Local kids to get priority in race for Hong Kong's preschool places

Education authorities and kindergarten principals in districts close to the border say they will consider giving priority to local parents for limited preschool places if demand exceeds supply.

The decision, made at a meeting yesterday, comes as increasing numbers of mainland parents flock to border schools in search of places for their children.

Around 60 principals of kindergartens in Tai Po and North District attended the meeting.

If demand outstrips the available number of places, the preschools will consider admitting those who live closest first, said Kwok Chor-kiu, chairman of a local principals' association.

"This is a consensus among us," she said.

Benjamin Yung Po-shu of the Education Bureau said after the meeting that most principals also agreed that parents should be able to access application forms online and there should be measures introduced to prevent parents taking multiple places in different schools.

Wang Yongjun flew to Hong Kong from Henan province last Wednesday to try to secure a place for his son. Wang was one of the first parents to queue up outside Fung Kai Kindergarten in Sheung Shui, where more than 1,500 people have been waiting, some since Saturday, to apply for 240 available places.