LCQ17: Development of international schools
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Question:
The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) proposes to support the development of a vibrant international school sector. There are views pointing out that incoming talent place great importance on diversified education for their children, and that demand for high-quality education continues to rise. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will consider conducting systematic follow-ups on the schooling intentions of the children of talent admitted under various talent admission schemes, including the types of schools they attend and the districts in which they study;
(2) whether it has assessed if the current provision of international school places can complement the various talent admission schemes in order to meet the future schooling needs of the children of incoming talent; if so, of the details;
(3) given that the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address put forward the Government's plan to allocate sites in the Northern Metropolis or other areas next year for the development of international schools, of the respective expected numbers of international schools that can be introduced and additional school places that can be provided by the authorities;
(4) of the number of additional international school places that the Government expects to provide in the long run, and whether it will set long-term targets for increasing the provision of international school places; if so, of the details; and
(5) apart from the Government's allocation of sites for the development of international schools, as mentioned in (3) above, and the proposal in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address to allow quality international schools to build new facilities and enhance existing ones (including student boarding facilities) at their school sites on a self-financing basis, what other measures the Government will take to support the long-term development of international schools?
Reply:
President,
Hong Kong's education system is committed to promoting quality, diverse and all-round development. With the distinctive advantage of strong support from the motherland and close connections to the world, Hong Kong is actively developing into an international education hub to nurture talent. Regarding basic education, we offer diverse and quality choices to meet different education needs. Incoming talent may, according to their circumstances and needs, enrol their children in various types of publicly-funded schools or consider private schools (including international schools). Private schools offer local and non-local formal curricula and operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis. In line with their school missions, they provide parents, especially non-local families, with more diverse choices in terms of medium of instruction, curricula, and public examinations.
International schools in Hong Kong offer a wide range of non-local curricula, including those of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the International Baccalaureate. At present, non-local students account for nearly 70 per cent of the total student population of international schools, and come from over 30 different countries. The Government is committed to developing a vibrant international school sector to meet the demand for international school places from non-local families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. This policy objective helps attract talent and supports Hong Kong's sustained development.
Regarding the question raised by the Hon Andrew Yao, having consulted the Labour and Welfare Bureau, our consolidated reply is as follows:
The Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) has been following up on the needs of incoming talent and their families by providing them with comprehensive information about living in Hong Kong and support services. We also reach out to talent and their families continuously through various channels in order to better understand their different needs and service requirements in areas of living, employment, children's education, etc. In addition, the HKTE will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders (including the Education Bureau (EDB)) as well as collaborate with over 100 partners from the education sector and other sectors to provide comprehensive support services for incoming talent and their families to help them integrate into Hong Kong for long-term development.
In the 2025/26 school year, there were 53 international schools in Hong Kong, admitting around 44 700 students. The number of students represented around 92.4 per cent of the total places provided, leaving some 3 700 surplus places available to meet demand. The EDB also announced in February 2025 the allocation of two vacant school premises (VSPs) for international school development, which are expected to provide some 1 000 school places starting from the 2028/29 school year. In addition, the EDB has allocated a site for the establishment of the first non-profit-making private school offering Mainland curriculum in Hong Kong, which is expected to provide some 900 school places starting from the 2028/29 school year.
Moreover, the EDB regularly reviews the provision of international school places through student enrolment surveys, and commissions a consultancy study once every few years to project the future supply of and demand for such places. The consultancy study report published in 2024 forecasted that by the 2028/29 school year, Hong Kong would still have some 4 400 surplus international school places. The EDB will continue to closely monitor the supply of and demand for international school places. When there is a projected shortfall, the EDB will allocate greenfield sites or VSPs at nominal premium or rent for international school use through the School Allocation Exercise (SAE), an open and competitive bidding process. Over the past 20 years, the Government has allocated 18 sites or premises through the SAE for the operation of new international schools or the expansion of existing ones. From 2007 to 2026, the number of international school places increased by over 13 000, representing a growth of about 38 per cent.
To meet long-term needs and tie in with the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM), the Government announced in the 2026 Policy Address its plan to allocate sites in the NM or other districts within next year for international school development. The EDB will allocate relevant sites through the SAE in due course. The number of school places to be provided depends on factors such as the proposals of future applicant bodies, actual operation of the schools, and number of classrooms in the school premises.
The EDB has been implementing a package of measures to support the vibrant development of the international school sector. On the supply of school places, the EDB will continue to release land or VSPs in an orderly manner through the SAE according to the supply and demand, so as to enable development of quality international schools, thereby supporting the diverse and long-term development of the international school sector. Meanwhile, the EDB will continue to remove barriers and ease restrictions, and encourage existing international schools to increase their admission quotas. For international schools planning to build new facilities and enhance existing ones, including student boarding facilities, at their school sites on a self-financing basis, the EDB will offer advice and co-ordinate between the schools and relevant government departments to expedite the approval process, so as to increase admission quotas and enhance the quality of education. The EDB will also maintain close liaison with relevant stakeholders, such as schools and chambers of commerce, to better understand market conditions, demand and views. In addition, the EDB maintains the "International Schools in Hong Kong" website, which provides accurate and transparent information for people around the world who intend to arrange for their children to study in Hong Kong, showcasing the diversity and international recognition of the curricula offered by international schools in Hong Kong. In addition, the EDB announced in July this year the private schools offering formal primary and secondary curricula (including international schools) which are included on the Private School List. The purpose of establishing the List is to enable listed schools to further demonstrate their commitment to continuously enhancing governance while complying with relevant laws and regulations. This promotes professional self-discipline within the sector, and serves as a reference tool to enhance information transparency, thereby effectively safeguarding parental rights and students' well-being.
Ends/Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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