https://www.scmp.com/rss/511110/feed William is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He has worked for different radio stations and Chinese-language newspapers — covering education and politics respectively — before joining the Post in 2021. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Sun,William Yiu Fiona Sun,William Yiu Road safety has been thrust back into the spotlight after two Hong Kong tourists were killed in a car crash in New Zealand. The Chinese consulate in Christchurch on Saturday revealed details of the fatal traffic accident that occurred southwest of the city a day earlier. The South China Morning Post outlines what road safety precautions motorists should take when driving overseas. 1. What should you look out for at a new destination? In Hong Kong, traffic drives on the left side of the road,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353829/new-zealand-car-crash-how-hongkongers-can-stay-safe-self-drive-trips-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353829/new-zealand-car-crash-how-hongkongers-can-stay-safe-self-drive-trips-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 13:28:34 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Two Hong Kong tourists have been killed and two others injured in a car crash in New Zealand. The Chinese consulate in Christchurch revealed the fatal crash on Saturday, saying it occurred a day earlier. “According to a New Zealand police report, a serious traffic accident occurred on the afternoon of May 15 near the intersection of North Rakaia Road and State Highway 1 in the Selwyn District on the South Island,” it said. “The crash resulted in the deaths of two Hong Kong tourists, while two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353800/2-hong-kong-tourists-killed-2-injured-new-zealand-car-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353800/2-hong-kong-tourists-killed-2-injured-new-zealand-car-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 05:38:00 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu An elderly man died after falling on board a bus in Hong Kong on Saturday. Police said they received a report at 8.50am that the man in his seventies had fallen while the bus was near 125 Chatham Road South in Tsim Sha Tsui. The KMB bus was operating on route 5 between Fu Shan Estate and Star Ferry. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and took the passenger to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was later certified dead. Police classified the case as a fatal traffic accident. A KMB spokesman... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353793/man-his-70s-dies-after-falling-board-bus-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353793/man-his-70s-dies-after-falling-board-bus-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 03:59:30 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The local media should contribute to telling good stories about Hong Kong amid global turbulence as the city formulates its first five-year blueprint to align with national development, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said. He spoke at the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong’s annual press awards ceremony on Friday, where the South China Morning Post took home eight prizes. Lee said the local media was not only a witness and a recorder of events, but also needed to contribute to the progress of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353675/tell-good-stories-hong-kong-amid-global-turmoil-john-lee-urges-local-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353675/tell-good-stories-hong-kong-amid-global-turmoil-john-lee-urges-local-media?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 07:04:45 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has condemned the owner of an education platform for paying a ransom to hackers who stole individuals’ personal data from 9,000 institutions worldwide, arguing that the money should have been spent on strengthening cybersecurity. Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling on Friday also questioned whether the hackers had truly returned the data stolen from Canvas and urged affected users to stay alert for suspicious calls or messages claiming to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353638/hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-slams-canvas-owner-paying-ransom-hackers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353638/hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-slams-canvas-owner-paying-ransom-hackers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 03:28:57 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A 70-year-old woman has died in a fire at a Hong Kong flat, with police suspecting it was caused by a malfunctioning air-conditioner. The blaze broke out at Yu Tung Court’s Hei Tung House in Tung Chung on Friday, with police saying they received reports from several residents at around 4.42am. “A woman was certified dead at the scene, and her body was found when firefighters arrived,” a police spokesman said, adding that about 300 people had to be evacuated. “Some residents said they saw black... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353624/elderly-woman-dies-fire-sparked-faulty-air-conditioner-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353624/elderly-woman-dies-fire-sparked-faulty-air-conditioner-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 01:27:34 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s labour minister has dismissed calls to review the city’s immigration scheme for non-local graduates or tighten talent scheme requirements, despite a sharp decline in entry-level roles, arguing that the workforce is shrinking and the number of local degree holders is insufficient to meet demand. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also said the Employees Retraining Board, which will be rebranded as “Upskill Hong Kong” later this year, could adopt a new focus to help... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3353437/hong-kong-labour-chief-rejects-review-non-local-graduate-visas-despite-job-slump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3353437/hong-kong-labour-chief-rejects-review-non-local-graduate-visas-despite-job-slump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 09:46:39 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong schools have recorded net student rises for two consecutive years, with the current academic year seeing an increase of about 7,200 pupils, a surge that an industry leader has attributed to the influx of dependants of admitted talent. The Education Bureau published enrolment figures on its website on April 28. The data covers all government, aided, private, international and direct subsidy scheme schools at the time of the annual headcount exercise in September 2025. To determine the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352957/hong-kong-schools-record-net-student-rises-2-years-straight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352957/hong-kong-schools-record-net-student-rises-2-years-straight?