Expatriates fleeing Hong Kong’s draconian pandemic restrictions are struggling to secure places for their children at Singapore’s top private schools, prompting some families to think twice about relocating to the rival financial centre.

International schools across Singapore told the Financial Times that they had received multiple times more inquiries than normal but were unable to meet the unprecedented demand.

Many international businesses are making plans to move staff from Hong Kong, where schools were closed again in January as the territory tightened restrictions. Companies including JPMorgan and Bank of America have considered relocations as border closures and tough quarantine measures make travelling from the city to meet clients almost impossible.