Students who study abroad in Hong Kong will discover a towering city with a sparkling, industrialized natural harbor, representing a dramatic convergence of Chinese, Southeast Asian and Western influences. Hong Kong has grown from a simple fishing village to a cosmopolitan leader in international banking and finance. The area consistently impresses students with its gravity-defying skylines, delicious cuisine and excellent education system.

Hong Kong is located in East Asia and borders the South China Sea and China. It is officially called the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China," reflecting its special status, with some legal, monetary and other systems that are separate from the rest of mainland China. The Chinese government calls this the "one country, two systems" policy. Britain ruled and administered the area from 1841 until 1997, before handing sovereignty to China. Hong Kong is now composed of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and more than 200 other small islands.

Hong Kong is home to 12 accredited higher education institutions. Eight of them are publicly funded through the University Grants Committee (UGC), the advisory committee responsible for advising the Hong Kong government on the development and funding needs of higher education institutions in Hong Kong. Students who study there will discover that degree programs focus on single majors and closely related subjects, as opposed to the broader education offered in the United States. Many aspects of higher education in Hong Kong are modeled after the British system. Seeking to remain a crucial player in the world marketplace, Hong Kong places a high value on higher education. English is widely spoken in Hong Kong and is one of its official languages, so native speakers of English will face less of a language barrier there than in other parts of East Asia.

Business programs are extremely popular in Hong Kong: the country boasts the second-largest stock market in Asia and is the world's 11th-largest trading economy. Business students in Hong Kong will find excellent programs at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Hong Kong's tradition of a capitalist economy and free market, which stands in contrast to the mixed economy of China proper, is an important part of the culture, and the area enjoys a higher per capita gross domestic product than any other Chinese urban area.

Another significant element of Hong Kong culture is the Chinese language. The Chinese University of Hong Kong offers a strong program in Chinese language and literature, as well as a program in cultural and religious studies. Students in Hong Kong will encounter a multicultural population that subscribes to a mix of local faiths and world religions including Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity.

Study abroad programs in Hong Kong offer the chance to study the Chinese arts at institutions such as the prestigious University of Hong Kong. Students can visit the Hong Kong Museum of Art, which houses classical Chinese artworks including paintings, lithographs and calligraphy. Arts and crafts, including porcelain, embroidery, brocade and jade products are a major export for Hong Kong.

Students can also study architecture at the University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a center of modern architecture that often fuses European and Chinese styles. Many buildings have been designed according to the Taoist principle of feng shui. The Bank of China Tower, designed by I.M. Pei, is one of the most recognized skyscrapers in central Hong Kong, and was built to resemble growing bamboo shoots.

Engineering students will find their niche at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, which offer a variety of engineering programs. These students will be inspired by the famous Tsing Ma Bridge, which at 72,178 feet is the longest suspension bridge in the world to carry rail traffic.

Aspiring teachers may want to consider Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong's leading teacher education institution and one of the universities supported by Hong Kong's University Grants Committee.

History students in Hong Kong can study at Lingnan University. There has been a Chinese presence in the area since at least the Han dynasty 2,000 years ago, and other peoples inhabited the area much earlier than that. The region became vital to British interests in the early part of the 19th century due to its role in the tea trade, and was integrated into the British Empire following the Opium Wars in 1841. It remains a point of cultural and economic convergence between East and West. Historical sites in the area, such as the famous Man Mo temple, offer a glimpse into this fascinating past.

Hong Kong has a great deal to offer students outside the classroom. On Hong Kong Island students can visit the Repulse Bay beaches or take in the spectacular view atop the 1,810-foot Victoria Peak. The area of Tsim Sha Tsui on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula is a cultural center full of museums, shopping, dining and entertainment. One standout museum is the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, located in Shatin, whose exterior replicates traditional Chinese architecture with its red pillars, golden roofs and multicolored carvings.

The Star Ferry is a symbol of Hong Kong culture and offers a beautiful view of Victoria Harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Nightlife in the area is concentrated in Lan Kwai Fong, the main drag on Hong Kong Island. Thrill-seekers can ride the roller coasters at Hong Kong Disneyland or hike in one of the area's many mountainous regions.

Those who study abroad in Hong Kong will not want to miss out on its renowned traditions and festivals. Drinking tea is an institution, and the world-famous lion dances that take place on the streets during Chinese New Year and other traditional festivals delight and amaze visitors. Lions are considered holy according to Taoist traditions, and residents don enormous lion costumes for the dances.

Whether students get their fortunes read at a traditional temple, visit one of the ancient rural villages of the New Territories or walk the Kowloon Walled City Park, they will enjoy a colorful and memorable study abroad experience in Hong Kong. Students will receive a quality education while enjoying the diverse atmosphere of one of the up-and-coming players in today's global village.

Resources -

IIEPassport: http://www.IIEPassport.org
Government Site: http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/
Official Tourism: http://www.discoverhongkong.com
Education Bureau: http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=2&langno=1
Chinese University of Hong Kong: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk
City University of Hong Kong: http://www.cityu.edu.hk
Hong Kong Baptist University: http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/eng-ver/index.php
Hong Kong Institute of Education: http://www.ied.edu.hk
Hong Kong Polytechnic University: http://www.polyu.edu.hk
Hong Kong Shue Yan University: http://www.hksyu.edu
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: http://www.ust.hk
Lingnan University: http://www.ln.edu.hk
Open University of Hong Kong: http://www.ouhk.edu.hk
University of Hong Kong: http://www.hku.hk
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: www.iie.org/NSEP

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