There is no doubt that Hong Kong students can indeed enter mainland prestigious schools with low scores. Not only can they attend mainland prestigious schools with low scores, but the diplomas and degrees they receive are exactly the same as those of mainland students. What is the reason for this?

1. The birth of non-local Hong Kong students
Hong Kong has a policy of allowing children born there to have local status. Before 2013, when the policies were not strict and management was not in place, there was a large number of non-local Hong Kong students born; they may stay in Hong Kong for education or study in the mainland. Those studying in the mainland are not accustomed to Hong Kong's examination system and have a need to continue their university education in the mainland.

2. Equal educational opportunities
The country hopes to provide students who have obtained overseas permanent residency and those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan with the opportunity to return to the mainland to participate in higher education. As long as they do not give up their Chinese nationality, everyone is the same when it comes to educational opportunities.
 

3. Cultural integration and communication
The sense of national pride and cultural identity requires a long-term ritual, and there needs to be such a channel for integration and mutual communication.

For these three reasons, there are two pathways in the policies for Hong Kong students to choose from:

One is: Overseas Chinese student joint examination
Examination mechanism:It is consistent with the mainland college entrance examination, including Chinese, Mathematics, English + Liberal Arts/Science Comprehensive (Liberal Arts do not test Politics, Science does not test Biology)
Admission institutions: More than 400 universities in the mainland, including 985/211 prestigious schools in the mainland.
Admission requirements:Hong Kong students + meet the score requirements, many prestigious schools have an admission line of 400.

Another is: Mainland exemption from examination admission policy
Examination mechanism:Participate in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination, including Chinese, Mathematics, English + General Studies + 2 elective subjects (no restrictions on liberal arts or sciences)
Admission institutions:290 985/211 universities in the mainland
Admission requirements:Hong Kong students + score above 16 in the main 4 subjects can enter prestigious schools.