I heard the same rumor too...As those top-ten PhD programs normally admit only one student from China each year, they just keep the only seat for those students from Peking U or Fudan U whose professors hold very strong connections with their counterpart in US...I am not sure if it is true, but many people, including some professors have told me about this...
I think you should just try...With you fine background so far, I think you should definitely get a shot at top-30 this year and you should know the economic downturn last year did make serious affect on the grad school admission...
BTW, I also had my undergrad in Hong Kong, the CUHK...which program are you in right now? I am heading to London later this month for a master program...with funding at all=(...
