8th November 2025 – (Hong Kong) Tsung Tsin Christian Academy’s athletics squad has been ruled out of this year’s inter‑school competition after a staff member reportedly failed to complete the online entry, pressing save without submitting. The slip‑up has left students fearing a relegation from Division Two (D2) to Division Three (D3) and lamenting that months of preparation have gone to waste. Team members urged the school to hold a parents’ meeting to explain the lapse and demanded an apology from the responsible staffer.
In a circular to parents issued on Thursday, the school said the failure to enter was very likely due to an operational oversight by a colleague, who saved but did not complete the submission step. The Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation was notified by phone and in writing, but the body declined to accept a late entry.
Following the disclosure, the school arranged for the vice‑principal, physical education staff, extra‑curricular activities team, counselling teachers and social workers to brief affected students and apologise on the school’s behalf. Some pupils were visibly distressed and received immediate emotional support.
A track and field athlete, speaking anonymously, said an instructional assistant handled the registration and criticised them for negligence. About 80 students are in the athletics programme, the student added, noting that some are in Secondary Five and will be focused on diploma examinations next year, reducing their ability to compete even if eligibility returns. Several teammates confronted the assistant, who was said to have responded dismissively.
The inter‑school athletics structure comprises three tiers, from D1 at the top to D3 at the base. Having earned promotion to D2 for the first time, the team now faces the prospect that a non‑appearance could be treated as a forfeit with relegation consequences. Students argued that the school’s proposed remedy—seeking alternative competitions—cannot replace the once‑a‑year inter‑school meet, which many already enter independently.
The Education Bureau confirmed receipt of the school’s incident report, saying families had been informed and support would be provided to those affected. Officials reminded the school to attend closely to the emotions of students and parents, pledging ongoing liaison, advice and assistance.
The school said a task group led by the vice‑principal has been formed to investigate, and the current registration procedures will be comprehensively reviewed to prevent a recurrence. The Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation and the school have been approached for comment.