Highs and lows in scramble for coveted Form Six places

The release of the exam results has sounded the starter's gun in a race to snap up Form Six places at schools across the city.

Some 25,000 places were up for grabs, but with over 47,000 students eligible to take them, competition was fierce. Only 4,938 places will be available from today. The Education and Manpower Bureau's website reported the first school to fill its Form Six classes - Cheung Chuk Shan College in North Point - had closed its doors to applicants by 8.32am. By 5pm yesterday, just over 80 per cent of places were taken.

Demand for places was so high that relatives began queuing outside sixth-form colleges late on Tuesday night. One man, who gave his surname as Choi, said he had been waiting outside Hang Seng School of Commerce in Sha Tin since 3am to secure a place at the head of the queue for his niece.

'I queued here all night to show my support for my niece and I hope she will be able to go to the school of her choice,' said Mr Choi.

Principal Chui Hong-sheung said competition was much stiffer for the 360 places at the sixth-form college after two students scored six As and another two achieved five As in their A-levels this year.

'Last year students gained automatic entry into the school with 20 points in their HKCEE but this year we have had to raise the bar to 23,' Dr Chui said.