SED inspects boundary crossing and class resumption of cross-boundary students (with photos/videos)
8.2.2023

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, visited the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and the Shun Tak Fraternal Association Yung Yau College in Tin Shui Wai this morning (February 8) to learn about the arrangements of boundary crossing and class resumption for cross-boundary students. Normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland has fully resumed since February 6. Cross-boundary students have restarted their daily trips between the Mainland and Hong Kong to attend face-to-face classes in a gradual and orderly manner. Cross-boundary students of secondary schools have come back to classes in Hong Kong today (February 8), while those of primary schools, kindergartens and special schools will return to schools in Hong Kong starting from February 22. Dr Choi visited the Shenzhen Bay Control Point this morning to learn about the boundary crossing situation of the students. She was briefed by staff members of the Immigration Department and inspected the clearance facilitation for cross-boundary students and their use of public transport. She was satisfied with the overall smooth flow of the students entering Hong Kong and the transport arrangements. Dr Choi said that the Government has provided clearance facilitating services for cross-boundary students when they arrive in Hong Kong. Parents should be aware of the arrangements of traveller clearance and transport at each control point, so that they can choose the appropriate control point for their children and allow sufficient time for crossing the boundary to return to schools. She also reminded the students and parents to apply for relevant travel documents as soon as possible. Dr Choi then visited the Shun Tak Fraternal Association Yung Yau College in Tin Shui Wai and participated in the welcome ceremony for cross-boundary students, so as to understand the students' learning and emotional needs. She was briefed on the school's preparation and support for the class resumption of cross-boundary students and the arrangements of full resumption of face-to-face classes. She said that the orderly resumption of convenient cross-boundary movement for cross-boundary students returning to schools every day was the result of everyone's effort in fighting the epidemic in the past three years. She thanked the school and teaching staff for their continued commitment to work and professionalism during the epidemic. She encouraged students to grasp every learning opportunity and enjoy on-campus schooling with gratitude as well as positive and proactive attitudes. During the school visit, Dr Choi talked to the cross-boundary students, presented them with welcome bags, and made message cards to convey greetings and blessings to them as a warm welcome back. The Education Bureau (EDB) has provided suggestions on supporting cross-boundary students to adjust to the resumption of classes on the EDB's "Mental Health@School" webpage. Schools can plan and arrange on-campus activities to cater for students' needs. Schools and parents should pay special attention to the social and psychological conditions of those students after the resumption of classes and provide them with appropriate support. Along the path to full normalcy of society, local secondary schools have fully resumed whole-day face-to-face classes while primary schools and kindergartens will resume whole-day face-to-face classes from February 15. To safeguard the health of teachers and students, schools should continue to strictly put in place the various anti-epidemic measures stated in "Health Protection Measures for Schools" and the "Health Advice to Schools for the Prevention of COVID-19" prepared by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. Schools should always keep the school environment clean and hygienic.