HONG KONG, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The international higher education research organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released its latest world university rankings, with five Hong Kong institutions continuing to rank among the global top 100.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) continued to hold its position at 11th in the world, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) rose 14 places to 18th, marking the first time that two Hong Kong universities have ranked in the global top 20.

By retaining this historic high, HKU firmly cements its standing as a premier institution both globally and locally, leading the city's higher education sector as a beacon of academic excellence and global impact, according to the university's press release.

Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK's vice-chancellor and president, said that CUHK's entry into the global top 20 reflected the university's steady progress in the global higher education landscape, adding that looking ahead, the university will further advance impactful research and knowledge transfer.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University ranked 50th, entering the world's top 50 for the first time. City University of Hong Kong ranked 52nd.

A spokesperson for the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said that the significant year-on-year rise in the overall rankings of Hong Kong's institutions further validates the city's strong appeal as a premier hub for international high-end talent.

The bureau will continue to leverage the unique advantages of Hong Kong's highly internationalized and diversified post-secondary education, support institutions in building world-class universities and disciplines, and deepen Hong Kong's role as an international education hub, the spokesperson said.

The QS World University Rankings 2027 evaluated universities worldwide based on nine indicators. Other Hong Kong universities featured in the rankings include Hong Kong Baptist University, the Education University of Hong Kong, and Lingnan University.