The Education Bureau (EDB) today (September 14) reminded parents who wish to apply for a Primary One (P1) place for their child in any government or aided school in September 2027 to submit their applications for discretionary places under the Primary One Admission (POA) System via the POA e-platform (ePOA) starting from this Thursday (September 17), or in paper form starting from next Monday (September 21).
 
Submission of applications for discretionary places
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     An EDB spokesman said, "Parents intending to apply for a P1 place of a particular government or aided primary school for their child at the Discretionary Places Admission stage under the POA System via the ePOA should first register as ePOA (epoa.edb.gov.hk) users and bind their account to 'iAM Smart+', and submit their applications via the ePOA between September 17 and 25. For details, please refer to the Parent's Guides on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html). If parents choose to submit paper application forms, they should submit the completed application form together with all supporting documents directly to the school during school office hours between September 21 and 25. Parents who are unable to submit the application form in person may authorise in writing a representative to bring along the above-mentioned documents to the primary school on their behalf.
 
     "Irrespective of whether the application is submitted via the ePOA or in paper form, parents should submit only one application for each child. If parents have applied to more than one government or aided primary school, their application for a POA discretionary place will be rendered void. In addition, parents should not submit duplicate applications via the ePOA and in paper form for the same child," the spokesman added.
 
     The spokesman reminded parents that schools will process the applications in accordance with the established procedures and criteria at the Discretionary Places Admission stage. As such, there is no need for parents to prepare portfolios for their child.
 
     In addition, children who have accepted the offer of a P1 place in a school under the Direct Subsidy Scheme will not be allocated a P1 place in a government or aided primary school through the POA System.
 
Application for Central Allocation only
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     If parents only intend to apply for the POA Central Allocation for their child, they should submit the application to the EDB via the ePOA or in paper form on or before January 22, 2027. For submission in paper form, they should return the completed application form and relevant supporting documents to the School Places Allocation Section (Primary One Admission) of the EDB at Podium Floor, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong.
 
Residential address
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     "When completing the POA Application Form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. If a false instrument has been used or a false statutory declaration has been made in the application, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years or imprisonment for two years and to a fine respectively under the Crimes Ordinance. Members of the public who suspect that a parent has used a false address for POA applications for his or her child may report it to the School Places Allocation Section by calling its hotline at 2832 7700," the EDB spokesman emphasised.

Ends/Monday, September 14, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:30

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