[2008年5月14日] 非本地毕业生放宽留港限制

New measures under the education hub policy will be implemented May 19 to encourage meritorious non-local students to pursue higher education in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau says.

Non-local fresh graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in Hong Kong after graduation are not required to secure a job offer upon application. They can be granted 12 months' stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided normal immigration requirements are met, and during which they are free to take up or change jobs in Hong Kong.

For non-local students who had previously graduated in Hong Kong and wish to return to work, their applications will be considered so long as the job they have secured is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration package is set at market level. They may be granted 12 months' stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided normal immigration requirements are met. Their stay will be extended if they are still employed under the conditions mentioned above.

All non-local students will be allowed to pursue short-term studies in programmes offered by Hong Kong higher education institutions with degree-awarding powers, provided that the cumulative duration of short-term studies should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period.

The Immigration Department will also implement the measures to allow non-local students of full-time, locally accredited programmes at degree level or above to take up study-related internships as arranged or endorsed by institutions, as well as to take up part-time on-campus jobs for up to 20 hours a week, and off-campus summer jobs from June to August.

Fund members named

Meanwhile, Pamela Chan, Chung Shui-ming, Nyaw Mee-kau, Richard Tang, Carrie Willis and Shirley Wong have been named Government Scholarship Fund steering committee members. Patrick Chan and Clifton Chiu have been appointed the fund's investment committee members. The tenures are for two years.

Secretary for Education Michael Suen said: "I am confident that with the appointments of the committees, the fund will be able to recognise the achievements of quality students, increase Hong Kong's attractiveness as a regional education hub, and in doing so, accomplish our goal of attracting outstanding local students to advance their studies here at home, and meritorious non-local students to pursue higher education opportunities here in Hong Kong."

The steering committee, chaired by the Secretary for Education or his representative, advises the trustee of the fund on the policies and operation of the fund. The investment committee, also chaired by the Secretary for Education or his representative, with the Permanent Secretary for Education and the Director of Accounting Services or their respective representatives as ex-officio members, advises the trustee on the investment of the fund.

The fund, with a capital of $1 billion, was established in February. It will support the award of Government scholarships to local and non-local students in full-time, publicly-funded programmes at degree or above levels. The first batch of scholarships will be awarded in the 2008-09 school year.

教育局宣布，委任陈黄穗、钟瑞明、饶美蛟、邓日、邱霜梅和黄诗丽，担任香港特区奖学基金督导委员会委员，陈国威和赵志则出任投资委员会成员，任期两年，至2010年5月14日。

     入境事务处5月19日起落实教育枢纽政策措施，应届非本地毕业生如有意申请留港就业，在提出申请时毋须已觅得工作。

     教育局局长孙明扬今天（5月14日）表示，有信心在各成员的参与下，香港特区政府奖学基金定能达到表扬杰出学生，加强本港作为教育枢纽的吸引力，从而吸引更多优秀本地学生留港升学，更多出色的非本地学生来港就学的目标。

吸引更多非本地生

     由教育局局长或其代表担任主席的督导委员会，负责向基金信托人提供基金的工作方针及运作事宜等意见。

     同样由教育局局长或其代表担任主席的投资委员会，由教育局常任秘书长及库务署署长或他们的代表出任当然成员。投资委员会负责向信托人提供基金的投资意见。

     为数10亿元的基金2月成立，旨在支持颁授政府奖学金予就读全日制公帑资助学士学位或以上程度课程的优秀本地及非本地学生。首批奖学金在2008 - 09学年颁发。

留港时可就业转职

     入境事务处5月19日起落实在教育枢纽政策下，有关由全日制经本地评审学士学位或以上程度课程毕业的非本地学生留港安排、短期课程，以及非本地学生就业的措施。

     在新措施下，应届非本地毕业生如有意申请留港就业，在提出申请时毋须已觅得工作。他们如能符合一般的入境规定，便可留港12个月，不受其他逗留条件限制，期间可以随意就业或转职。

     过去在港毕业的非本地毕业生如有意返港工作，只要他们受雇从事的工作，通常是由学位持有人担任，以及薪酬福利条件达到市场水平，有关申请便会获得考虑。

可兼职或当暑期工

     在符合一般的入境规定下，他们可留港12个月，不受其他逗留条件限制。其后他们若仍然按上文所述受聘工作，便可申请延续逗留期限。

     同时，所有非本地学生，均可来港修读拥有学位颁授权的香港高等教育院校的短期课程，在任何12个月内累计修业期不得超过180天。

     入境处也会落实措施，容许就读全日制经本地评审学士学位或以上程度课程的非本地学生从事经院校安排或批准的实习工作、准许他们在校园担任每周不超过20小时的兼职工作，以及在夏季6 - 8月从事暑期工作。