**5. Conclusion**

While a number of students were interested in online learning prior to COVID-19, the study showed notable interest from more students after the pandemic. Most of the interested students are in the generation z and millennial groups which provides support for the use of online learning to back face-time learning in the future beyond the pandemic. The students noted capability in technological status towards online learning with the system just lacking a social touch. Thus, online learning will persist in being an essential tool for ESL education delivery in Hong Kong during and after the pandemic. Institutions and students are unlikely to give up technological advancements and contemporary tools adopted through the online learning platform also due

#### **Figure 15.**

*Digital learning protocol for Hong Kong EFL in higher education (Created for Study).*

to improved perception of the mode's effectiveness. Currently, the primary supporters of online learning pursue a degree and associate degree programmes which is a basis for future preference of the mode by students undertaking higher programmes. The study supports the adoption of online learning and digital pedagogy to associate facetime learning in the long term as the standard mode of education delivery.

The study has a few limitations. First, the data was collected from Hong Kong universities and colleges students and is thus limited to an economic and technologically advanced setup. Second, the results were limited to students' perceptions which leaves a gap for other stakeholders like teachers and institution administrations. Also, the effectiveness of the learning system cannot be properly assessed as the ultimate outcome will be observed during career executions in the future. Thus, the author recommends research persistence on the topic from other stakeholders' perspectives and developing countries' setup (**Figure 15**).
