All Hong Kong schools to remain shut till March 16

All Hong Kong schools to remain shut till March 16

All schools in Hong Kong will remain shut until at least March 16.



This was announced by the Education Secretary Kevin Yeung on Thursday, as the city shores up measures to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus which has spread across the mainland and beyond.



Yeung said this is not an extension of the Lunar New Year holidays and lessons will be held online instead.



When asked why classes aren’t suspended for an even longer period, Yeung said: ”There is in fact over a month of suspension period [from today], which I think is quite a reasonable amount of time for the time being.”



He added that officials need to balance the interests of students, parents and schools.



“We will continue to take into account the professional advice of health experts, readiness of schools as well as epidemic preventive materials in the community in deciding the exact date of class resumption,” he said.



The government first extended the Lunar New Year holiday for schools until February 17, and later delayed the return of schools until March 2.



Yeung also said the government will provide a one-off subsidy to kindergartens to help pay for cleaning work.