The results of the Diploma of Secondary Education, released in July, looked like good news for young people. About 35 per cent attained the magic Level 3 or above in both Chinese and English-language tests, and at least Level 2 in maths and liberal studies - the minimum needed to qualify for a place.
But what we need to watch out for is the disparity between male and female achievement in the exam. Last year, the difference was alarmingly marked, with 45 per cent of girls receiving 3, 3, 2, 2 in those core subjects, compared to 30 per cent of boys, according to the Examinations and Assessment Authority's report published earlier this year.
Seventy-eight per cent of girls achieved Level 2 in five subjects - needed for entry to sub-degree programmes - compared with 69 per cent of boys.
The gender gap in the first sitting of the HKDSE was much wider than in the A-levels sat by Form Seven students last year, in which 60 per cent of the female candidates met the requirements for university places, just 3 per cent more than the boys.
Of course, more boys had been screened out at the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination level, with girls accounting for 53 per cent of the A-level candidates. In total, around 18,300 A-level students qualified for degree courses - much fewer than under the new system.