PANIC, distress and anxiety or jubilation will not only be evident at secondary schools this morning when HKCEE candidates come to collect their results, but also at some correctional services institutes.
This year's HKCEE recorded the highest number of candidates from the Correctional Services Department since 1985, when the department started arranging for its inmates to take the exam.
The candidates included 39 boys from the correctional institutes in Stanley, Pik Uk, Tai Lam, Siu Lam and Cape Collinson, and one girl from Tai Lam.
The number of candidates has risen by almost 70 per cent. Last year, 23 male and one female inmates obtained a 85.7 per cent average passing rate, with two distinctions, 12 credits and 34 passes among the 56 exam papers taken. This was the best results the department has ever had.
Department spokesman Ying Wai-chuen said most candidates were between 18 and 21 years of age.
Sixteen of them sat for a full certificate, that is, five HKCEE subjects including Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics. Arts and Business subjects such as Commerce, Economics, Accounting and Chinese History were also popular.
''We haven't particularly encouraged students to sit for the public examinations, but we have all-day classes on weekdays for young offenders who are interested in studying,'' Mr Ying said.