A6: You may wish to note that permission for non-locals to enter or reside in Hong Kong for any purpose is at the discretion of the Director of Immigration. Thus, non-local children may enter or reside in Hong Kong for the purpose of education, only with the approval of the Director of Immigration. For further information about immigration matters, please call 2824 6111 or send a mail to
enquiry@immd.gov.hk. Upon clearance from the Director of Immigration about the conditions of stay and study in Hong Kong, the children are eligible to study in Hong Kong. As the education systems and curricula of other countries are not the same as the local ones, schools will interview the applicants and assess the level suitable for the applicants before admitting them.
The New Academic Structure (NAS) has been implemented since September 2009. Under the NAS, all students will have the opportunity to study up to Secondary 6. Students with different abilities, interests and aptitudes can give full play to their talents through the broad and balanced senior secondary curriculum. Apart from taking the four core subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies), students can choose 2 to 3 elective subjects. These elective subjects can be chosen from NSS elective subjects of different Key Learning Areas, Applied Learning courses and/or other language courses. The curriculum breaks the barrier of traditional arts and science streaming. The subjects are diversified. They suit different students' interest, aptitudes and abilities. Through the participation in Other Learning Experiences, students can acquire learning experiences of moral and civic education, community services, physical and aesthetic education and career-related experiences, etc. The knowledge and learning experiences in NSS curriculum are broader and richer than previous curricula. Students' pathways for further education and employment are thus more diversified. The new curriculum can also foster a broader scope of views and life-long learning abilities for students. After completing six years secondary curriculum, students may attend the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination for admission to university. For details of the qualification of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, please contact Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.