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 01:00:19 +0000 Connor Mycroft,William Yiu Connor Mycroft,William Yiu The operations of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London will remain unaffected by a UK spying verdict, observers have said, arguing that the British government is unlikely to seek its closure so as to maintain relations with Beijing. A British court on Thursday found Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London HKETO’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, guilty of spying on activists from Hong Kong on behalf of Chinese authorities. The Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352937/why-uk-unlikely-shut-hong-kongs-london-trade-office-despite-spying-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352937/why-uk-unlikely-shut-hong-kongs-london-trade-office-despite-spying-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 12:04:42 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A Hong Kong secondary school facing student backlash over newly tightened mobile phone rules has said it will seek further feedback from stakeholders and review the policy’s scope and implementation. A source also told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday that Kwun Tong Maryknoll College had planned to extend the policy to all pupils after launching a pilot scheme for Form Three and Four students. In a letter to parents on Tuesday, principal Caroline Sin Nga-lam said the school had noted... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352578/hong-kong-school-seek-feedback-review-phone-ban-after-student-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352578/hong-kong-school-seek-feedback-review-phone-ban-after-student-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 06:12:10 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have contacted a school after its newly tightened rules and penalties on mobile phone use triggered an outcry among students. Under the new measures, due to take effect in the coming weeks, Form Three and Four students at the boys’ school Kwun Tong Maryknoll College will be banned from using mobile phones on campus, with devices stored in lockers and accessible only during designated time slots. The rules also stipulate that no other items may be kept in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352513/education-bureau-steps-after-hong-kong-schools-phone-ban-sparks-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352513/education-bureau-steps-after-hong-kong-schools-phone-ban-sparks-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 10:48:46 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities will relax rules for under-enrolled public secondary schools that merge with others in a bid to encourage consolidation amid declining student numbers. In a circular sent to all public secondary schools on Wednesday, the Education Bureau said merged schools would be exempt from submitting survival plans in the first three years after merging, even if they fail to admit 30 students or form two Form One classes. The bureau said the move aimed to “further support... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352051/hong-kong-eases-enrolment-rules-merged-schools-amid-declining-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352051/hong-kong-eases-enrolment-rules-merged-schools-amid-declining-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:07:19 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A Hong Kong government-funded online portal that provides resources for teachers and school students has failed to meet its user number target, with thousands of items never being downloaded, viewed or used, according to an audit report. The Audit Commission report, which was released on Wednesday, also cited remarks from the executive director of Hong Kong Education City (EdCity) that the platform’s low usage was due to the city’s shrinking student population. The report found that the portal’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351889/hong-kong-education-portal-under-fire-low-readership-among-teachers-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351889/hong-kong-education-portal-under-fire-low-readership-among-teachers-students?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:35:24 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The reserves of Hong Kong’s largest international school group have more than tripled to HK$3.75 billion (US$480.8 million) in over a decade, even as it taps different income sources to offset shrinking government subsidies, the South China Morning Post has found by reviewing the organisation’s annual reports. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also said in its annual report for the 2024-25 academic year that it expected increased competition for students and it would modernise its marketing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351498/esf-reserves-reach-hk375-billion-even-government-subsidies-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351498/esf-reserves-reach-hk375-billion-even-government-subsidies-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s City University, Professor Freddy Boey Yin Chiang, has resigned with immediate effect for personal reasons, leaving his post two years earlier than expected. The university expressed its gratitude to Boey, a Singaporean, for his contributions to CityU during his three years as president. “The executive committee of the [university’s] council has appointed provost and deputy president Professor Lee Chun-sing as acting president with immediate effect to ensure continued... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351308/hong-kong-cityu-chief-freddy-boey-quits-post-2-years-earlier-expected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351308/hong-kong-cityu-chief-freddy-boey-quits-post-2-years-earlier-expected?