'Tiered emergency mechanism trial should be extended'
An education veteran on Thursday said the trial period of a mechanism that helps to identify primary four to six students with higher suicidal risks at an early stage, and offer timely support, should be extended for at least a year. The nine-month test run for the government-led Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism is set to conclude at the end of this month. From December 2025 to June…
Education expert Langton Cheung has proposed extending the trial of the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism for at least a year. The mechanism, which was launched in December 2025, aims to identify primary four to six students with higher suicidal risks and provide timely support. The nine-month pilot run is set to conclude at the end of this month.
During this period, 14 cases were referred to the Hospital Authority’s psychiatric specialist services. Cheung, honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association, stated that the figure emphasizes the importance of the mechanism and believes it should continue for another year before undergoing a review to enhance its effectiveness.
Cheung also highlighted the crucial role of parents in identifying pupils for early intervention. He noted that in cases where parents deny or refuse to acknowledge the problem, schools are left in a challenging position when seeking help under the emergency mechanism, as parental consent is required. To further improve the mechanism, Cheung suggested strengthening cooperation between schools and parents. The system currently offers a consultation hotline for principals to receive professional advice.
Written by urgent.news from RTHK English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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