15 Hong Kong schools risk closure as falling numbers trigger Primary One ban

Fifteen Hong Kong public primary schools are at risk of closing after being banned from operating subsidised Primary One classes in the coming academic year due to insufficient enrolment, with authorities saying the figure is the highest in recent years.But Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also warned on Tuesday that more closures were expected if school operators refused to plan for mergers.The institutions at risk comprise one government and 14 subsidised schools, with Deputy Secretary for Education Ida Lee Bik-sai describing the number as “a record high in recent years”.Among the tally is city leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s alma mater, the Five Districts Business Welfare Association School in Sham Shui Po.Others include Shau Kei Wan Government Primary School in Eastern district and the Fresh Fish Traders’ School in Tai Kok Tsui.Choi noted that the number of students joining the Primary One allocation system for the 2026-27 school year had dropped by 4,000 compared with 2025-26, resulting in 15 public primary schools being unable to secure the required 16 students each to operate a Primary One class.