Approximately 80% of Hong Kong's teachers are involved in crimes against children

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Hong Kong’s education sector is under intense scrutiny as a record number of teachers face deregistration over criminal and misconduct charges.

The latest figures reveal that 71 teachers lost their licences in 2024, with over 80% found guilty of criminal offences, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the profession.

According to the Education Bureau, cases of inappropriate teacher-student relationships more than doubled from three in 2023 to eight last year.

Instances of theft and deception saw an alarming surge from five in 2023 to 28 in 2024. While sex offence cases declined, 10 teachers were convicted of child abuse-related crimes.

Authorities have also reported that 15 of the deregistered teachers were convicted of serious offences such as rioting, unlawful assembly, and possession of offensive weapons or drugs.

In response, the Education Bureau has ramped up its oversight, conducting criminal record screenings every three years to ensure the safety of students.