The 2026 HKDSE results were released today (July 15), with St. Paul's Co‑educational College (SPCC) producing an impressive five top scorers, a testament to the school's enduring academic excellence.
St. Paul's Co‑educational College (SPCC) produced an impressive five top scorers.
Among them, the two top scorers, Choi Shin Hang and Chong Yee Lam, achieved 5** in six subjects and met the Citizenship and Social Development (CSD) requirement, while the three super top scorers, Wong Yik Ka, Chan Hoi Ran, and Ma Tuen Hang, went a step further, scoring 5** in seven subjects. All five students have expressed their firm intention to stay in Hong Kong to study medicine and pursue careers in healthcare.
Choi Shin Hang, who studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology, plans to apply to HKU's medical school. He revealed that he witnessed friends struggling with emotional challenges growing up, and at the time, lacking relevant knowledge, he did not know how to comfort or support them. He hopes that medical training will equip him with the expertise to help others in similar situations.
Choi's parents, both secondary school graduates who entered the workforce without a university education, have been a profound influence on him. He recalled that his mother taught him empathy and self‑authenticity, while his father reminded him to stay resilient and persevere toward his goals. From secondary school onward, Choi relied heavily on self‑study, gathering information online and referring to notes and past papers shared by senior students. He did not attend any tutoring classes in senior secondary school. "I'm truly grateful to myself for never giving up," he admitted.
Another top scorer, Chong Yee Lam, was pleasantly surprised by his results, particularly the 5** he achieved in Chinese. He disagrees with the idea of deleting social media during exam preparation, believing it to be an effective way to relieve stress.
He revealed that he has a congenital heart condition, experiencing episodes about every six months, and frequently visited hospitals as a child. This experience has motivated him to pursue medicine at CUHK, with the hope of contributing to Hong Kong's public health.
The 2026 HKDSE results were released today (July 15), with St. Paul's Co‑educational College (SPCC) producing an impressive five top scorers, a testament to the school's enduring academic excellence.
The super top scorer, Wong Yik Ka, who achieved 5** in seven subjects including Mathematics Extended Module 2 (M2), was also taken aback by his results. To manage pressure, he plays basketball and exercises, believing that adequate rest is essential for a long journey ahead.
Wong shared that a relative passed away from COVID‑19, an experience that deepened his resolve to study medicine at CUHK.
Another super top scorer, Ma Tuen Hang, who took Chemistry, Biology, Economics and M2, expressed gratitude that her results exceeded expectations. She said she would listen to English podcasts during commutes to sharpen her listening skills, and change her environment - such as moving from home to a study room - when she felt fatigued. She has not yet decided which university to attend, but is certain about staying in Hong Kong to study medicine.
The super top scorer, Chan Hoi Ran, was equally excited about her better‑than‑expected results. She believes time management is crucial, and makes it a habit to identify weak areas and dedicate extra effort to improving them. Her strong interest in biology has led her to pursue medicine in Hong Kong.
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
