Hong Kong authorities urge tutoring centre chain Little Frog Learning Centre to support clients after branches fail to reopen
Hong Kong authorities have called on a tutoring centre chain to provide support to its clients after parents reported its branches had failed to reopen, prompting worries over the organisation’s future.
Parents of children attending Little Frog Learning Centre said they received a text message from the company on Tuesday telling them of a temporary suspension of operations for internal reasons.
They were given the option to either receive a refund or wait for the centres to reopen.
But some parents reportedly said they had been unable to contact the individuals running the centres, prompting them to create a WhatsApp group for other worried clients, which had attracted more than 800 members.
Concerns were raised by parents who had paid several thousand Hong Kong dollars in school fees in advance, as they feared they might not receive a refund if the chain went out of business.
The centres offer extracurricular English courses, taught in small groups by native speakers, for children aged 2½ to 12 years old, according to descriptions on the company’s Facebook page.
Little Frog Learning Centre operates in Tin Shui Wai, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long.
Calvin Sze To Chun-hin, a Yuen Long district councillor, told the media he began receiving requests for help from parents on Tuesday.
He said the chain had told clients in its message that it would provide further updates.
Tuition fees paid by parents ranged between HK$1,500 (US$192) and HK$5,000, with some claiming amounts as high as HK$8,000, he said.
Mark Chong Ho-fung, of political organisation Roundtable, said he had received inquiries and calls for help, including from employees of the company.
He said customers were informed on May 1 that the centres would close for two days from May 3 to 4 for maintenance work, but they never reopened, with some parents already filing reports at Yuen Long Police Station.
Some employees told him Little Frog and its affiliated art education centres, Art Lab, owed them salaries for March and April.
The Education Bureau said the chain had seven private schools, located in Yuen Long and Tseung Kwan O, registered under the Education Ordinance.
The bureau said it was aware of the incident and had already contacted the company to gather more information.
It added the case was being taken seriously, with authorities maintaining close communication with the operator and urging it to provide appropriate assistance and support to those affected.
The Customs and Excise Department, which enforces Trade Descriptions Ordinance, has also received reports over the chain and is following up on the case.
Customs said appropriate enforcement action would be taken if it found any violations of regulations.
The Post has contacted Little Frog for comment.
