Before Hong Kong returned to China, Chinese medicine did not enjoy a high reputation in Hong Kong. The first immigration program established by the government of the HKSAR to attract top talents from the mainland came into effect in 1999, and under the program Liu Liang, at the time Deputy President of the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, relocated to Hong Kong. In the same year, the School of Chinese Medicine, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, opened at Hong Kong Baptist University, marking the rebirth of the field of Chinese medicine in the Region.

In addition to hiring faculty members, 7 universities in Hong Kong began to recruit top students from mainland China. Now increasing numbers of students from the mainland are studying in Hong Kong.

In Beijing, several thousand kilometers away from Hong Kong, John Tso is rushing to a classroom on his bicycle. Tso, a second year student, was admitted by the School of Law of the prestigious Tsinghua University in 2004. His parents are both civil servants in Hong Kong, but both have supported his decision to enroll at Tsinghua.

Although Tso is studying in a different educational environment, he now feels quite used to it and his unique experience has enabled him to gain a stronger sense of nationality than many of his peers in Hong Kong.

Tso enjoys a comfortable relationship with his roommates, who come from Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, and Jiangsu. With Hong Kong included, their hometowns cover locations in the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of China.

The pictures near John's bed convey warm memories of home and family.

"Many of my friends asked me why I would go to a university on the mainland.I had other choices. I was accepted by a university in the United States. My friends asked me why I would go to Tsinghua or Beijing Universities instead of a university in America, and why I wouldn't go to a university in Hong Kong. Although they were curious about my decision, they all supported me. A year has passed, and a year and a half has passed since I came to Beijing. When I go home, they'll ask me if I have any special or unusual experiences to share with them.They may be even more curious than before as to why I made that decision," said John Tso.

Life is full of fun for John Tso in Beijing. Every weekend, friends from Hong Kong at Tsinghua University have their gatherings. This small restaurant is one of their favorite places. Its strong local atmosphere makes it very relaxing and interesting. They are enjoying barbecued mutton while chatting in their hometown dialect.

"We are second-year students, including that girl over there. This young man, the other two and this girl, they are first-years. The young man over there is a third-year. He's ahead of us," said John Tso.