【明報專訊】FOUR DECADES ago, 52 students travelled abroad to study in the US, the first batch of students doing so since the launch of Reform and Opening Up. Last year the number increased to about 660,000. Two decades ago, the HKSAR government proposed for the first time the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international hub of education. But tertiary education in Hong Kong has been stuck in limbo — not only has it failed to attract talent, but it has also been unable to live up to public expectations about the attraction of mainland students to study in Hong Kong. The construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area requires a large amount of new talent. Hong Kong should play catch-up so as to provide talent for the country.