Hong Kong¡¯s universities must focus on contributing to national development and promoting patriotism towards China, a Beijing official has told universities.?

In a meeting, Xia Baolong, director of China¡¯s Hong Kong and Macao affairs office, reminded leaders of their responsibilities?in ¡°cultivating values and nurturing talent, strengthening their affection for and sense of belonging to the country, and enthusiastically promoting the key message of love for the country and Hong Kong¡±.

Representatives from 22 of Hong Kong¡¯s public and private higher education institutions met with the politician as part of a regional government-led delegation to Beijing.??

According to a statement released after the meeting, Mr Xia added: ¡°Universities must keep in mind the importance of cultivating more talent, producing more scientific research outcomes and making more contributions to national development.¡±

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He said the central government?was committed to supporting Hong Kong¡¯s goal of becoming an international education hub and ¡°contributing further to Hong Kong in its transition from stability to prosperity and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation¡±.?

Hong Kong¡¯s universities have set out plans to?recruit more international students?from beyond China, boosted by policies such as the development of a new ¡°university town¡± on the?region's northern border.?

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Mr Xia¡¯s comments come as mainland China is increasingly seen as tightening its grip over the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, including a significant expansion of national security laws passed in March.?

Critics argue that control by mainland China is eroding academic freedom, with the governance body of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)?controversially restructured?last year to?reduce the role of staff and academics in decision-making.?

According to the statement, Hong Kong¡¯s education secretary, Choi Yuk-lin, said during the meeting that the new security law had created ¡°a stable environment for development¡± and that the region¡¯s higher education sector had a ¡°golden opportunity¡± over the next decade.?

In separate talks with the mainland education secretary, Dr Choi emphasised the importance of assimilation between Hong Kong and China, telling leaders that her priorities included growing collaboration between Hong Kong and the mainland and attracting more non-local students to the region.?

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Multiple Hong Kong universities have opened branches and research centres in mainland China in recent years, including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Dr Choi added that Hong Kong¡¯s researchers were an ¡°indispensable force¡± in developing China¡¯s science and technology competencies.

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com