“Welcome to the University of Hong Kong (HKU)!” — this is the first message that greets visitors on its website.
As one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious universities, HKU draws not only students and scholars from diverse backgrounds, but also a growing number of tourists attracted by its rich history and striking architecture. But should the campus gates be open to all who come seeking more than education?
Managing the Visitors
According to the HKU Guidelines and Registration for Visiting Tourists, visitors who wish to tour the campus between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, are required to make reservations.
Through “Visit HKU”, the official platform for campus visits, individuals can make reservations up to 14 days in advance after completing real-name registration. Each visit is limited to two-hour sessions, with a fixed number of visitor slots available per session.
Ceoi Syu Jing, a security guard at HKU’s Exit C, has witnessed the Tourist Flow Management Scheme in action. “It effectively manages the flow,” she said. “Individual tourists need to book online in advance and show proof upon entry. For those without a reservation, we advise them to come back after 6:30 p.m.”
Yet individual visits alone cannot satisfy curiosity. In response, HKU launched official guided tours in July, and extended them to 90 minutes in October 2024.
“We often saw long queues forming at the Red Wall, and some visitors would wander into restricted areas,” said Hung Yee Ning, a student guide with the program. “So the university designed a history-themed route that avoids those popular spots.”
According to Hung, the tours are offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, capped at 25 participants and costing HK$140 each. “Spots fill up most of the time,” he said. “All guides are HKU students who undergo training before leading tours.”
But some visitors arrive on campus unaware of the guided tours. Yang Dan, a tourist from mainland China, said she didn’t know about the program. “I would have signed up if I’d known,” she said. “It would be nice to learn more about the history behind the buildings.”
Outside the Rules
HKU prohibits any unauthorised commercial activities on campus. According to the Registration Instructions, it is forbidden for any organization or individual to bring visitors onto campus in violation of university rules.
In recent weeks, however, posts on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu have promoted paid, unofficial guided tours of HKU — raising concerns about safety, fairness, and whether they comply with regulations.
Hung does not mind unofficial guides competing with him — his pay is fixed, and all proceeds after administrative costs go to the university. What he resents, he said, is what some of them do and who they are.“They bring in noisy study tours and lead visitors into restricted areas.” He also noted that some are non-local students who may not have the right to work in Hong Kong.
Beyond the issue of unofficial tours, students hold mixed views about visitors more broadly.
Pitchayapa Cusinsup, a second-year engineering student, said restrictions have helped but crowds remain a problem. “The canteen is already packed with students,” she said. “I don’t want to share my limited space with tourists.”
Yang Bining, a third-year science student, takes a more measured view. Visitors are welcome, she said, as long as they stay out of restricted areas and don’t occupy canteen seats during peak hours. “Effective restrictions come with trade-offs,” she said. “More visitors also help raise the university’s profile.”
Seeking a Balanced Welcome
Across Hong Kong, universities take different approaches to campus access. Some require advance registration while others like HKUST, HKBU and Lingnan remain fully open. HKU stands out as the only university offering regular tours for tourists.
| University | Registration Requirements | Guided Tours Offered |
|---|---|---|
| HKU | Advance application required. | For both prospective students and tourists. |
| CUHK | Individuals: On-site registration. Groups: Advance application required. | Mainly for schools/prospective students. No regular tourist guided tours. |
| HKUST | No registration required. | |
| CityU | Advance application required. | |
| PolyU | Advance application required. | |
| HKBU | No registration required. | |
| Lingnan | No registration required. | |
| EdUHK | Individuals: On-site registration. Groups: Advance application required. |
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Compiled by Huang Shixian |
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For HKU, the current measures represent an ongoing experiment in campus crowd management. As challenges evolve — from unauthorized tours to shifting student sentiment — the university continues to refine its approach, seeking a balance between openness and order.