Cross-border applicants to Sheung Shui school down as parents use inside track

The number of cross-border children applying for discretionary Primary One places in one of the city's most competitive school districts has decreased this year, the head of the district's principals' association said.

Chan Siu-hung, who is also principal of Wai Chow Public School in the border area of Sheung Shui, attributed the decrease to a rise in the number of places granted to children with siblings or parents already working or studying at the school.

The number of so-called inherited pupils has increased by 10 per cent for this school year, leaving fewer discretionary places for others.

"Many parents knew that there was very little chance that their children would be admitted," Chan said.

Fewer than 100 out of the 250 applicants were cross-border pupils, compared to 150 out of 300 applicants last year, Chan said.

The school offered 75 places this year, and 45 were taken by inherited pupils. The other 30 children admitted all have relatives who are alumni of the school, Chan said.

The competition for primary school places in Sheung Shui and neighbouring areas in North District has intensified in recent years due to an influx of children born in Hong Kong to mainland parents. Last year, the government introduced a policy to enable schools in other districts to share the load, which led to many cross-border pupils being allocated to remote areas such as Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Tung Chung.