Fierce competition is expected for Hong Kong’s secondary school places as 55,000 children have entered the race to gain admission in the next ­academic year. That is an increase of about 1,400 students compared with 2019. Government figures say the number of pupils applying for secondary school places will be on the rise over the coming five years, with the number of 12-year-olds rising from about 63,300 in the next round of applications to 74,000 in 2024/25.

One major factor behind this is a rise in Hong Kong-born children from mainland China set to graduate from primary schools, including many “cross-border pupils” who live on the mainland but come to the city to attend schools everyday.

The number of children born in Hong Kong to mainland parents had shot up 34 per cent from 18,816 in 2007 to 25,269 in 2008.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3044351/parents-brace-fierce-competition-55000-children-will-enter

Comments by Anna Lee, Head of Education Services, North East Asia:

Over the last 10 years, an accumulative total of over 200,000 babies were born in Hong Kong to mainland couples. The number were peaked in 2008 – 2012, with over 25,000 ‘cross-border babies’ were born every year. These children are eligible for residency and accompanying benefits including free education. They have now move up to the Hong Kong secondary education, and in the next decade, an extra 25,000 students per year are likely to compete for limited university places in Hong Kong.

Implication to UK universities is that those who meet the general entrance requirements for local undergraduate university programmes yet not get a place, are likely to opt for elsewhere for higher education. UK universities might be aware of falling demographics in Hong Kong over the last couple of years, however this influx of children born to Mainland Chinese parents counter-balances the local demographic trend. In addition to this, the current civil unrest stimulates the demand for UK education in Hong Kong. We can therefore expect to see a sharp increase in applications to UK institutions from Hong Kong in the upcoming years.