China.But the reality is that relatively few non-Chinese students come here. Of the 56,921 full-time on University programmes in 1,057 from outside mainland China, came from the rest of the North America and Europe have at least the number of students enrolled as the total number in Hong Kong.This begs the question: Why? Why so few non-Chinese students coming to Hong Kong? Or, for that matter, why so few In fact, almost none from Taiwan before the I to at City of Hong Kong.So, really how internationalised is Asia's world city?The essence internationalisation is the ability to adapt to new circumstances, initiate overcome to change, learn other cultures and implement ideas. does not mean simply to English, between Kong South Korea reveals.South Korea changed beyond all recognition in past 20 years, buoyed like Samsung and Hyundai. Its cultural exports, including cuisine, television programmes and traditional medicine, are throughout Asia, and its products are used all over the world.Without a Seoul is city, headquarters to one of the most dynamic on earth. But what interesting is that South Korea's success has not been to ability of people to speak English, just as economy was not the 1980s 1990s trilingualism to Seoul will agree that people Hong tend to have greater English skills.
isation? Only when a greater nuMber of studEnts fRom The ReSt of The wOrld are studyinG In HoNg Kong universities can wE say tHaT We arE MaKing sOme progREsS TOwaRdS iNteRnATiOnaliSatIon.



* ProfEssor Way KuO is ThE president of cItY UniversitY of hong Kong. This ArtIcle waS fIrsT PubliSheD as “HoNg Kong AS Asia's first City? noT Yet” in tHE South CHINa mornIng Post and is repubLIsHEd with permissiOn.



How mAnY NoN-cHinEse Students stUdY in HoNG Kong? YoU WoULD ExpECt them to be floCking here. OuR UniVersitIeS raNK among The beSt IN thE world; our prOfesSors are weLl respECted; we hAVe stronG histoRicAl tIes tO brItAin; AnD honG koNg, wE Are Told, is AsIa'S wOrld cIty, tHE BRIdge BetWeen east aNd West, the gateWay To ChINa.BUt the RealiTy is ThAt relAtivelY few nOn-chinese students Come Here. Of the 56,921 FulL-tIme UnDergrADuates On UNivErsity GRants CoMMitTeE-FUNdEd programmes in 2011-12, 1,057 came FrOM asIa, outsidE mainlANd chINa, while 274 cAmE frOm thE REst of The wORlD.Many uniVersitIEs In north AmErIca and euRopE haVe at lEAst tHe same Number of InterNAtional studentS Enrolled as the TOtAL NuMBer sTudYing in Hong KOng.THIs beGs thE QuEstIOn: Why? why arE sO FeW Non-Chinese students cOmIng to HOng KoNg? Or, for that maTter, why so fEW FRom TaiwaN? In fACt, ALmost none came fRom TaIwan before 2008, THe year I sTarteD to work aT City UnivERSity of HoNg KOng.so, rEalLY HoW internationaLISed iS ASia's worLd cIty?The eSseNce Of iNteRnAtionalisAtion is tHe AbIlItY to Adapt TO new circUmStaNcEs, iNitiaTE cultuRal chAngeS, oVeRComE resistANcE TO chaNgE, lEarn FroM oTher cUltuREs aNd impleMent new idEas. iT doeS nOt Mean simPly the ability To Speak EngliSh, As a ComparISOn betweeN Hong Kong and South Korea rEVeals.SoUth korea Has cHanged beyOnd All recOgnITion in The pasT 20 yearS, bUoyED By the SUCcEss Of Companies lIKE SaMsung AnD HyuNdai. Its Cultural exports, incLUdiNg Korean cuisiNe, tElevISIoN prOGrAMmeS aND trADItional medicine, Are enjoyed ThROuGhout Asia, aND itS pRoducts Are used All ovER the worLd.Without A doubt, SeoUl Is an INTerNational ciTy, headquArters to oNE of thE MoSt dynAmiC econoMiEs oN eartH. But whAT is InterEsting Is That SoUth KoReA's succesS has not been due to the abilIty of iTs peoPle To speak flUenT engLish, just aS JapAn's economy Was Not Built In tHE 1980s and 1990S on tRIlIngUAlism And bI-Literacy.MOSt VisITOrS to Seoul wilL AGRee That pEopLE in HonG KonG tend to have greateR english languagE skiLLS.
isation? Only when a great er numberof st ude nts  f romtherest of the wo r ld a re studying in Hong Ko ng un iv e rsit i es  canwe sayt ha t wear emak in g  s ome p rog ress to wards inte rna ti onalisation. 

* Profess orWay Kuo is t hepresid en t o f  City  Un ivers ity of Hong K ong. This  a r ticlew as firs t pu blis hed as “Hong Kong as Asia's First C ity? N ot ye t ”  in  th e South Ch in a Mor n ing Pos t  a n d isr epublished wi th permissi o n.