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:10:14 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu HK Electric will cut fuel surcharges for customers in May but has warned that costs could rise significantly later in the year due to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. The company said on Friday that its fuel clause charge for May would fall by 4.4 HK cents per kilowatt-hour to 26 HK cents per kWh, citing a deferred effect under the monthly adjustment mechanism based on January’s average fuel costs. The decline marks the second consecutive monthly drop. “Although international fuel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351309/hk-electric-cut-may-fuel-charges-warns-sharp-future-increase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351309/hk-electric-cut-may-fuel-charges-warns-sharp-future-increase?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:09:03 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu For the first time, all eight Hong Kong public universities have been ranked among the top 100 in a widely watched Asian league table, with the city’s two oldest tertiary institutions ranking among the region’s top 10. Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer of Times Higher Education (THE), also highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a world-leading education hub, noting it remained the only metropolis with as many as five universities listed in the global top 100 since 2024, an achievement he said no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351201/all-hong-kong-public-universities-make-asian-league-table-top-100-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351201/all-hong-kong-public-universities-make-asian-league-table-top-100-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:02:58 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu More than 600 Hongkongers aged 60 and above have failed to repay their student loans under five government schemes funding tertiary and post-secondary studies, with the average amount owed standing at HK$17,400 (US$2,220). In a reply to questions from lawmakers on Wednesday, the Education Bureau said it had recorded 9,838 default cases involving 8,494 individuals under the five schemes as of January 31 this year, with outstanding amounts totalling nearly HK$126 million. The schemes provide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351025/611-elderly-hongkongers-default-student-loans-owe-hk17400-each-average?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351025/611-elderly-hongkongers-default-student-loans-owe-hk17400-each-average?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:51:10 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of Hong Kong secondary school leavers pursuing higher studies outside the city fell to a 14-year low in 2025, with an expert attributing the trend to a surge in mainland Chinese students targeting local universities. Only 2,671 students, or 6.5 per cent of 40,948 Form Six graduates pursuing full-time courses, chose to study outside Hong Kong last year, a survey by the Education Bureau showed. The number was a 13 per cent drop from the 2024 figure of 3,061 and the lowest since... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350925/number-hong-kong-school-leavers-seeking-education-elsewhere-hits-14-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350925/number-hong-kong-school-leavers-seeking-education-elsewhere-hits-14-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:22:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A 32-year-old man was found dead after being spotted floating in waters off a Hong Kong park, with police saying he had a record of mental illness. The force received a report at 6.37am on Monday that the body was floating two to three metres offshore near Tsing Yi Northeast Park on Tam Kon Shan Road. Firefighters recovered the man who was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death will be determined after an autopsy. No suicide note was found at the scene. If you have suicidal thoughts or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350681/body-32-year-old-man-found-floating-hong-kong-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350681/body-32-year-old-man-found-floating-hong-kong-park?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:03:45 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Twenty Hong Kong couples have each received baby bonuses totalling HK$60,000 (US$7,700) for having three children in about 2½ years. Yet less than 60 per cent of the HK$2.28 billion earmarked for the three-year government scheme has been disbursed as of February, with just over six months to go before it ends in October. Government figures showed the city’s registered birth rate in the first two months of this year dropped by 20 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. A youth group... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350642/20-hong-kong-couples-get-triple-baby-bonus-hk60000-each-disbursement-lags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350642/20-hong-kong-couples-get-triple-baby-bonus-hk60000-each-disbursement-lags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:30:16 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A primary school on an outlying island in Hong Kong will cease operations in the 2029-30 academic year after failing to submit a survival plan due to an insufficient number of Primary One pupils for next year. CCC Cheung Chau Church Kam Kong Primary School will also be the first of 15 under-enrolled schools barred from operating subsidised Primary One classes from September. A spokeswoman for the Education Bureau said on Friday that the school did not apply for any survival options despite being... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350415/hong-kong-primary-school-close-2029-over-primary-one-enrolment-shortfall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350415/hong-kong-primary-school-close-2029-over-primary-one-enrolment-shortfall?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:38:56 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong authorities expect students as young as six to “feel proud to be Chinese” and to have a basic understanding of national affairs, according to a revamped guide on values education stressing patriotism. The 2026 Values Education Curriculum Framework, published by the Education Bureau on Thursday, applies to all government, aided, special and private schools, as well as those under the Direct Subsidy Scheme. The framework was prepared by the Standing Committee on Values Education, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350358/hong-kong-students-young-6-should-feel-proud-be-chinese-learning-guide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350358/hong-kong-students-young-6-should-feel-proud-be-chinese-learning-guide?