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Following is a question by the Hon Leung Che-cheung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, in the Legislative Council today (November 13):
Question:
It is learnt that the Shenzhen authorities have revealed that there are about 30 000 children who were born in Hong Kong and are currently residing in Shenzhen (Hong Kong children). Among such children, about 17 000 are studying in Hong Kong while the remaining are attending school in Shenzhen. In addition, the mainland authorities project that the total number of Hong Kong children residing in Shenzhen will reach 50 000 by 2018. There are comments that the aforesaid figures indicate that the problem of Hong Kong children crossing the boundary to attend school will become increasingly acute in the future, and the problem cannot be solved merely by increasing the school places in districts such as the North District and Yuen Long in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as it has been reported that at present the students of two schools for Hong Kong children operated by private school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) in Shenzhen can participate in Hong Kong's Secondary School Places Allocation System, whether Government will consider buying places from such schools so that Hong Kong children may stay and attend school on the Mainland; if it will, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) regarding the schools for Hong Kong children mentioned in (a), whether the Government has provided them with operational guidelines; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(c) whether the Government had, in the past five years, received requests for assistance from Hong Kong's private SSBs because they had encountered difficulties in planning to operate schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland; if so, of the main difficulties encountered by such bodies seeking assistance and the assistance provided by the Government; whether the Government will encourage Hong Kong﷿s private SSBs to operate schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland and provide support for such SSBs; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(d) whether the Government has plans to operate schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland so that such children can stay and pursue their studies on the Mainland, so as to alleviate the problem of a tight supply school places in districts such as the North District and Yuen Long; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and
(e) as it has been reported that the mainland authorities are studying the feasibility of allowing the SAR Government to build and operate government schools on the Mainland, whether the Government has discussed the issue with the mainland authorities or participated in related studies; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
(a) The Education Bureau (EDB) and Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau (SZ EDB) have jointly implemented the scheme of schools/classes for Hong Kong children in Shenzhen since 2008 to facilitate Hong Kong children to receive education on the Mainland and to transit into the education system of Hong Kong as early as possible. The learning programme of the schools/classes for Hong Kong children mainly follows the Hong Kong curriculum. Eligible primary six students can join the Hong Kong Secondary School Places Allocation System and be allocated subsidised secondary one places in Hong Kong schools. Until now, six minban schools have joined the scheme in Shenzhen, including two schools for Hong Kong children and four schools operating classes for Hong Kong children. All of these schools are operated under a self-financing mode. The Government does not provide subsidy of any kinds to them. Under the prevailing policy, government subsidies provided to schools are restricted to those within Hong Kong. The suggestion of buying places from such schools in Shenzhen involves the policy of welfare portability which will lead to far-reaching implications. Thorough and in-depth studies are required.
(b) Schools/Classes for Hong Kong children are implemented in accordance with the agreement on the pilot scheme of classes for Hong Kong children in Shenzhen schools signed between the EDB and SZ EDB, and are operated under the operation guidelines for the pilot scheme of classes for Hong Kong children in Shenzhen schools. To ensure the quality of teaching, SZ EDB is responsible for monitoring schools for Hong Kong children and schools operating classes for Hong Kong children. EDB provides appropriate professional support to these schools and arranges for them to match up with Hong Kong schools as sister schools to facilitate their integration with the Hong Kong curriculum and enhance their understanding of the Hong Kong Secondary School Places Allocation System.
(c) There have been private school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) approaching the EDB, expressing their interest in establishing schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland. We have met with the group concerned. However, no SSB has submitted concrete plans so far. We are pleased to keep in contact with these SSBs so as to further understand their plans.
(d) The Government has limited the number of non-local pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong since June 2011. Non-local pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong has also been terminated since 2013. The demand for public sector primary one school places of cross-boundary students is expected to decline gradually starting from 2018. Therefore, the current challenge is transitional by nature. To alleviate the problem of tight supply of primary one school places in the North District as a result of increasing cross-boundary students, the EDB announced the revised arrangement of Central Allocation in August this year. From this year (i.e. admission to schools in 2014/15) onward, applicants residing on the Mainland are provided with an additional "Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation" for selection by cross-boundary students. On the other hand, establishment of schools takes time. The suggestion of establishing schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland cannot provide an instant solution to the current problem. We also have to consider the impact on the stable development of these schools when the number of cross-boundary students declines. Moreover, such suggestion involves the policy of welfare portability which will lead to far-reaching implications. Thorough and in-depth studies are required.
(e) According to the reply from the Ministry of Education regarding the suggestion by the Hong Kong Deputies to the National People's Congress to establish government schools on the Mainland, the Ministry will study its feasibility together with the departments concerned. The EDB has not received further information in relation to this matter. On the other hand, the EDB is planning to conduct a survey for the parents of Hong Kong children residing in Shenzhen to find out their concern and preference when considering letting their children continue their education in Shenzhen instead of crossing boundary to study.
Ends/Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:05
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