Hong Kong No 2 official Eric Chan warns of course deregistration for government-subsidised educational classes promoted as good for emigration

Chief secretary tells lawmakers course providers asked to submit promotional materials to check they are in line with aims of Continuing Education Fund

Move comes after Audit Commission raises concerns that some courses eligible for student subsidies were promoted as good for securing jobs abroad

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Educational courses promoted as good for securing jobs after emigration could be deregistered, the city’s No 2 official has warned. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 9:07pm, 24 May 2023Updated: 9:20pm, 24 May 2023

Hong Kong’s No 2 official Eric Chan has warned educational institutions that promote government-subsidised adult education courses to students as good preparation for emigration that they could face reprimands and deregistration of their courses.

Course providers would also be asked to sign a declaration to confirm their operations were in line with the Beijing-imposed national security law as part of measures designed to tighten up management of the government’s Continuing Education Fund.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki told the Legislative Council on Wednesday authorities had written to course providers and asked them not to promote courses that deviated from the fund’s objectives to improve the city’s economy.

“The fund authorities have requested submission of duly prepared promotional materials by course providers at the time of application for course registration for checking their compatibility with the objectives of the fund,” he said.

Eric Chan, the chief secretary, has warned educational institutions that promote government-subsidised courses as good for emigration that they could face class deregistrations. Photo: Jonathan Wong

“If course providers are found to have allegedly promoted … courses as a means to pave the way for emigration, or in any way deviated from the objectives of the fund, the authorities will request them to withdraw and/or cease to use the relevant promotional materials, and take other appropriate regulatory actions in case of severe non-compliance, such as issuing warning letters or reprimands to the non-complying course providers or deregistering the courses.”