The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) confirmed that five postgrad students from Harvard, affected by Trump’s administration ban on foreign admissions to U.S. educational institutions, accepted scholarships to continue their research in the Chinese city, becoming the first University in the region to formalize the incorporation of these Harvard students.

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An HKUST spokesperson told the South China Morning Post that the candidates, originally from Pakistan, Georgia, and mainland China, received several offers of financial support for projects in science, technology, and humanities.

Hong Kong faculties opened simplified enrollment processes, issuing unconditional acceptance letters to the Harvard candidates. Additionally, they established teams to assist with the transition, managing aspects such as housing and visa procedures, aiming to ensure smooth integration into the local system.

The institution, globally recognized for its excellence and its strategic position as a bridge between China and the world, has attracted 200 global inquiries, consolidating itself as an academic shelter amid Washington’s restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security ordered in May the transfer or departure of international Harvard students, claiming alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party, a decision driven by the Trump administration that heightened tensions with the Massachusetts entity. However, a federal judge blocked this measure.

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