Number of mainland Chinese 1-way permit holders joining Hong Kong schools jumped most on record last year
- According to official data, 6,831 students joined Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools from October 2022 to September 2023, coinciding with border reopening
- Figure marks 62 per cent jump against 4,218 students recorded in prior period, with school sector noting more pupils tend to come from wealthier families than in past
The number of mainland Chinese one-way permit holders joining Hong Kong schools jumped the most on record in the last academic year, but the sector said the newcomers could only ease the problem of a shrinking student population a little.
A sector representative said more pupils came from relatively wealthier families than in the past and parents were picky when selecting schools, while the lower level of proficiency in English compared with locals was still a major concern.
According to official statistics, 6,831 students joined Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools from October 2022 to September 2023, coinciding with the gradual reopening of the border with the mainland in January last year after the end of strict pandemic controls.
The data was taken from the 2023-24 school year as education authorities said the number of students with one-way permits admitted annually was reflected in the following year’s figure.
The latest figure marked a 62 per cent increase against the 4,218 students recorded between October 2021 to September 2022, when the border with the mainland largely remained closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The spike was the highest ever since the data became available in 2007.
One-way permits allow mainlanders to settle in Hong Kong to reunite with their families. But should they receive the permit – of which 150 are available each day – they must surrender their mainland household registration.