Most pupils get secondary school picks amid exodus

Many primary six pupils and their parents were rejoicing after receiving results of the allocations of secondary school places yesterday.

The allocation process involved 52,055 students - 2,057 fewer than last year. Some 92 percent of students were allocated schools among their top three choices.

At Yaumati Catholic Primary School, nearly 94 percent of students were set for one of their top three choices, such as Wah Yan College, Kowloon, St Francis Xavier's College, True Light Girls' College, Queen Elizabeth School, La Salle College and St Paul's College.

Principal Lourdes Yu Pui-kam also said more students have been immigrating, with around 30 having left the SAR this year. "As far as I am aware," she said, "the loss of students is more serious in secondary schools. But the current immigration wave does not seem to have changed parents' strategy in choosing secondary schools. They continue to adopt a conservative and safe approach." Yu also said the results were the most satisfactory in five years, with most students going to secondary schools in nearby districts.

A female student, Chan, managed to get into St Rose of Lima's College in Sha Tin. "I feel happy with the result," she said, "and I'd like to celebrate by staying in a hotel."

Her father said: "We felt nervous when waiting for the results. Our daughter spent over half a year taking tutorial classes in oral English skills because it's important for her to speak English confidently and fluently during interviews."

A boy, Ho, was given his first choice of St Francis Xavier's College in Tai Kok Tsui. "We were so nervous we could not sleep," his mother said. "We will celebrate by going for a buffet."

And the mother of a girl at the Fresh Fish Traders' School in Tai Kok Tsui said it was like "winning a Mark Six draw" when her daughter was assigned to her first choice.

Parents and students also queued for interviews outside La Salle College in Kowloon Tong yesterday, as they wanted to have one last try to compete for a place despite having been assigned to schools on their preferred lists.