Results of the Central Allocation for entering Primary One in Septemberwill be released this Saturday, the Education & Manpower Bureau says.

A total of 23,180 children took part in the Central Allocation of the Primary One Admission. Of them, 19,150 (or 82.6%) were allocated to schools of their first three choices, higher than last year's 78.6%, the bureau said.

Taking into account the discretionary places and the number of children allocated to schools of their first three choices, the overall satisfaction rate is 91.8%, also higher than last year's 89.7%.

Under the existing system, 10% of the Central Allocation places (Category A) are earmarked for unrestricted school choices, while the remaining 90% (Category B) are for parents to choose schools in their home school net.

Of the children allocated places in the Central Allocation, 2,635 are under Category A and 20,545 are under Category B.

78.1% choose schools within home net

The bureau pointed out among those applicants who made unrestricted school choices, 78.1% chose schools in their home net as the first choice, showing parents tend to send their children to a school near their residence.

Parents who completed a "Choice of Schools Form" for Central Allocation in January this year are advised to return to the Central Allocation Centre of their home school net on Saturday or Sunday from 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm to collect the "Primary One Registration Form".

They should bring along their copy of the "Application Form for Admission to Primary One" or the "Choice of Schools Form" for identification purposes.

The "Primary One Registration Form" will show the name and address of the school to which their children are allocated, together with the dates for registration and some notes to parents.

Parents are requested to complete the registration formalities on June 7 or June 8. Registration hours for AM schools are from 9am to noon and those for PM schools are from 2pm to 5pm. For whole-day schools, the registration hours are from 9am to noon and 2pm to 4pm.

If parents cannot register their child with the allocated school on the specified dates, they must contact the school beforehand to make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, they will forfeit the place allocated.

Upon registration, the "Primary One Registration Form" should be surrendered to the school. Parents should note that all places allocated are final, and requests for re-allocation without valid justification will not be entertained.

In cases of special difficulties, such as moving to another school net far from the school allocated, should parents decide to give up the place allocated, they need not register their child with the school.

They are advised to seek assistance from the School Places Allocation Section, 2/F, Lui Kee Education Services Centre, 269 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

They should bring along the "Primary One Registration Form", the original and copies of documents showing proof of the new address, such as a rental contract, rates demand notes, or water or electricity bills bearing the name of the parent or the guardian of the child.

If parents find it necessary to transfer their child to another school after registration, they are strongly advised to get some assurance of acceptance before they retrieve the "Primary One Registration Form" from the original school because retrieval of the form means cancellation of the allocated school place.