Cookie Policy
This policy explains how the Pearl Sextant website uses cookies, what each category does, and how you can manage your preferences.
Last updated: March 2025
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device when you visit. They allow the site to remember certain information about your visit — such as your language preferences or whether you have seen a particular notice — so that the site can function properly and, where permitted, be improved over time.
Cookies are not programs and cannot carry viruses or malware. They are widely used across most websites and serve a range of purposes, from making a site work correctly to helping us understand which pages are most useful to visitors.
2. How We Use Cookies
The Pearl Sextant website uses cookies for two broad purposes: to make the site work as intended (essential cookies), and to understand how visitors move through our pages so that we can improve the information we offer (analytics cookies). We do not use cookies to serve advertising or to track you across other websites.
We do not use cookies to collect or process any sensitive personal information. Where we collect contact details — through the contact form on our homepage — those are handled separately and governed by our Privacy Policy.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
These are required for the site to function. They handle things like your cookie consent preference (so we don't ask you again on every visit) and session continuity. You cannot disable essential cookies through our preference centre, though you can remove them via your browser at any time.
Analytics Cookies
With your consent, we use anonymised analytics data to understand aggregate visitor behaviour — for example, which course pages are most visited or how people find our site. This data is not linked to any individual. It helps us make our educational content easier to find and more useful to read.
Functional Cookies
These remember choices you make to improve your experience, such as page layout preferences or which sections you have already read. They are optional and have no bearing on the core operation of the website.
4. Cookie Reference Table
The table below lists the specific cookies used on this website, along with their purpose and duration.
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
ps_cookie_consent |
Records whether you have accepted or declined optional cookies, so we do not display the cookie notice on return visits. | 12 months | |
ps_session |
Maintains session continuity while you browse between pages of the site. | Session | |
_ga |
Used to distinguish unique visitors. Set by Google Analytics. Data is anonymised before processing. | 24 months | |
_ga_* |
Maintains session state for Google Analytics measurement. | 24 months | |
ps_layout_pref |
Remembers display preferences selected during your visit, such as text size or section state. | 6 months |
All durations are approximate. Session cookies are removed when you close your browser.
5. Your Cookie Preferences
You may adjust your preferences for optional cookies at any time using the controls below. Essential cookies cannot be disabled here, as they are required for the site to function.
Essential Cookies
Necessary for the site to work. These cannot be turned off.
Analytics Cookies
Help us understand aggregate visitor behaviour so we can improve the site.
Functional Cookies
Remember display preferences you choose during your visit.
6. Browser Controls
In addition to the preference controls above, all modern browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through their settings. The process varies by browser:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
Please be aware that disabling essential cookies through your browser may affect the normal functioning of this website. Disabling analytics or functional cookies will not affect your ability to read our content or make an enquiry.
7. Third-Party Cookies
Where analytics cookies are accepted, the website uses Google Analytics (operated by Google LLC) to process aggregated, anonymised visit data. Google's own privacy and cookie policies apply to their services and are separate from this policy.
We have configured Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled, so that no full IP addresses are stored or processed. We do not share analytics data with any other third party, and we do not use it for any purpose beyond improving this website's content and navigation.
We do not use any advertising, social media, or cross-site tracking cookies.
8. Policy Updates
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example if we add new features to the website or if relevant regulations change. Updates will be published on this page with a revised "last updated" date. Where changes are material, we will reset cookie consent notices so that returning visitors are informed.
9. Contact
If you have any questions about how we use cookies on this website, please get in touch:
Pearl Sextant
15/F, Harbour East, 280 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
+852 3762 5184