Hong Kong schools appear to have staunched the problem of shrinking enrolment as fewer Primary One classes are being cut this year, according to official data, with the sector attributing the improvement to an influx of children of mainland Chinese talent.
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According to Primary School Profiles 2025 released on Monday, there are 1,569 Primary One classes in public schools this year, 12 fewer than the 1,581 in 2024.
Last year, there were 26 Primary One classes fewer than in the 2023-24 school year.
Jessie Cheung Chok-fong, chairwoman of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council, attributed the better figures to the influx of children of talent from the mainland.
“I think they are the main source of new students, as more than half of the talent from the Top Talent Pass Scheme decided to stay in Hong Kong. If they stay, their children will probably stay in Hong Kong to study,” the primary school head said, referring to those who had applied to renew expiring visas.
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Official figures announced around two weeks ago showed that the visas of 13,678 individuals under the talent scheme had expired as of July 31, with 7,394 or 54 per cent, submitting applications for an extension to stay in Hong Kong.