28 h. ago Hong Kong students still unable to get US visa bookings: consultancy firms

Hong Kong tertiary students looking to study in the United States remain unable to secure visa appointments with the country’s local consulate, despite bookings becoming available in Beijing and other jurisdictions. Three education consultancies contacted by the Post said that they still could not book appointment slots for their clients as of Monday morning, further fuelling confusion among students amid Washington’s sudden policy shifts in recent days. Samuel Chan Sze-ming, managing partner at...

Politics

48 h. ago Hong Kong students eyeing US universities advised to check social media accounts

Hong Kong students hoping to attend universities in the US should review their social media for content related to the country’s politics, an education consultant has advised, as uncertainties swirled amid reported flip-flopping over whether consulates could process visa applications for Harvard. Consultants on Sunday told the Post they were still trying to get confirmation on what American authorities required and were unclear about whether they would be able to book visa interviews for their...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong delegation promotes city as higher education hub in US and UK

The head of a committee overseeing funding for Hong Kong’s public universities has led a delegation to the United States and the United Kingdom to promote the city as a destination for higher education. James Tang Tuck-hong, secretary general of the University Grants Committee, attended a conference in San Diego, California, on May 25, before flying to the UK for another forum in Birmingham. “During the visit, Professor Tang also met with senior management and prominent scholars from top-tier...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong’s education hub ambitions take centre stage in US, UK visits

The head of a committee overseeing funding for Hong Kong’s public universities has led a delegation to the United States and the United Kingdom to promote the city as a destination for higher education. James Tang Tuck-hong, secretary general of the University Grants Committee, attended a conference in San Diego, California, on May 25, before flying to the UK for another forum in Birmingham. “During the visit, Professor Tang also met with senior management and prominent scholars from top-tier...

Politics

4 d. ago US consulate expands social media checks on Hongkongers seeking student visas

The US consulate in Hong Kong has stepped up screening of students’ social media accounts when processing their visa applications by checking their activities on other platforms apart from Facebook and Instagram, according to an education consultancy. Litz USA Student Service, a Hong Kong-based education consultancy specialising in US education since 1989, said on its Facebook page on Friday the consulate had recently expanded social media scrutiny when processing students’ visa...

Politics

4 d. ago Alarm over Hong Kong student suicides, but minister rejects calls for counsellors

Hong Kong’s education minister has dismissed suggestions to introduce counsellors at schools to address students’ mental health concerns, arguing that the issue should be tackled through concerted efforts across campus, rather than relying on a single individual. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin told lawmakers on Friday that primary and secondary schools in the city had reported 11 suspected student suicide cases between January and April this year. This follows 28 such cases in...

Events

4 d. ago Hong Kong’s HKUST handling ‘several’ Harvard transfer applications

A university in Hong Kong that “opened its doors to Harvard students” has made an offer of admission to one and is handling several transfer applications after the Trump administration last month barred the US Ivy League school from enrolling international candidates, many of whom are from mainland China. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was among the higher education institutions in the city that stepped up efforts to accommodate students affected by the US government’s...

Politics

5 d. ago 15 student suicides in Hong Kong so far this year, set to surpass 2024 rate

At least 15 students in Hong Kong are suspected to have died by suicide in the first five months of this year, according to the Post’s calculations, with the figure equivalent to about half of the total recorded in 2024. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin is set to discuss student mental health and support measures at a Legislative Council panel meeting on Friday. According to the Education Bureau’s figures, primary and secondary schools reported 11 suspected suicide cases between...

Events

6 d. ago ‘Treated like a criminal’: fury over Hong Kong student’s Australian deportation

The mother of a 16-year-old Hong Kong girl studying in Australia is considering legal action after her daughter was deported from the country less than eight hours after a quarrel with her homestay family led to the teen’s eviction from her accommodation. The mother told the Post in late May about her follow-up action regarding the incident in March, even as Australian authorities said the welfare of international students was their top priority after concerns were raised over the lack of...

Events

7 d. ago Hong Kong principals slam popular schools’ class expansion without consultation

Principals in Hong Kong have criticised education authorities for failing to consult the sector regarding a new measure that permits popular schools to apply to operate an additional Form One class in the next academic year, raising concerns that the move will intensify competition among institutions. The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools also questioned the timeliness and necessity of implementing the policy change amid the city’s declining student population. The...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong ‘silver economy’ moves to boost spending by ‘5% annually over 3 years’

Elderly Hongkongers are expected to spend 5 per cent more annually over the next three years under wide-ranging “silver economy” measures to spur consumption, a senior official has said when asked about a lack of targets for the policy. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, who is leading a new task force dedicated to tapping the silver economy, also said on Saturday that the government would conduct a study to analyse the spending habits and demands of various age groups among the...

