The 2026 HKDSE results were released today (July 15). La Salle College, a prestigious traditional school, delivered an outstanding performance this year, producing one super top scorer and one top scorer.
La Salle College, Photo by Bastille Post
Chong Tsz Him, the top scorer, studied Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics Extended Module 2 (M2), in which he attained a 5** grade. He expressed his determination to remain in Hong Kong to study medicine and make contributions to society. He believes that the Citizenship and Social Development (CSD) subject helps cultivate civic awareness and a sense of belonging to Hong Kong.
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La Salle College, Photo by Bastille Post
Super top scorer Hui Lok (left) and the top scorer Chong Tsz Him, Photo by Bastille Post
Super top scorer Hui Lok (left) and the top scorer Chong Tsz Him, Photo by Bastille Post
La Salle College, Photo by Bastille Post
He enjoys listening to music to relieve stress, with a particular admiration for Alan Tam, though he was unable to secure tickets to Tam's September concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum. He also plans to travel with his family during the summer holidays.
Super top scorer Hui Lok (left) and the top scorer Chong Tsz Him, Photo by Bastille Post
On the topic of dog‑friendly restaurants, Chong said he believes the impact is minimal, and noted that he did not participate in the direct admission scheme. When asked about his post‑exam wish list, he jokingly said: "Getting eight hours of sleep." He encouraged next year's candidates to keep up their efforts, and revealed that he uses AI to review essay structures and rhetoric.
Hui Lok, the super top scorer, also took Physics, Biology, Chemistry and M2. His elder brother, also a La Salle alumnus and now a medical student, often shares study tips with him, particularly on time management.
Hui also hopes to stay in Hong Kong to study medicine. He believes that, having benefited from free education and social resources, giving back to society is the most meaningful outcome. He hopes that as a future doctor, he can interact with patients from all walks of life, understand their real needs, and make good use of technology and AI to help improve their health.
Super top scorer Hui Lok (left) and the top scorer Chong Tsz Him, Photo by Bastille Post
He has been diligently memorising notes for the CSD subject, saying it helps train critical thinking skills, not just for passing the exam. He plans to travel abroad during the summer and has already previewed lecture PowerPoints ahead of the new semester.
On dog‑friendly restaurants, he said he thinks it is a positive initiative for social welfare, but since he does not own a dog, he has not paid much attention to it. His wish list includes sleeping, listening to music, and watching movies. He also plans to test AI's capabilities by asking it to generate questions and challenge himself.
Despite the growing influence of AI in education in recent years, both students agreed on one point: teachers are still better than AI.
La Salle College, Photo by Bastille Post
The 2026 HKDSE results were released today (July 15). St. Paul's College celebrated one top scorer and two runners-up, alongside another remarkable success: a visually impaired student who overcame significant challenges to achieve outstanding results.
St. Paul's College, Photo by Bastille Post
James Zheng studied Mathematics Extended Module 2 (M2), Business, Accounting and Financial Studies (BAFS), and Economics, and achieved 5** in both English and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He has been admitted to the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Financial Technology programme at the University of Hong Kong through the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS).
James's visual impairment is caused by a congenital developmental condition. He has also participated in support programmes at the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. He requires specialised computer equipment for learning and is granted extended time during examinations.
He admitted that some people questioned his ability to use a computer when he chose his subjects, but he persevered. "I feel that studying is my only way out," he said, expressing hope that entering a good university would open up more choices for him. He believes Hong Kong is generally tolerant towards visually impaired individuals, but acknowledges that prejudice still exists. He hopes that securing a place at a good university and finding a stable job will give him a "safety net."
James Zheng, Photo by Bastille Post
James attended Toi Shan Association Primary School in Tuen Mun before studying at St. Paul's College. As for the college, it has a long-standing partnership with the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired, which consistently provides strong support for visually impaired students. Initially, his grades were average. He ranked around 80th, and he struggled with English, though he could still see partially. He worked hard and gradually caught up.
However, in Form 4, he became almost completely blind. The transition required extensive rehabilitation and learning to live independently, making it difficult to focus on his studies. His grades plummeted. He decided to repeat a year, and after adapting to his new circumstances, he slowly regained his academic footing.
To improve communication efficiency with teachers, James wrote a programme that converts Braille mathematics directly into printed mathematical symbols, significantly reducing what had been a lengthy conversion process.
In Form 4, James became almost completely blind. Photo by Bastille Post
James is deeply grateful for the school's support, particularly his mathematics teacher, who dedicated time each week to help him study and later recommended him for HKU's admission programme. The school has also provided him with various opportunities, including camping trips and overseas competitions, ensuring his visual impairment does not limit his experiences. Last year, he even represented the school at a competition in Europe.
James was satisfied and happy with his DSE results, though he felt his Chinese exam performance was not ideal, and found the M2 paper particularly challenging due to the need for electronic devices. Although he was a little nervous the night before results day, he was not overly anxious, having already secured his offer from HKU.
He is deeply interested in AI applications, believing they can assist visually impaired individuals in daily life and studies - for example, by describing images or helping with study summaries. However, he has not yet tried technologies like OpenClaw, citing potential security risks. He hopes to use his programming skills in the future to help visually impaired people and others in need.
Immediately after completing the DSE, James immersed himself in tech and AI-related activities in Hong Kong, including presenting an open-source project at the Hong Kong Open Source Conference. He also interned at City University of Hong Kong, working on AI-related projects. He intends to pursue undergraduate research in AI and hopes to broaden his horizons through the university's exchange programmes.
James Zheng, Photo by Bastille Post
He previously visited HKU and found the campus welcoming, and also has a strong interest in finance. He acknowledges that the job market changes rapidly and cannot predict his future career path with certainty.
James shared his learning philosophy: the earlier you prepare, the better. He read extensively in English during junior secondary school, building a strong language foundation. He rarely attended tutoring classes, only taking a few months of maths tuition between Form 5 and Form 6, and economics tuition a few months before the DSE. Instead, he prefers to study independently. He likes to take notes after reading, believing it enhances memory retention.
James hoped other visually impaired students would not care too much about others' opinions, even if some people hold stereotypes or try to discourage them. In his eyes, the most important thing is to pursue dreams. "As long as you are interested and feel capable, you should try — even if you fail, you won't regret it," he said.
James hoped other visually impaired students would not care too much about others' opinions, even if some people hold stereotypes or try to discourage them. Photo by Bastille Post
