HONG KONG -- In a significant achievement for higher education in the region, five universities from Hong Kong have made it into the top ten of the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) claiming the prestigious number one spot, according to the latest release from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a leading international higher education research organization.

According to the rankings released on Tuesday, HKU has climbed from second to first place, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has risen from 11th to 6th. City University of Hong Kong has improved its position by three spots, tying with Chinese University of Hong Kong at 7th place, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has moved up from 17th to 10th.

Across various indicators, Hong Kong's universities achieved world-leading standards with excellent performance in such indicators as "academic reputation," "employer reputation" and "international faculty."

Secretary for Education of the HKSAR government Christine Choi Yuk-lin wrote on social media that the presence of five Hong Kong universities in the top ten in Asia fully demonstrates the robust strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector and highlights the effectiveness of relevant government measures.

"Hong Kong's education system consistently achieves outstanding results in multiple international rankings, underscoring the city's appeal as an international talent hub," she said.

"We shall continue to actively align with the national strategy on building a leading country in education, deepen Hong Kong's role as an international hub for post-secondary education and a converging point of global talent, seize opportunities, leverage our strengths, and contribute to the development of both Hong Kong and the nation," Choi noted.

In response to the rankings, HKU President Zhang Xiang emphasized that this recognition not only confirms the university's academic prowess but also underscores its pivotal role in the global higher education landscape.

As the leading institution in Asia and among the world's best, HKU is committed to helping Hong Kong evolve into an international education hub and a center for innovation and technology, aligning with national goals for high-quality development, he said.