Economics

1 week ago Hong Kong schools told to add national education elements to more subjects

Hong Kong’s school curriculum framework has been revised to incorporate national education elements in more subjects, including English, maths, music, visual arts and sports. Teaching examples include learning about ancient mathematicians’ achievements, holding Chinese folk singing contests and learning how to play Chinese football games. Schools have also been asked to play patriotic songs on different occasions and broadcast major sports games live to boost patriotism. In a circular on...

Politics

1 week ago 79.7% of pupils get Hong Kong schools in their top 3 picks via allocation system

About 80 per cent of children set to enter Hong Kong’s public primary schools in September have been assigned one of their top three choices under the city’s central allocation system, down from around 84 per cent last year. The figure released by the Education Bureau on Friday was the third-highest over the past 17 years. This year also saw the second-lowest number of pupils since 1997 join the central allocation system. In Hong Kong, Primary One places at public schools are allocated using a...

Politics

1 week ago 80% of pupils get Hong Kong schools in their top 3 picks via allocation system

About 80 per cent of children set to enter Hong Kong’s public primary schools in September have been assigned one of their top three choices under the city’s central allocation system, down from around 84 per cent last year. The figure released by the Education Bureau on Friday was the third-highest over the past 17 years. This year also saw the second-lowest number of pupils since 1997 join the central allocation system. In Hong Kong, Primary One places at public schools are allocated using a...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong vows to help Chinese students facing ‘unfair treatment’ in US

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to provide “the best assistance” to Chinese students facing “unfair treatment” in the US, after the Trump administration said it would start revoking their visas and increase scrutiny of applications amid escalating restrictions. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also urged different sectors in the city to work with authorities to capitalise on the opportunity and fully present Hong Kong’s edge in higher education to the world. Lee made his remarks on Thursday after...

Society

1 week ago Hong Kong student uses beauty app to falsify exam results for university admission

A Hong Kong student admitted to using a beauty filter app’s image editing function to alter the university entrance exam result in her application to enrol in an undergraduate programme last year to improve her chances of admission. Ng Tsz-ying, 22, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a count of attempting to obtain services by deception for submitting to the Education University of Hong Kong a fake copy of her certificate in the Diploma of Secondary Education examination. Fanling Court heard how the...

Events

1 week ago Hong Kong student uses beauty app to falsify exam results for university entry

A Hong Kong student has admitted to using a beauty filter app’s image editing function to alter the university entrance exam result in her application to enrol in an undergraduate programme last year and improve her chances of admission. Ng Tsz-ying, 22, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a count of attempting to obtain services by deception for submitting to the Education University of Hong Kong a fake copy of her certificate in the Diploma of Secondary Education examination. Fanling Court heard...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong students aiming for US universities in limbo as visa interviews halted

Hongkongers looking to pursue tertiary education in the United States are grappling with uncertainties as the country has halted scheduling student visa interviews, with consultancies expecting possible online class arrangements for remote learning or university applicants changing their choice of destination. Kitty Wu, director of Litz USA Student Service, a Hong Kong-based education consultancy specialising in education in America since 1989, said on Wednesday that her company had experienced...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong students in US visa limbo although ‘interview bookings available’

Hongkongers hoping to pursue tertiary education in the United States are grappling with uncertainties after the US government halted scheduling interviews for student visas, although a consultancy said online bookings were still available on Wednesday. Kitty Wu, director of Hong Kong-based education consultancy Litz USA Student Service, said that her company was still able to schedule visa interviews on Wednesday morning despite the US government order emerging the previous night. According to a...

Politics

1 week ago More Hong Kong schools at risk of closing as authorities tighten class size rules

Hong Kong education authorities will tighten the requirements for public secondary schools to continue operating as the student population declines by raising the minimum enrolment number and cutting some of the alternative options allowing them to survive starting in September. Members of the sector said on Tuesday they expected the new measures would speed up the closure of less popular schools, while students with poor academic performance might even be asked to repeat the same grade to meet...

Events