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:54:22 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education minister has said the surge in students diagnosed with mental illness partly reflects parents’ growing acceptance and openness about the issue, while academic pressures, social lives and physical health also play a role. The remarks by Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin came after the Education Bureau revealed that the number of secondary school students suffering from mental illness had doubled over the past five academic years, from 660 in 2020-21 to 1,330 in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350299/rise-mental-illness-cases-among-hong-kong-students-reflects-growing-openness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350299/rise-mental-illness-cases-among-hong-kong-students-reflects-growing-openness?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:23:23 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of secondary school students diagnosed with mental illness in Hong Kong has doubled over the past five academic years, with the increase potentially under-reported due to reluctance among some pupils and parents to disclose health information, education authorities have said. The data is in line with a trend recorded by the Health Bureau showing a growing number of people aged 15 to 24 being treated at public hospital psychiatric departments. Among that age range, the number of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350120/number-hong-kong-secondary-students-mental-illness-doubles-over-last-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350120/number-hong-kong-secondary-students-mental-illness-doubles-over-last-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:18:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of non-local students admitted to government-funded degree programmes at Hong Kong’s public universities with Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) qualifications has risen fivefold in four years, according to the Education Bureau. By comparison, the number of local DSE candidates who qualified for those universities fell by 5 per cent over the same period, the bureau said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, universities admitted more students with non-DSE certificates who paid higher tuition fees,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350061/public-universities-admit-65-non-local-dse-pupils-last-year-fivefold-jump-2022?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350061/public-universities-admit-65-non-local-dse-pupils-last-year-fivefold-jump-2022?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:36:27 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu More than 70 public schools, or nearly 9 per cent, have joined a new scheme in Hong Kong to hire native English-speaking teachers (NETs) that offers lower pay but higher recruitment flexibility. Under the scheme launched this academic year, operators were given a grant to hire such teachers to enhance the effectiveness of English-language instruction and increase students’ exposure to the language. “In the 2025-26 school year, a total of 73 aided schools – 28 primary schools and 45 secondary... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349709/73-public-schools-join-new-scheme-hire-native-english-speaking-teachers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349709/73-public-schools-join-new-scheme-hire-native-english-speaking-teachers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:00:14 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Eight international school operators in Hong Kong, including the city’s largest group, failed to admit enough non-local students this academic year, breaching their pledge to the government. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) said it had been increasing the proportion of “non-local passport holders” since the end of the pandemic, but noted it might take several years to return to mandated levels after being allowed to admit more local students during that period. The Education Bureau told the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349156/esf-among-8-international-school-operators-failed-meet-non-local-student-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349156/esf-among-8-international-school-operators-failed-meet-non-local-student-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A US clampdown on visas for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students last May led to year-on-year declines of 42 per cent and 35 per cent in the number of permits granted, but a consultant has said the impact has been short-lived. One PhD student from the mainland said US President Donald Trump’s actions had led to him giving up an offer to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enrol at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) last year after he found America’s once-vibrant... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:30:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The growing number of Hong Kong schools facing closure due to insufficient enrolment has raised concerns about the impact on students with special needs, as parents say these at-risk institutions often provide better care and instruction than more stable ones. Marcia Ng Mun-chi, co-founder and executive director of the Hong Kong Association for AD/HD, recently raised concerns following the Education Bureau’s announcement last month that 15 public primary schools were at risk of closure. These... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349031/closing-hong-kong-schools-low-enrolment-will-hurt-special-education-kids-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349031/closing-hong-kong-schools-low-enrolment-will-hurt-special-education-kids-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:00:25 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A US church that co-founded a prestigious Hong Kong international school has said it will take the lead in searching for a new head as the operator had failed to nominate candidates since 2022, accusing it of creating the “risk of leadership interruption” in the latest salvo in a war of words. The move by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) was revealed in a letter to parents on Sunday from Hong Kong International School (HKIS) management, which called the search part of church actions... