Hong Kong school to seek feedback, review phone ban after student outcry

School says it has noted differing views from students and parents on the new rules, set to take effect in the coming weeks

A Hong Kong secondary school facing student backlash over newly tightened mobile phone rules has said it will seek further feedback from stakeholders and review the policy’s scope and implementation.

A source also told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday that Kwun Tong Maryknoll College had planned to extend the policy to all students after launching a pilot scheme for Form Three and Four students.

In a letter to parents on Tuesday, principal Caroline Sin Nga-lam said the school had noted differing views from students and parents on the new rules, which are set to take effect in the coming weeks.

The new policy will ban Form Three and Four pupils from using mobile phones on campus and require devices to be stored in lockers, accessible only during designated time slots. Violators would receive four demerits each time and those found with a phone would have their devices confiscated.

“The school will further solicit feedback from all stakeholders in the near future and review the scope, implementation details and related arrangements for appropriate adjustments,” Sin said.

“The school will provide parents with an update on the follow-up direction as soon as possible after completing the initial review,” the principal added, stopping short of revealing a time frame.