Our Work in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, The Library Project focuses on making books easier for children to access in the places where they already learn and spend time. Reading Corners bring age-appropriate books directly into classrooms and community spaces, while Book Donations strengthen existing collections and give children a wider range of reading choices.

Our Literacy Programs help children build stronger reading habits, comprehension, and confidence. Through Training & Support, we work with educators and community partners to help them use books more effectively, strengthen literacy activities, and create environments where reading becomes a regular part of children’s learning.

We also provide Capacity Building for local literacy nonprofit organizations in Hong Kong. This support may include mentoring, program development, fundraising guidance, planning tools, and other practical resources that help organizations strengthen their work and expand their long-term impact.

Literacy in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has one of the strongest-performing education systems internationally, but recent results show that reading outcomes have weakened. In PISA 2025, 78 percent of Hong Kong’s 15-year-old students reached at least the baseline level of reading proficiency, compared with 69 percent across OECD countries. At the same time, 22 percent did not reach that baseline level.

The longer-term trend is also important. Hong Kong’s 2025 results were lower than in 2022 in reading, mathematics, and science, and were the lowest recorded for Hong Kong since it began participating in PISA. Compared with 2015, the proportion of students performing below the baseline reading level increased by 13 percentage points.

Differences in educational opportunity also remain. PISA 2025 found that socioeconomic background continued to influence student performance, even though the gap in Hong Kong was smaller than the OECD average. Schools also reported some continuing resource constraints, including shortages of educational materials such as textbooks, technology, and library materials.

These trends show that even in a high-performing education system, continued access to engaging books and strong literacy support remains important. The Library Project contributes by placing books directly into learning environments, providing Literacy Programs, strengthening educators through Training & Support, and investing in locally led organizations through Capacity Building.