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The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, announced today (May 29) that five school operators have been selected through a school allocation exercise for the development of international schools at two vacant school premises and three greenfield sites.
"The Government supports the development of a vibrant international school sector in Hong Kong, mainly to meet the demand for school places from overseas families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment," Mr Ng said.
"The allocation exercise is part of our continuous effort to increase the provision of international school places. I am encouraged by the keen interest shown by international school operators in the allocation exercise. All of the five successful applicants have committed to allocate 80 per cent or more of the school places to non-local students."
Applications from 40 organisations were received, following the Expression of Interest exercise launched in March last year. Details of the allocation results are:
Site/ Locations Successful
Premises applicants
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Premises A Ap Lei Chau Estate The Harbour School
Phase I, Aberdeen, Foundation Limited
Hong Kong
Premises B 6 Ma Chung Road, ESOL Education
Tai Po, HK Limited
New Territories
Site 1 Area 67, Tseung French
Kwan O (Town Centre), International
New Territories School
"Victor Segalen"
Association Limited
Site 2 Area 85, Tseung Shrewsbury
Kwan O (Siu Chik International
Sha), New Territories School Hong Kong
Limited
Site 3 TP4 (near Tolo Malvern College
Highway and Hong Kong Limited
Science Park),
Tai Po,
New Territories
The successful applicants of the vacant school premises and greenfield sites are expected to commence operation in the 2016/17 and 2018/19 school year respectively. It is expected that a total of about 4 270 school places, comprising about 3 490 primary places and 780 secondary places, will be made available on a progressive basis starting from the 2016/17 school year.
Actual allocation of the premises/sites is subject to the successful applicants' full compliance with the offer conditions, including satisfactory completion of technical assessments required as necessary.
All applications received were considered by the Education Bureau (EDB) on the advice of the School Allocation Committee, comprising both official and non-official members. The committee undertook a thorough and detailed scrutiny process taking into account a basket of factors including the quality of the school proposals, the management organisation structure, track record and financial plan of the applicants, as well as the curriculum, accreditation and support for students they will provide. In addition, the committee considered how the admission policy and target students of the applicants would meet the needs of the community, particularly families coming to Hong Kong for investment and work.
International schools in Hong Kong provided about 41 000 school places in the 2014/15 school year. The EDB will continue to monitor the provision of international school places and take various measures, including provision of vacant school premises and greenfield sites, in support of the development and expansion of international schools.
Ends/Friday, May 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:15
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