Hong Kong’s university entrance exams go ahead amid pandemic, but more than 300 candidates miss out
- Coronavirus crisis forced officials to postpone tests originally expected to start on March 27
- Candidates wearing masks and sitting 1.8 metres apart take exams against backdrop of Covid-19
Hong Kong’s long-awaited university entrance exams began on Friday morning amid the coronavirus pandemic, with at least six candidates unable to take the tests due to fever or other illnesses, while almost 300 others withdrew either because they were sick or outside the city, according to the supervising authority.
Many of the 3,300 candidates sitting the visual arts exam at 8.30am arrived more than an hour early as traffic was mostly smooth in the morning.
They were among the 52,000 candidates who originally expected to begin their Diploma of Secondary Education exams on March 27. But the tests were pushed back amid a daily surge of Covid-19 infections, despite the cancellation of overseas exams such as the International Baccalaureate and IGCSE.
Among the 350 exam centres located at secondary schools, 51 were hosting the visual arts written exam. Candidates were required to have their temperature checked upon entering the venues and had to fill in and submit health declaration forms.
Officials said anyone with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) would be asked to leave and see a doctor, and would be assessed using their internal results at school.
