Hong Kong accused of 'ignoring affordability' after granting land to elite British, Dubai schools
Government ignoring affordability by awarding sites to famous institutions, claims lawmaker
Three elite international schools have been granted sites to open shop in Hong Kong.
Two of them are famous British boarding schools Shrewsbury School and Malvern College. The third operator, Dubai-based ESOL Education, runs nine international schools around the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Civic Party lawmaker Dr Kenneth Chan Ka-lok accused the government of "ignoring affordability completely" by granting sites to these expensive schools.
Meanwhile, International Montessori School in Tin Hau, whose contract with its landlord is due to end next year, failed to secure a site in the land grant exercise.
"These elite schools charge very high prices," said Chan. "Middle classes, even professionals, will not be able to afford it. The Education Bureau ignored affordability completely."
The government's decision to grant a site in Tuen Mun to Harrow International School in 2009 drew much criticism and debate on whether land should be granted to expensive elite schools.
The bureau announced yesterday the allocation of five sites for international school development, including two vacant school premises in Aberdeen and Tai Po, and three green-field sites in Tseung Kwan O and Tai Po.