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348702/us-church-launches-search-new-hkis-school-head-amid-legal-row-operator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348702/us-church-launches-search-new-hkis-school-head-amid-legal-row-operator?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:10:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s largest teacher training institution has urged all school governing bodies in the city to find a “way out” to handle dwindling student numbers. Professor John Lee Chi-kin, president of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), also said on Monday that schools should develop their own features and strengths, stressing that teacher training should not be ignored despite the falling numbers. His remarks follow an announcement by education authorities two weeks ago that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348430/hong-kong-schools-urged-find-way-out-over-falling-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348430/hong-kong-schools-urged-find-way-out-over-falling-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:18:42 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s universities have recorded their sharpest declines in three years in global subject rankings, with more than half of the 266 offerings – including data science and artificial intelligence (AI) – slipping down their respective tables, according to a UK-based education analyst. Despite the overall drop, dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) remained second in the world – the city’s highest-ranked subject – while performing arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347882/data-science-ai-slip-53-hong-kong-university-subjects-fall-qs-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347882/data-science-ai-slip-53-hong-kong-university-subjects-fall-qs-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:06:25 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by an average of 4.1 per cent for most of its primary and secondary divisions next academic year – or roughly HK$600 and HK$720 (US$77 and US$92) more per month, respectively – pending approval by authorities. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also said on Tuesday that its kindergartens would raise fees by 5.8 per cent under the proposal. At Discovery College in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, one of the foundation’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347674/hong-kongs-esf-schools-group-plans-increase-fees-41-average-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347674/hong-kongs-esf-schools-group-plans-increase-fees-41-average-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:29:12 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Non-local students could pay up to HK$350,000 (US$44,680) per year to study in Hong Kong’s semi-private schools after the institutions were allowed to admit them by offering additional places, with scholarships to cover some expenses. But an education consultant specialising in expatriate placements for Hong Kong schools said the charges were uncompetitive, noting the cost exceeded those of a premium British boarding school in Malaysia and Thailand. The Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:37:02 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Five people have been jailed in Hong Kong after an Immigration Department crackdown on illegal employment. The department said on Friday that it had raided 23 locations, including restaurants, cleaning companies and commercial buildings, during an operation carried out from Monday to Thursday. Officers arrested six men and 13 women, aged 22 to 62, found or suspected to be working illegally and six employers who allegedly hired them. Thirteen of those arrested held tourist visas – 11 from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347280/5-jailed-20-more-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-employment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347280/5-jailed-20-more-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-employment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:51:46 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The UK government has confirmed that stricter English language requirements for immigrants announced earlier this month will not apply to Hongkongers using the British National (Overseas) visa pathway. The clarification from Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp came after more than 30 members of parliament sent a letter to the Home Office last month urging it to maintain the existing English threshold for BN(O) applicants. “The increase in the English language requirement in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347139/hongkongers-bno-pathway-wont-face-tougher-english-test-uk-confirms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347139/hongkongers-bno-pathway-wont-face-tougher-english-test-uk-confirms?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:21:04 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities plan to establish an “internationally benchmarked” version of the city’s university entrance exam on a pilot basis to allow foreign students to apply for admission to higher education institutions both locally and in mainland China. They revealed that technical explorations and studies with relevant bodies on developing the international version of the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam were under way. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:47:51 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s alma mater was already struggling with major weaknesses that hurt enrolment, such as a small, remote campus and poor sanitation in the surrounding area, before the school was prevented from running a subsidised Primary One class. The Five Districts Business Welfare Association School, which has operated for 69 years, was among the 15 schools that failed to secure 16 Primary One pupils each to qualify for subsidies for the coming academic year. Fourteen of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:19:05 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Fifteen Hong Kong public primary schools are at risk of closing after being banned from operating subsidised Primary One classes in the coming academic year due to insufficient enrolment, with authorities saying the figure is the highest in recent years. But Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also warned on Tuesday that more closures were expected if school operators refused to plan for mergers. The institutions at risk comprise one government and 14 subsidised schools, with Deputy... