No classes until mid-August

July 20, 2020

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung: 
We anticipate at this stage that classes of all schools, including international schools and kindergartens which used to start their new school year early, will not commence earlier than August 17. The final commencement date will be dependent on the development of the epidemic. We will notify the schools as soon as the final decision is made and will allow at least two weeks for their preparation. 
 
We have gained some practical experience from the class resumption arrangement from May to June this year, such as resumption by phases and levels, half-day schooling, as well as the various crowd control and health protection measures. We will continue to consider the commencement of the new school year along these directions. 
 
Since June, we have arranged a group of Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 students, who are cross-boundary students (CBS) (attending classes) at the same time to attend school under some special arrangements. The special arrangements for CBS demand considerable time, resources, and preparation work on the part of the schools, parents as well as students themselves. 

The arrangement involves a number of issues, including the anti-epidemic policies of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, cross-boundary immigration control as well as transportation arrangements. We also have to take the health and safety of teachers and students as well as the general public of both places as prime consideration and consider also the capacities of various parties. 
 
Unless public transportation and more boundary control points can resume service in the immediate future, we can only consider continuing the arrangement for the same group of students - that is Secondary 4 to Secondary 6 students - to come to Hong Kong, subject to further discussion with the Mainland authorities.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

In light of the latest COVID-19 situation, the Government anticipates that classes of all schools, including international schools and kindergartens, will not commence earlier than August 17.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung made the remarks during a media session today, noting that the decision was made to protect the health of teaching staff and students, adding that it is impossible for international schools and kindergartens to start the new school year in the first half of August as scheduled.

"The final commencement date will be dependent on the development of the epidemic. We will notify the schools as soon as the final decision is made and will allow at least two weeks for their preparation."

He added that the Government and the education sector have gained practical experience from the May to June class resumption arrangement, such as resumption by phases and levels, half-day schooling, as well as various crowd control and health protection measures. They will consider the commencement of the new school year along these directions.

On cross-boundary students, Mr Yeung pointed out that the special arrangements carried out earlier for Secondary 3 to 5 students to attend school demand considerable time, resources and preparation work.

"The arrangement involves a number of issues, including the anti-epidemic policies of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, cross-boundary immigration control as well as transportation arrangements. We also have to take the health and safety of teachers and students as well as the general public of both places as prime consideration and consider also the capacities of various parties.

"Unless public transportation and more boundary control points can resume service in the immediate future, we can only consider continuing the arrangement for the same group of students - that is Secondary 4 to 6 students - to come to Hong Kong, subject to further discussion with the Mainland authorities."

He also noted that special arrangements are unlikely to be made for cross-boundary students in Secondary 3 or below to come to Hong Kong at the beginning of the new school year, adding that the Government will work with schools to arrange home learning for these students and provide the necessary support.