Hong Kong pupils living in mainland China begin long cross-border journeys to Tsing Yi schools each day

A school in Tsing Yi welcomed its first batch of cross-border pupils on Tuesday, but almost two hours later than expected due to confusion at a border crossing.

A total of 20 Hong Kong children living on the mainland were allocated places to study at Tsuen Wan Trade Association Primary School this year, but 11 gave up their spots because their parents were worried the journey each day would take too long, said school principal Chow Kim-ho.

To ease their concerns, Chow went up to Shenzhen on Tuesday morning to meet the group of nine children - some of whom had to wake up as early as 5am - and accompany them back to Tsing Yi on the school bus, which arrived at the school at 10am.

Chow said the children were delayed at the Huanggang border control point for an hour and a half due to confusion over a new arrangement that allows pupils to stay on the bus while passing through the checkpoint.

Watch: The long commute: how two young students travel over 2 hours from Shenzhen to Hong Kong every day for school

He said Shenzhen immigration officials needed to collect the children's personal information as part of this new arrangement, which took time. He said they would not have to go through this process again in future however.