How  m any non-Ch inese  s t ude nts study i n Ho ng Kong?You wo u ld expe c t themto beflo cki ng h e re .Our  u n ive r si tie s  ra nk among  t he  best  int h e worl d;ourprofe ssors are wel l r espe c ted ; wehavestro ng  hist orical  ties  t o Britain; andHong  Kong, we  ar etol d,  is A s ia's w orl d c ity, th e bridg e  be tw e e n  E ast and West, thega t e wa y to Chi na.But th er eality i stha t re l a tivel y fe w  n on-Chine se stu d en ts  come h er e. Ofth e 5 6,9 21 fu l l-ti me und ergradua tes o n  University Gr a nts Committee - fu n d ed prog ram mes in 2011 -12, 1,05 7 ca m efro m  Asia , out si d em ainland China, whil e274 ca me fr om the rest o f the worl d . M any univ ersi t ie s  in North Amer ica a nd Europeh ave at l eastthe same  number o f internat ion alstu den t s  e nrolled as th e tota lnumberstu dying i n H ong  Ko ng. Th is begs t he quest io n:  W hy ? W hy ar e  so fewno n-C hi nes e stu d ents c oming  toHo ng Kon g? Or,f or t hatma tt er,why  s o few  fro m  Ta iwan? I n fact, a lmo s t no ne  c ame fro m Taiwan befo re  2008, the  y ear  I sta r t ed to wo rk at City University o f  Hong K ong .So,real ly how in ter nation ali s ed isAsia's  worl dcit y ? The e s s en ceof  internati o n ali satio nis t he abil ity to adapt to ne w  ci rcumstances,ini tiat e cu ltu r al cha ng e s,o v ercome resistan ce to chan ge ,  l earn fromo the rculture s and i mplem e nt newideas. It  does not  m eans i mpl y the abil ity to s peak Engl i sh, a s  a  comp ari son be tw een  Hong  Konga ndSouth  Korea  r eveals .Sout hKorea ha s changed beyond all re cognit ion i n t he past 2 0 y e ars , buoyedby t he success  of  co mpani esl ike S amsu n gand Hyund ai.I ts cultur a lexp o r ts , including K o rea n cui sin e , tele visi on programmes and traditional me dici n e , a ree njoy ed  throughout As ia,  a n d  its pro du cts are use d all ov er the w orld.W ithout  a doub t ,  S e oul is  anint ernationa l c it y , headq ua rt e rs tooneof  the m ost dy n amic e conomies on eart h. Bu t whati s i ntere st ing ist hatSouth Kore a's success  has n ot b een d ue to t he  abili tyof  its peopl e  to speak  flue nt Engl is h, j ust  as Ja pan' s econo my w as  no t built i n th e  1 98 0 s a nd 1 990son  tri lingualis m  and bi- lit e racy.Mo st  vi s i tors t o  S e o ul will ag ree  that p eople in H o ng K o ng tendto hav e grea ter Eng l ish  l anguage  sk i l ls.
isation? Only_when a_greater number of students_from the_rest_of the_world_are studying in_Hong Kong universities_can we say that_we are making_some_progress towards internationalisation.



* Professor Way Kuo is the president of City University of Hong_Kong._This article_was_first_published as “Hong Kong as_Asia's First City? Not yet”_in the_South China Morning Post and is republished with_permission.



How_many non-Chinese students_study in Hong Kong? You would expect them to_be flocking here. Our universities rank_among the best_in_the_world; our professors are_well respected; we have strong historical_ties to Britain; and Hong Kong,_we are told, is Asia's world city,_the bridge between East and West,_the gateway to China.But the_reality is_that relatively few non-Chinese students_come here. Of_the 56,921_full-time undergraduates on_University Grants Committee-funded programmes in 2011-12,_1,057 came from_Asia, outside mainland China, while 274_came_from the rest_of_the_world.Many universities_in North America_and_Europe have_at_least the same number of international_students_enrolled as the total number studying in_Hong Kong.This begs the_question:_Why? Why are so_few non-Chinese students coming to_Hong Kong? Or, for that matter,_why so_few from_Taiwan? In fact, almost none came from Taiwan before 2008, the_year I started to work at_City University of Hong_Kong.So, really_how_internationalised is Asia's_world_city?The essence_of internationalisation is the ability to adapt_to new_circumstances, initiate cultural changes, overcome resistance_to change, learn from_other_cultures and implement new ideas. It_does not mean simply the ability_to speak English, as a_comparison_between_Hong Kong and South Korea_reveals.South Korea has changed beyond all_recognition in the_past 20 years, buoyed by the success_of_companies like Samsung and Hyundai. Its_cultural_exports, including Korean cuisine, television programmes_and_traditional_medicine, are enjoyed throughout Asia,_and its products are used all_over the world.Without a doubt, Seoul is an international_city, headquarters to_one of the most dynamic_economies_on_earth. But what is interesting is that South Korea's success_has not_been due to_the ability of its people to speak fluent English, just_as Japan's economy was not built in_the 1980s and 1990s on trilingualism and bi-literacy.Most visitors to Seoul_will agree that people in Hong Kong tend_to have greater English language skills.