Source:
https://scmp.com/article/222693/illegal-courses-warning-issued

Illegal courses warning issued

The Education Department has told students to avoid enrolling in non-local higher academic or professional courses which have not been registered or exempted under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance.

The deadline for course registration or exemption was December 1, with those courses starting before that date having a six-month grace period. They must secure registration or exemption before June 1.

Course operators who fail to comply with the requirement could be fined $25,000 and face two years' imprisonment.

A department spokesman said anyone publishing false or misleading advertisements on non-local courses was liable to the same fine and prison term.

'Anyone publishing an advertisement to induce enrolment in a non-local course which is not registered or exempted is also committing an offence,' he said. In addition, operators of registered and exempted courses must furnish particulars of their premises to the registry at least three months before a course starts.

Students wanting to inquire about the registration status of a course, or wanting more details about the ordinance, should contact the Non-local Courses Registry of the Education Department at Room 801, 8th Floor, Tai Sang Commercial Building, 24-34 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, or call 2520- 0255.