Enactment of Educational Outsourcing in Hong Kong

This chapter starts with remarks from a school principal and a service provider to provide a glimpse into the scope of educational outsourcing (EO) in Hong Kong and the potential factors that shape the practice. The colonial background of Hong Kong and introducing EO without a grand announcement kept the public in the dark about its practice and prevalence. The purpose of this chapter thus is to familiarize readers with the phenomenon, including the services purchased, the stakeholders involved in the partnership, the typical cycle of their relationship, and the role each stakeholder plays. More importantly, drawing on policy enactment theory, the chapter examines the shapers of the practice. These insights will lay the foundation for readers to better understand the related issues to be discussed in subsequent chapters.