The Education Bureau today announced that two new primary school premises in North District are open for applications by eligible bodies under the the First School Allocation Exercise 2022.

The new primary school premises under planning are located at Area 17, Fanling North New Development Area and Area 29, Kwu Tung North New Development Area. Both are for reprovisioning of existing aided primary schools.

The bureau said although a persistent decline in school-age population in Hong Kong is expected in the future, it is still necessary to construct new school premises in the new development areas to meet the demand for school places, and to tie in with the long-term development of the Northern Metropolis.

This School Allocation Exercise is open to applications for reprovisioning of schools within the district as well as from other districts.

Factors to be considered in assessing the applications include the school sponsoring body's school plan, its operation track record and the school proposed to be reprovisioned. Other elements include the district in which the school falls within and the physical condition of the school's existing premises, with quality of education as the prime consideration.

Applications from schools with a site area smaller than 3,000 sq m and premises older than 30 years, which have not benefitted or have only marginally benefitted from the School Improvement Programme, warrant serious consideration.

Regarding cross-district applications, one of the key considerations is whether the proposed reprovisioning will help improve and balance the demand and supply situation of public sector primary school places among districts.

In line with the established arrangement for reprovisioning, the successful school sponsoring body must, upon the school's moving to the new premises, return its existing school premises to the Government.

Applications must be submitted by 5pm on April 19. Details can be found online.