Hong Kong students have been ranked second in an international reading test, with education officials saying this shows teachers managed to continue to help pupils during the pandemic.

The city's primary four students were beaten only by their counterparts in Singapore in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, which was carried out in 2021 in dozens of countries and territories.

Hong Kong University researcher Dr Cheong Choo-mui, who participated in the study, said 70 percent of places suffered a decline in scores amid the pandemic.

“We’re happy that Hong Kong didn’t suffer that much. Hong Kong actually has that kind of strength and resilience to go through it because our parents are there to support their children,” Cheong said.

“The home support, as well as the whole system has been able to support our children to go through the whole period.”

In a statement, the Education Bureau said that during the pandemic, the SAR managed to achieve “suspending classes without suspending learning”, adding that this was by no means an easy task.