Primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong directly funded by the special administrative region government will enroll their first foreign students in September, a local schools council said on Monday.

The Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council (DSSSC) said it will conduct a tour titled “Studying in Hong Kong, a Southeast Asian educational journey” to promote its plans. Their main enrollment target is students from Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Malaysia.

The plans are the latest step in Hong Kong’s efforts to promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. They align with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s Policy Address in September 2025, where he said the government would propel the city toward becoming an international hub for post-secondary education and high-caliber talent.

The plans apply to schools under the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS). Launched in 1991 by the city’s Education Bureau, it combines government funding with autonomy and grants schools flexibility in curriculum design, admissions policies, and management, providing students and parents with diverse options. The DSSSC acts as a guiding force for schools under the DSS.

Dion Chen, vice-chairman of the DSSSC, said the council will send its first delegation to Bangkok, Thailand, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday for a four-day tour. Face-to-face communication is the best way to recruit students, Chen said.

Southeast Asia was chosen as the first stop because of its geographical proximity to Hong Kong, according to Chen. The delegation will hold educational seminars and meet with local education officials to introduce its plans to qualified local schools.

According to the council, tuition and accommodation fees for overseas primary and secondary school students are estimated to be between HK$320,000 ($41,000) and HK$350,000 per year. The specific number of admissions has not been decided, the council added.

In addition to on-site recruitment, Chen said the council is cooperating with eight Hong Kong public universities to help foreign secondary school students gain admission to them.

The council has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to work on developing the Principal Recommendation Scheme (PRS), designed to assist foreign DSS school graduates in gaining admission to HKUST.

Quotas for the PRS will be handled independently and will not affect opportunities or resources for local students to pursue university studies, Chen said.

They will also explore organizing joint international outreach activities and invite students interested in applying to HKUST to participate in preparatory courses and related activities, while also supporting DSS schools in organizing summer courses for foreign students.

Margaret Wong, chairwoman of the DSSSC, said such cooperation embodied a sustainable platform for building the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.

The council has also signed memorandums of understanding with the University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, and the Education University of Hong Kong.

Chen said each institution has its own unique advantages in recruiting foreign students. The University of Hong Kong will assist them in applying for student visas and provide special support to aid them in their transition to university life. Meanwhile, the City University of Hong Kong has strong connections with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Contact the writer at thor_wu@chinadailyhk.com