Hong Kong families urge return of student grant amid textbook price increase

AI-summarized · Neutrality-checked

Hong Kong parents and concern groups urged authorities to reinstate student subsidies following a 3.6 percent increase in textbook prices for the 2026-27 academic year. According to Education Bureau data, this represented the sharpest price rise since 2020, as the ratio of frozen book prices dropped to a record low of 20 percent. The price surge, which pushed costs for a list of textbooks to between HK$4,000 and HK$6,000, was attributed to rising production costs linked to a shift toward digital learning tools. Yeung Chi-lin of T.H. Lee Book Company noted that the transition to digital materials reduced print runs, creating a difficult environment for the publishing business.

Consequences

Families face increased financial pressure due to the removal of pandemic-era price freezes and rising costs for educational materials. The continued shift toward digital learning tools may further strain the traditional publishing market and potentially incentivize more parents to seek second-hand alternatives.

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