2026 Territory-wide System Assessment Report Shows Stable Student Performance in Hong Kong

HKEAA submits 2026 Territory-wide System Assessment Report

A spokesperson for the Education Bureau (EDB) today (November 5) said that the EDB had received the 2026 Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) report submitted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). The data shows that the performance of the Primary Three and Secondary Three students who participated in the assessment this year remained stable in the three major subjects of Chinese Language, English Language, and Mathematics, similar to the findings of the previous assessments.

The Education Bureau. Photo source: reference image

The spokesperson said, "The TSA report assists schools in understanding students' strengths and areas for improvement in Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics upon completion of the key stages of learning. The EDB is pleased to note that the TSA continues to be implemented smoothly under ongoing enhancement arrangements. The school sector has widely made use of the data from the assessment report, together with schools' internal assessment results, to optimise curriculum plans and learning and teaching strategies, thereby further enhancing students' learning effectiveness and serving the purpose of 'Assessment for Learning' of the TSA. The EDB expresses its gratitude to the school sector for continuously adopting diversified teaching strategies and measures to cater for the different needs of students, and raise teaching effectiveness.

"The EDB will continue to work closely with all stakeholders and review the operation and effectiveness of the TSA in a timely manner, with a view to enhancing its function of 'Assessment for Learning'. At the same time, the EDB will render full support to schools, including arranging teacher training, organising diverse activities and providing appropriate school-based support services, to strengthen teachers' professional capacities. Meanwhile, the EDB will continue to develop learning and teaching resources, such as continuously enhancing the Student Assessment Repository as a one-stop platform for learning, teaching and assessment, and exploring the application of AI in the repository to provide schools and students with a more flexible and diversified platform with instant feedback, catering for the different needs of students and enhancing their learning interests and abilities. Currently, the 'Student Self-selected Assessments' feature has been activated on the platform to encourage students to engage in self-learning outside classroom according to their individual needs."

In addition, in line with the EDB's strategy of promoting digital education, the HKEAA is taking forward the phased transition of the TSA to electronic assessment (e-TSA), with a view to achieving full transition by 2031. The HKEAA will announce the relevant arrangements in due course according to the progress of the implementation plan.

Students in Hong Kong. Photo source: referene image

The HKEAA will later directly provide primary and secondary schools with school-level data for use as feedback on learning and teaching. With a view to promoting and supporting schools in making effective use of assessment data and information to enhance learning and teaching, the EDB will hold thematic seminars on "Promoting Assessment for Learning" in December with regard to the 2026 TSA report. Teachers may enrol via the EDB training calendar.

Student performance figures of the TSA from 2024 to 2026 are shown in the Annex. Details of the TSA are available on the HKEAA's website (www.bca.hkeaa.edu.hk).

Hong Kong Customs takes territory-wide law enforcement actions against illicit cigarette selling points

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts in Hong Kong since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested.

Customs has been closely monitoring the market situation. It has also been staying alert to recent reports indicating that some retail points are selling illicit cigarettes, as well as "cheap whites" priced below the level of statutory duty. Customs is highly concerned about the situation and promptly met with relevant parties to gather information, upon which they conducted an investigation and prepared for the operation.

During the operation, Customs officers disguised as customers and conducted test buys at different cigarette retail points, including newsstands, grocery shops and hawker stalls. Some retail points were found to offer cigarettes for sale at a price less than the statutory duty imposed thereon. As at today (November 5), Customs has taken prompt enforcement actions against seven cigarette retail points in Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po, Tsuen Wan, Shau Kei Wan, Tuen Mun and Kwun Tong, and arrested the shop owners and staff. Ten persons, comprising five men and five women aged between 43 and 90, were arrested.

The operation is ongoing in different districts. If newsstands and retail shops are involved in offences related to duty-not-paid cigarettes, Customs will take prompt enforcement actions and will notify relevant departments for follow-up actions on matters related to leases and licences after the conclusion of court proceedings.

Customs reminds cigarette retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources and stay alert to cigarettes supplied at a price less than the statutory duty. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), if a cigarette is offered for sale or supply at a consideration the value of which is less than the rate of duty imposed on the cigarette, the cigarette is dutiable goods. In addition, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested. Photo shows one of the cigarette retail points connected with the cases. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested. Photo shows one of the cigarette retail points connected with the cases. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases