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For: Ziyan Huang, 17, Harrow International School Hong Kong
Earlier this year, it was reported that eight international school operators in Hong Kong failed to meet the government’s non-local student admission targets.
This policy for international schools, which aims to maintain a majority of non-local students, is designed to preserve the schools’ “international” character.
Yet clinging to this outdated quota not only threatens the financial viability of these institutions but also ignores Hong Kong’s evolving demographic composition and role in a new global world order.
Thus, Hong Kong should increase the quota for local students at international schools, as failing to do so ultimately hinders Hong Kong’s competitiveness domestically and internationally.
The government requires international schools to maintain a non-local student ratio of at least 70 per cent. But this quota has become difficult to fulfil as Hong Kong’s expat population – long the primary targets for international schools – has fluctuated.
Beyond impracticality, this quota perpetuates a narrow vision of what it means to be “international.” True international education is defined not by a student’s passport but by the curriculum and the exchange of ideas in the classroom. A school does not cease to be international simply because more students hold Hong Kong passports.
Critics argue that admitting more local students to international schools would accelerate the enrolment decline currently plaguing Hong Kong’s local schools, potentially forcing some to shut down. However, this argument assumes a zero-sum game in which local and international schools are direct competitors for the same pool of students.
International schools offer a distinct curriculum and environment, meaning that a local student who enters an international school has not been “taken away” from the local system. Rather, this student likely would have sought an overseas education regardless.
Barring local students from international schools using quotas does not guarantee they will stay in the local system. Instead, it may push them abroad, which drains Hong Kong of both talent and tuition fees.
Increasing the quota for local students at international schools would benefit Hong Kong and mean greater access to education, diversity and choice for all.
Against: Connie Liu, 16, St Rose of Lima’s College
International schools in Hong Kong are facing difficulties in enrolment as they cannot meet their quotas for non-local students. According to the city’s Education Bureau, the proportion of non-local students at some schools had fallen to as low as 39 per cent in the last academic year, compared with targets of 50 to 98 per cent.
To help these schools and keep them safe from the risk of closure, some have suggested increasing the quota for local students. However, I completely disagree, as this does not solve the problem and also has drawbacks for students.
Hong Kong has long been known as a global city. It even ranked as the most international city in Asia in the Asian Cities Internationality Index 2025. The index is compiled by global market research firm Ipsos and was commissioned by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Still, the drop in the number of international students illustrates how the city’s status as an international one is declining. Increasing the number of local students at international schools will not help this reputation.
Moreover, raising the quota might intensify the “rat race” among local students, heightening academic pressure. They may not have felt as much pressure to win a spot when they knew there were fewer ones available for them.
Pupils applying for international school likely also come from highly competitive academic backgrounds, so adding more places may only increase the sense of competition.
There is also a risk that students might not adapt to the different teaching style.
Hong Kong’s various international schools base their curricula on those from Britain, the United States, Australia and other countries. The general learning environment at an international school in Hong Kong differs significantly from that of a local school, which could pose challenges for students and staff.
Instead of raising the quota for local students, we should focus on exploring additional ways to boost non-local enrolment. For instance, the city can enhance its overall talent-attraction policies, streamline visa procedures for overseas working families and promote Hong Kong’s international system to global communities. These measures can increase the number of foreign pupils.
