Hong Kong  - Children are being pulled out of Hong Kong's top international schools in unusually high numbers as the global slump forces expatriates to quit the city, a news report said Monday.

Up to 50 students have left each of the wealthy city's most prestigious fee-paying international schools in recent months as expatriates are recalled, the Hong Kong Standard said.

One brokerage house analyst quoted by the newspaper said 10 students aged 14 to 16 had left international schools in recent weeks alone because their parents were leaving Hong Kong.

International schools quoted by the Standard denied having unusually high rates of student departures but said they were concerned about the potential effects of financial downturn.

Hong Kong is home to tens of thousands of expatriates, mostly from the US, the UK and Australia, whose children make up more than 50 per cent of international school pupils.

The city of 6.9 million is home to some of the world's most expensive international day schools with basic fees ranging from 775 to 2,000 US dollars per child per month. (dpa)