Border test for mainland DSE candidates

Forty mainland Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education candidates have run into difficulties with two-way permits and the 14-day quarantine requirement that would prevent them from taking part.

Lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, who is helping them, called on the authorities to be flexible in helping to solve the candidates' dilemma.

"They told me that the two-way permits they have are only valid for 14 days. Although all are willing to observe the quarantine order, they already have to head home with no time left for the exams after 14 days in quarantine," Leung said.

She called on the Education Bureau and the Immigration Department to exercise discretion in dealing with the problem.

"Most of the candidates are from Guangdong, and they have already rented a place to live. The only problem yet to be solved is their two-way permits," Leung said.

One or two of the mainland candidates have gone to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and plan to arrive in Hong Kong one day prior to their exams, according to Leung.

She added that some of the candidates attempted to cross at Shenzhen Bay on Tuesday, and asked the Immigration Department to grant them an extension of stay, but the request was rejected.

"Some of the candidates have to sit for an exam on March 27, but they still could not find a way to do so, while some of them also tried to enter Hong Kong from other countries to evade the quarantine orders," Leung said.

"I think immigration policies should be based on reason as well as compassion.

"Authorities only need to exercise discretion, and the candidates from the mainland will have enough time to take the exam."

Meanwhile, the supervisor of an international kindergarten which announced on Wednesday that it is closing down in July is applying to take over the school.

Wellcome International Kindergarten in Tuen Mun was set to close by August 1.

However, principal Chau Man-yan said yesterday that although the sponsoring body of the kindergarten decided to close the school, supervisor Ko Mei-yin has applied to the Education Bureau to take over.

Chau said: "If the supervisor's application is granted, staff members and the classes will remain unchanged.

"There are students, alumni and parents signing a petition hoping the bureau can allow the school to continue its operation."

As the school is not subsidized by the government, and parents start losing their jobs since the outbreak in February, over 100 students have dropped out, Chau said.

"We have learned the landlord is going to increase the rent next year, the school management committee has no choice but to close the kindergarten."