HONG KONG -- The number of higher education institutions in the mainland admitting Hong Kong students in 2020 will increase by 11 to 122, the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Wednesday.

The EDB welcomed the announcement by the central government's Ministry of Education of the detailed arrangements of the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions for 2020.

Under the scheme, 122 higher education institutions from 21 provinces or municipalities and one autonomous region of the mainland will accept applications from candidates sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in 2020.

"There will continue to be enhancements to the admission scheme in 2020. Compared with 2019, an additional 11 institutions offering various programs will be participating in the scheme," a spokesperson for the EDB said.

"The admission scheme will admit Hong Kong students based on their results in the HKDSE Examination and exempt them from taking the Joint Entrance Examination for Mainland Institutions, hence relieving their pressure," the spokesperson added.

The EDB said it will continue discussion with the mainland with a view to recruiting more renowned mainland institutions to participate in the scheme and providing students with multiple study pathways and opportunities to connect with the country's development.