During the Republic of China, all the state-funded students sent by Zhili Government to study in Hong Kong University successfully finish their study and five of them are conferred the first-honor bachelor's degree in engineering. After they return, they spread new educational ideas and become pioneers and founders of modern science and technology. Two of them later become members of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Leaders in the education department of Zhili province make scientific decisions on selecting state-funded students, and the funds help to free the students from worries of daily necessities. They have all studied in some prestigious middle schools and laid a good foundation, which motivates them to study harder and return to China after graduation. Hong Kong University implements British education system and focuses on elite education, which still has significant implications for today's practice of selecting and sending state-funded students to study abroad.