St Paul's Co-ed Primary Admission Briefing Draws 1200 Parents; Some Mainland Families Spend HK$100,000 Monthly on Child Development
SingTao · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School, a Direct Subsidy Scheme through-train prestigious school, held its Primary One admission briefing on September 7, 2026, drawing approximately 1,200 parents and students. Many arrived an hour before the 5:30pm start time. Principal Cheung Wai-chun detailed the selection criteria focusing on communication skills, concentration abilities, and interpersonal attitudes. The event drew numerous mainland families who have settled in Hong Kong and Top Talent Pass scheme attendees, reflecting the growing competition for quality primary school places.
Key Points
- The school's 2026-27 annual tuition fee is HK$85,700, with 150 places available; applications close on September 11 at 4pm and must be submitted online
- Parent Wang, who arrived via the Top Talent Pass scheme in 2023, revealed her elder son successfully entered Diocesan Boys' School Primary Division after initially attending an ordinary primary school
- Parent Meng, a Hong Kong-born PolyU graduate who has lived in the city for nearly 20 years, spends approximately HK$100,000 monthly on her son, covering international kindergarten tuition, horse riding, fencing, and English lessons
- Parent Chen, a Hong Kong University master's graduate, currently pays about HK$10,000 monthly for her daughter's painting, dancing, music, and interview preparation classes
- Principal Cheung emphasized that candidates must pass a school nurse health check before interviews; those who feel unwell during the process will have their interviews cancelled
Why It Matters
The overwhelming attendance at this single school's briefing highlights the intense competition among parents—particularly those from the mainland and Top Talent Pass holders—to secure places at Hong Kong's elite primary schools. This trend reflects broader demographic shifts as the city attracts talent through various schemes, reshaping the educational landscape and intensifying resource allocation discussions across the public and private schooling sectors.
The overwhelming attendance at this single school's briefing highlights the intense competition among parents—particularly those from the mainland and Top Talent Pass holders—to secure places at Hong Kong's elite primary schools. This trend reflects broader demographic shifts as the city attracts talent through various schemes, reshaping the educational landscape and intensifying resource allocation discussions across the public and private schooling sectors.