The verdict in the Kin Tak case has dealt a heavy blow to schools which had previously vowed to fight government moves to shut them. The court's decision had set a difficult precedent for schools which had planned to emulate Kin Tak Public School by taking the battle to the courts, said Leung Yick-tin, principal of Chi Kit School in Mongkok. 'It makes us feel that it is incredibly difficult to fight with the Education and Manpower Bureau. Unless a school is in extraordinary circumstances, it's destined to lose the battle in court,' said Mr Leung, who is also spokesman of an alliance of 17 schools set up to fight for a review of the Primary One admission policy. He said some schools had considered applying for a joint judicial review on the closure order, but might now withhold the plan. Thirteen schools, including Kin Tak, have been ordered to close this year. In addition, the bureau earlier this year ordered 31 schools to phase out Primary One classes this September as their intakes fell below the minimum admission quota of 23. Seven of the 31 primary schools have merged their morning and afternoon sessions. CLASS ACTION Strategies adopted by schools to avoid closure 1 Self-financing this year's Primary One classes. If next year's intake meets the minimum quota of 23, the classes will again be subsidised. Approved: Po Kok Primary School, Happy Valley; Fresh Fish Traders' School, Tai Kok Tsui Awaiting approval: Wai Kwan Primary School, Yuen Long; Hoi Ming School, Yuen Long; Lingnan University Alumni Association, Shamshuipo; Gold and Silver Exchange Society School, Wan Chai 2 Merger Approved: HKTA Yuen Yuen Primary School, Tuen Mun - to be merged with two Po Leung Kuk schools in the same district and turned into direct subsidy scheme school Awaiting approval: Chi Kit School, Mongkok, to be merged with G.T. (Ellen Yeung) School, Tseung Kwan O and turned into DSS school *More schools are understood to be considering this option 3 Judicial review of government's decision Kin Tak Public School, Sheung Shui