Eight top local students – all from different schools – received perfect scores as more than 40,000 secondary school students got results from their university entrance exams on Wednesday morning.

Tsang Chi-pang was among those who achieved level 5** in all subjects. While level 5 is already the top level in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams, level 5* is a distinction reserved only for the highest-achieving 30 percent of level 5 scorers, and 5** is just for the top 10 percent.

He was the the first student ever from Carmel Secondary School in Ho Man Tin to get a perfect score.

Tsang said the result was unexpected, saying he had a difficult journey preparing for the exams amid the pandemic, especially when he caught Covid-19 in February.

Now, he plans to study finance at Chinese University.

Seven other students achieved perfect scores.

They are from Queen Elizabeth School, Pui Ching Middle School, Heep Yunn School, La Salle College, Diocesan Girls' School, Queen's College and King's College.

Of the top scorers, six plan to study medicine in Hong Kong.

Many other students who had very high scores, including Henry, a high flyer from Ying Wa College who scored 5** in four subjects and 5* in three, are also planning to study medicine.

"Medicine has always been my dream... especially when undergoing Covid, I feel the Hong Kong medical system needs the new generation and I think studying medicine is my way of devoting myself to society," he said.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority has said the competition for university places will be less intense this year due to a drop in the number of candidates.

Education Secretary Christine Choi congratulated all the students on graduating and starting a new phase in life.

She encouraged them to take the opportunity to pursue their dreams according to their interests and abilities.

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Last updated: 2022-07-20 HKT 13:21