Thousands of parents scrambled for information about British boarding schools at an education exhibition last weekend.
The British Council's exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre attracted about 14,500 visitors, up from 13,000 last year, according to organisers.
Eighty-five schools and universities took part. But it was boarding schools that attracted the most interest from parents, who pushed exhibitors to interview their children on the spot for places.
Graeme Cooper, director of UK Education Advisers, which represented three schools at the fair, said: 'We were overwhelmed. We saw many more people than last year.' His firm interviewed about 90 children over the two days.
He added that the quality of applicants was higher, with fewer students looking for places because of weak HKCEE results. 'There were also more children of businessmen, rather than civil servants.'
Kelly Lun said he was looking for a place for his son aged 11 because he did not have confidence in the local education system. 'The Hong Kong education system changes too frequently. Parents can't afford so many changes,' he said.