Hong Kong public secondary schools are seeing a rise in applications from mainland China. Photo: Elson LiHong Kong public secondary schools are seeing a rise in the number of pupils from mainland China seeking in-year admissions. In-year admissions are when a student applies for a school outside the usual admissions schedule.
Kan Wai-hung is the principal of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No 1 Secondary School in Kwai Tsing district. He said over 40 schools in the area had more in-year admissions this year.
Many of the pupils are from mainland China. Kan said they were far behind those from Hong Kong in their English skills. Some were from rural areas and did not learn English in kindergarten.
A few secondary schools organised classes over the summer holidays to help new pupils improve their English skills.
Many of these pupils are probably children of applicants to Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme. This scheme recruits many workers from mainland China. Children of successful top talent applicants can enrol in Hong Kong public schools for free.
Wong Kin-ho is a secondary school vice-principal. He said 70 per cent of his school’s in-year applicants were children of parents who were recruited through the top talent scheme. His school suggested that mainland pupils with poor English skills could start in a lower year.