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346926/15-hong-kong-schools-risk-closure-falling-numbers-trigger-primary-one-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346926/15-hong-kong-schools-risk-closure-falling-numbers-trigger-primary-one-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:10:34 +0000 Ambrose Li,William Yiu Ambrose Li,William Yiu Hong Kong’s physiotherapy sector has urged the government to expand employment opportunities for locally trained professionals, warning that severe funding cuts will lead to a glut of practitioners, with the surplus projected to exceed 2,000 by 2040. In a letter to the authorities, the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association pointed to hiring freezes and job losses at NGOs as a result of budget cuts, even as the government continued to subsidise the training of physiotherapists. “These developments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:20:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s oldest university has vowed to inject more resources into humanities programmes, praising them as a source of creativity and imagination, even as some institutions outside the city cut courses amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Xiang Zhang, president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), made the pledge on Wednesday as the head of the institution’s medical faculty revealed the school would ditch its target for 75 per cent of its intake to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:42:52 +0000 Edith Lin,William Yiu Edith Lin,William Yiu A Hong Kong hospital has launched an investigation after an elderly patient with colon cancer died three weeks after surgeons carried out a medical procedure on the wrong organ. Tseung Kwan O Hospital said on Friday the 85-year-old patient died on Tuesday after undergoing stoma surgery on February 7. The procedure involved creating a surgical opening on the abdomen, known as a stoma, to alleviate an intestinal obstruction. In the time between the operation and her death, the patient was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345683/hong-kong-cancer-patient-dies-3-weeks-after-incorrect-incision-abdomen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345683/hong-kong-cancer-patient-dies-3-weeks-after-incorrect-incision-abdomen?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:05:00 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The family of deceased firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died while battling Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in seven decades, will receive HK$6.15 million (US$831,250) in financial support in recognition of his courage and selflessness. The government on Friday announced a grant approved by the body responsible for providing financial help to families of individuals who died while saving others. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han, who also chairs the committee, paid tribute to Ho’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345669/hong-kong-grants-hk615m-family-firefighter-killed-deadly-tai-po-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345669/hong-kong-grants-hk615m-family-firefighter-killed-deadly-tai-po-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:54:06 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Tung Wah College, a tertiary institution in Hong Kong known for its nursing care and allied health programmes, will undergo a combined review next month on its application to become both a private university and a university of applied sciences (UAS) and is “very confident”, its head has said. Professor Sally Chan Wai-chi, president of the 16-year-old Ho Man Tin-based college, said on Thursday that it planned to adopt the name “Tung Wah University of Hong Kong” if its application was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345609/tung-wah-college-undergo-review-april-bid-gain-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345609/tung-wah-college-undergo-review-april-bid-gain-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:53:24 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu At least five Hong Kong universities have backed the government’s proposal to launch study tours aimed at attracting non-local secondary students to pursue higher education in the city, with programmes featuring topics such as AI. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest tertiary institution, said it would offer up to 35 programmes this summer, giving outstanding non-local students a chance to earn full scholarships. In this year’s government budget, education authorities said they... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:41 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s finance chief has assured the public that the city can manage its debt after proposing the issuance of more bonds to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, expressing confidence in the long-term investment returns from the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po sought to reassure the public during a radio programme on Friday after a university student voiced concerns that his generation might suffer if the city failed to repay the growing number of bonds... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344852/paul-chan-vows-hong-kong-can-handle-debt-bond-driven-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344852/paul-chan-vows-hong-kong-can-handle-debt-bond-driven-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:29:53 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s early childhood education sector will receive its lowest level of subsidy in more than a decade as the number of preschools falls to a 13-year low, with the government cancelling two grants for kindergartens in the new school year. According to the annual budget announced on Wednesday, the early childhood sector will receive only HK$4.5 billion (US$575 million) from the government in the 2026–27 financial year, representing a 6.6 per cent drop from the current year. “This is mainly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344697/worst-yet-come-hong-kongs-early-childhood-sector-hit-hard-funding-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344697/worst-yet-come-hong-kongs-early-childhood-sector-hit-hard-funding-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:51:23 +0000