Hi,
Although I'm writing from outside HK at present, I want to help you because I lived in HK for over 14+ years, and it was like going through a clothes-mangle regarding finding an affordable school for our now 14year old. My husband had to take a local rate salary about five years ago, and so our son went to a local english-medium local school. We couldn't afford the ESF schools, which now have a long waiting list too. He attended the local school for three years, but continued not to do well. He was average at Primary, but became below-average at this school. His standard of written and spoken english went downwards, because the level of spoken english was not that of a native speaker-level. He didn't have enough command of Mandarin or Cantonese, which would be some compensation. I hated to be in a position whereby we were a minority, with local kids with bilingual abilities having more future opportunities available to them in HK than our son, a HK permanent resident. I know, I'm letting off steam here, but our experience shows you the alternative to the ESF/ International school route. PLEASE NOTE Maths ability is a high priority amongst local HK families and their children. They practice mental arithmetic to a much higher level than western children. Universities in the UK welcome HK students because of their renowned strong Maths skills. I just feel that HK society feels less and less any obligation to provide reasonably priced secondary education for expat kids. On the other hand, well-oof westerners and their teaching community also hike up the prices to retain some cheap "exclusiveness". One school in DB states their school hours as "business hours". Since when is a school a business? Only in Hong Kong, where your home is also run on business lines. So, good luck with your move! You will need it. According to local folk-lore 6 or 8 is lucky, no doubt some cynical tourist-shop owner will offer you something like that-with a smile for free.