Parents will soon have a new tool to navigate Hong Kong's diverse private school landscape, as the Education Bureau launches a voluntary listing system designed to boost transparency and strengthen the city's ambition of becoming an international education hub.

The initiative, announced on Tuesday by Deputy Secretary for Education Ida Lee in an article, follows the release of the new Code of Practice for Private Schools on January 30.

Together, she said the measures aim to create a clearer regulatory framework for self-financing schools – including international schools – while preserving the flexibility that has long defined the city's private education sector.

Under the voluntary system, private schools that meet standards in three key areas – legal compliance, good governance and protection of student and parent rights – can apply for inclusion on a public register.

The Education Bureau will publish basic school information, curriculum offerings and fee structures on a dedicated webpage once applications are vetted and approved.

Lee said the Advisory Committee on Private Schools, which includes representatives from tertiary education, the legal sector and a parent representative, held its first meeting in March to help shape the listing criteria.

The committee, she said, will recommend schools to the bureau for final approval.

"The entire assessment mechanism is built not only on a unified framework but also maintains appropriate flexibility to account for differences in scale and positioning across various types of private schools," Lee said.

The voluntary approach reflects a deliberate policy balance between regulation and autonomy, she said.

Rather than imposing mandatory requirements, Lee said the system offers schools a clear pathway for growth while giving parents a reliable reference point for school selection.

"Behind the list lies the fact that schools have reached a certain standard in key areas such as compliance, governance, and safeguarding the interests of major stakeholders," she said, adding that the register would "reduce difficulties in school selection caused by insufficient information".

The initiative stems from last year's chief executive's policy address, which identified private education as a cornerstone of Hong Kong's push to attract global talent.

Officials have framed the reforms as a way to place private education "on a more robust and sustainable optimisation track" while maintaining the diversified development for which the sector is known.

The Education Bureau will hold an online briefing for schools on April 23 to explain application procedures.

"From the formulation of the code to the implementation of the list, every step reflects the shared responsibility of the government, the industry, and society for the quality of education for the next generation," Lee said.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden