obviously LZ is counting for stay for 7 year for PR........
bachelor 4 year + mphil 2 year = 1 year left only, find a TA/RA or whatever will already fill that in.
else LZ would had already applied directly to PhD in US already.......
UST+MAEC+the GPA+some research experience = already good enough, a MPhil is not really necessary.....
and that's exactly the reason why LZ did not apply to other school: CUHK MPhil econ is the best master to prepare for PhD in econ/fina within HK (UST only have MSc/PhD, CUHK > HKU)