Disabilities overcome by star pupils
A wheelchair-bound pupil secured a Form Six place at a top school while two pupils with sight problems scored eight distinction grades in the exams.
Mak Chi-kin, a disabled pupil who has been studying at Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School, scored 20 marks and has been admitted to Hang Seng School of Commerce. His results were the minimum for admission to the school, which has a reputation for the quality of its students.
Chi-kin, 17, said he developed an interest in maths when he was young and wanted to be an accountant. 'Before receiving the report card, I was very nervous. I didn't expect to score 20 marks,' he said. Chi-kin was diagnosed with a congenital disorder when he was eight months old and uses a wheelchair. His right hand is weak and tires easily after writing, his mother says. 'I took about four hours to finish the accounting paper,' he said.
The school would make adjustments to stairs and computer rooms to help him get around, said the president of Hang Seng Management College, Chui Hong-sheung.
Two pupils with problems seeing colour, Wong Chung-yin from Kwun Tong Government Secondary School and Raymond Chan Chi-yiu from Sing Yin Secondary School, each scored eight distinction grades in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. They scored As in the six subjects they took and obtained the top grade in English and Chinese languages.
They both have red-green colour blindness, which prevents them from seeing certain colours with similar tones, such as red and brown or blue and violet. The genetic condition most affected the 16-year-olds in chemistry and biology.
'When we mixed solutions in chemistry experiments, sometimes I couldn't tell the result because I couldn't identify the colour. On such occasions, I had to ask for the help of my classmates and teachers,' Chung-yin said. He had to put in extra effort when studying illustrations in biology textbooks, asking classmates or family about the colours which he would then write down. He was bothered by his sight condition when he was younger but now says it's a blessing in disguise.
'Maybe because of this condition, I am not fond of playing computer games and watching TV. Staying away from these temptations allows me to focus more on my study.'
Raymond feels the same way. When he discovered his condition in Primary Six, he worried it might limit his career. But he now realised it barely affected his daily life.
