Members of a fraternity group for families with roots in a mainland city earn extra points to secure places for their children at the exclusive school run by the society.
Children whose parents are members of the Wai Chow Sheung Shui Clansmen Association get an extra five points towards a discretionary place at the Sheung Shui Wai Chow Public School - a rule that has angered some applicants, who queried the transparency of the process.
Four children compete for every discretionary place at the school in North District.
Bruce Law Wai-man, whose son missed out on a place, said he would have considered joining the society had he known of the rule. His son scored 15 out of a possible 35 in the system, which takes into account other links to the school - including whether a child has siblings there or parents who are alumni - and religion.
"I feel the policy is not very transparent," Law said. "When so many people are competing for a few places, five points is important. It's not very fair."
He said it didn't make sense to give children of alumni priority. "I can understand giving places to those whose siblings are at the school … But what's the point of extending it to graduates?"