The Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) is instituted by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong to enhance the quality of private schools at the primary and secondary levels.[1] The Hong Kong government has been encouraging non-government secondary schools which have attained a sufficiently high educational standard to join the DSS by providing subsidies to enhance the quality of private school education since the 1991–92 school year.[2] In the 2000–01 school year, the DSS was extended to primary schools.[2] In the 2001–02 school year, the terms of the DSS were significantly improved to attract more schools to join the scheme.[3] Under the scheme, schools are free to decide on their curriculum, fees, and entrance requirements.[4][5]