Textbooks and learning materials on the Recommended Textbook List (RTL) and Recommended e-Textbook List (eRTL) are written in line with the curriculum documents issued by the Curriculum Development Council. They have been vetted as acceptable in terms of content, learning and teaching, structure and organisation, language, textbook layout, pedagogical use of e-features, technical and functional requirements, etc. Schools can make reference to the RTL and / or eRTL at www.edb.gov.hk/rtl or www.edb.gov.hk/ertl when selecting textbooks and learning materials, though it is not a requirement.

Schools may also use textbooks and learning materials not on the RTL or eRTL if they can meet the learning needs of their students. Teachers should exercise their professional judgement in preparing and choosing learning and teaching materials to meet the needs of their students. Teachers may use the free learning and teaching resources provided by the EDB and everyday authentic materials as supplementary teaching materials to enhance teaching effectiveness and reduce their reliance on textbooks. Teachers may make reference to the EDB One-stop Portal for Learning and Teaching Resources.  

The year of publication on the RTL and eRTL is the year when the textbook is first published after it has passed the vetting by the Textbook Review Panel. Schools requiring further clarification may contact the Textbook Committee Secretariat of the Education Bureau.

Those printed textbooks marked with "Reprint with minor amendments" are not new editions considering the small amount of amendments made. Students are not required to purchase the "Reprint with minor amendments" versions since the old textbooks can still be used. Teachers should assist students by providing the revised information from the publishers in the form of supplementary sheet or corrigenda to students using the old editions of textbooks.