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07 February 2012
Expats "leave Hong Kong due to lack of schools"

A report in the Daily Telegraph newspaper has highlighted a potential reversal in the number of British expat professionals moving to Hong Kong due to a shortage of school places.

The numbers of British expatriates choosing to move to Hong Kong increased dramatically by 50% in 2010 and 2011due the continued growth in financial services in the region, whereas by contrast Europe continued to suffer the after effects of the credit crunch with slow growth and a reduction in headcount within financial services.

However, the Telegraph report highlights the knock-on effects of the rapid growth in the expatriate population, with school places not keeping pace with demand from expatriate families. The increase in British expats is putting significant strain on the international schools, which have a relatively steady 36,000 places available for students each year.

For example, the Hong Kong Academy alone has seen a 35 percent increase in applications for places in 2011. As a result, some British expats are considering alternatives such as nearby Singapore, as placements at international schools are somewhat easier to secure there.

The shortage of school places attests to Hong Kong’s dramatic success as a regional financial and trade centre as Asia’s growth continues unabated. The Hong Kong government is addressing the shortage of school places by opening 5,000 new school places this year and next, as well as limiting the number of local children who can enrol; however, space in Hong Kong is at a premium with developers more interested in constructing apartments and office blocks than schools.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk