Ventures Dialogue

This is the second in a series of stories about prominent Canadians in Hong Kong and their reflections on current and potential opportunities between Hong Kong and China, and Canada.  Part 1 discussed the reasons for the mutual fondness between Hong Kong and Canada.

The connection between Hong Kong and Canada, for many, begins with a blackboard.  Twenty thousand mainland Chinese students are currently studying at Canadian universities.  Ten thousand Hong Kong students are studying at Canadian universities and 55% of those are in Ontario, and still more Hong Kong born will venture to Canada as early as high school.

This connection to education is another integral reason for the close link between Hong Kong and Canada, according to Dr. William Yip, a Hong Kong born entrepreneur who himself graduated from Concordia University in 1967.

According to Dr. Yip, a Canadian education is considered the first choice in Hong Kong.  The importance of a foreign education is explained in two ways:  one, for a population of 7 million people, there are only nine universities in Hong Kong with limited enrolment.  Secondly, in Hong Kong, education is considered the key to success, and English education, in particular, is highly valued.

But the pursuit of English education begins as early as three years old in Hong Kong.  Competition for space in schools where English is the language of instruction is extremely intense.  Schools compete for the best English-language teachers; parents compete for ‘face-time’ with those teachers for their children; and children vie for the precious spots available for those who can meet minimum English language standards. 

Canadians are the most sought-after teachers, and you’ll find them in both private and public schools.  Later in this series, I’ll share stories about the Canadian International School of Hong Kong, judged the best international school for three years running in Hong Kong, and also a story of life as a Canadian teacher in the public system.

Dr. Yip and I

By the time they reach post secondary education, Hong Kong nationals face tough competition for acceptance into Canadian schools, and this struggle is bound to get tougher in the years ahead.  According to Dr. Yip, the sheer population numbers in China and the drive to receive international education means that the volume of applicants is way beyond what international universities can accommodate.  He says that China will graduate 6.11 million students in spring convocation this year alone.  Half a million applications for foreign universities, sit unanswered in China.

Many foreign graduates of Canadian universities will choose to stay in Canada to pursue a career.  But still many more will return to their homeland, taking with them a lasting impression of their education-haven and permanent links to people, institutions and places.  We saw an example of that with our story about New York Fries and the four Canadian-educated Hong Kongers who wanted to maintain a connection with Canada while starting a business in Hong Kong.  Dr. Yip himself is an unwavering fan of Canada, one of many whose fondness for our country continues to flourish. 

But in addition to the myriad of connections between Hong Kong and Canada, there are other reasons why Hong Kong is the natural stepping off point for Asia.  Find out more about that from a Canadian perspective in part 3 of this series.