Mainland China tutorial centre undeterred by warning over Hong Kong school ties

A mainland Chinese tutorial centre has pressed on with promoting a programme costing nearly HK$200,000 (US$25,480) a year that it claims can help pupils attend a Hong Kong subsidised secondary school with accommodation and “intensive training”, despite warnings from authorities, the Post has found.

A Post reporter posing as a parent was sent marketing materials on Wednesday, a day after Hong Kong’s Education Bureau demanded a report from Caritas St Joseph Secondary School over joint promotion efforts with the New Oriental centre.

A consultant from the mainland-based tutorial centre sent a brochure for its “Bauhinia ThriveCamp Programme” featuring a large section dedicated to introducing the secondary school in Tsing Yi.

The subsidised school is among the few in the city that provide student accommodation. According to the bureau, the school offers free tuition from Form One to Six.

The agent said New Oriental would arrange “targeted training” for students who signed up for the programme to help them secure a place in Hong Kong secondary schools.

He placed particular emphasis on Caritas St Joseph Secondary School, which he said provided accommodation, adding that students had a higher chance of being admitted there.