International Schools in Hong Kong: Diminishing Diversity?
Jun 23, 2025I’m reflecting on a growing concern among the parents I talk to: that international schools in Hong Kong are increasingly international in name only, not in nature. At Top Schools, we’ve been watching this trend unfold, and it’s time to set the record straight for parents navigating admissions.
What is “International”?
So, let’s now define what is an “international” student in an international school. It is a student that the school can count as having a passport other than the HKSAR passport. That means ALL HKSAR passport holders that also have a UK, US, Canadian or other passport. And here’s the kicker: PRC passports currently count as “international”!! This means some schools can easily meet/exceed quotas while enrolling more mainland Chinese students. For now.
All international schools aim for at least 70% international passport holders, some as high as 98%.
Competition
So it seems obvious to say but a child presenting as ‘international’ will have the edge over a local child. And a non Chinese child on an international passport will - all things being equal - have the edge over a Chinese child on an international passport.
Then, we hear the chat that admissions to top international schools have become easier since many expatriates left. I do not agree. Firstly, we need to be clear that the number of expats in Hong Kong has long been very small. And the number of expats able to afford high international school fees is tiny. And what even is an expat anyway?!!
In 2021, just 8.4% (619,568) of the population was non-Chinese, 55.4% being Filipino and Indonesian, many being Foreign Domestic Helpers.
That said, the vast majority of ‘international’ children in international schools are actually local children with additional passports.
So competition hasn’t waned; it’s evolved.
And the demand shows no signs of slowing. New schools establishing in Hong Kong are choosing NOT to be international and bypass the quota for international students. These schools include Wycombe Abbey, Stamford American and Dalton School. They are not international; they just happen to teach a non-local curriculum in English and/or Mandarin, not the local language of Cantonese.
Yes, it’s all very confusing so let’s not worry about the ethnic diversity of the students. We must accept that 92% of the population are Chinese and we should expect a similar mix in our international schools. We can seek diversity in other ways - in an institution’s thinking, its culture, and the experiences they provide - not just passport stats.
* Originally published in The Standard in June 2025.
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