Cross-border pupils’ return to Hong Kong classrooms delayed, with first students back in mid-February, Education Bureau says

More than 15,000 Hong Kong students living in mainland China will only return to schools in the city starting in mid-February, two weeks later than scheduled, education authorities have said.

The Education Bureau on Friday announced that cross-border secondary school students could resume face-to-face learning within the second week of February, while those attending primary schools and kindergartens were expected to resume classes by the end of next month.

Authorities had earlier said pupils could expect to resume face-to-face lessons next month, with secondary students starting on February 1 and primary and kindergarten children on February 15.

On Friday, the bureau explained that the change had been made in view of “developments in the future customs clearance arrangements” between Hong Kong and the mainland, as well as preparations for cross-boundary student clearance and transport, such as school buses.

“The Hong Kong government has been in close contact with the relevant departments on the mainland to strive for better conditions and supporting facilities for resumption of classes and customs clearance for cross-border students,” the bureau said.

Currently, there are almost 21,000 cross-border students, comprising 7,000 secondary, 13,000 primary and 900 kindergarten students.

Only a quarter stayed in Hong Kong during the pandemic, with most students remaining with their families on the mainland and attending classes online since 2020.