HKLSA is the first-of-its-kind research project in Hong Kong for tracing the patterns of transition of adolescents from 15 to 25 years old. It is conducted in 4 phases: (1) senior secondary years from age 15 to 18; (2) the 1st to 2nd post-secondary years from age 18 to 19; (3) the 3rd to 4th post-secondary years from age 20 to 21; (4) the 5th to 7th post-secondary years from age 22 to 25. The participants are students who participated in PISA 2012 at age 15. They were born around the time of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, when major education reforms have begun, which adds to the historic significance of this ten-year longitudinal project.

The first phase of the project, with the support of the Research Grants Council, investigates how and why adolescents choose different pathways after secondary education. The second phase has been supported by the South China Programme. It is a qualitative study which explores deeply the transition process of adolescents in their own voices. The third phase has gained the support of the Research Grants Council again and will continue to trace the patterns of transition of adolescents, especially how and why they transit from one pathway to another. The fourth phase will then be planned for based on the findings of the previous phases.