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Hong Kong university entrance exams will go ahead as scheduled, with Penny’s Bay to host infected test takers, close contacts

  • Education chief Kevin Yeung says centres will be set up at the government isolation facility for exam candidates who are close contacts of Covid-19 patients or infected themselves
  • However, those who choose to sit the exam at the special centres will then have to remain at Penny’s Bay for a full stint in quarantine, which lasts at least seven days

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Students take their university entrance exams at Queen Elizabeth School last year. Photo: Pool

Special centres will be set up at the Hong Kong government’s isolation facility at Penny’s Bay for university entrance exam candidates who are close contacts of Covid-19 patients or infected themselves, with the annual assessments scheduled to start from April 22.

Education authorities on Monday said candidates who chose to sit the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams at the special centres would then have to remain at the facility for a full stint in quarantine, which lasts at least seven days, depending on their vaccination status.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said a total of HK$20 million (US$2.6 million) would also be spent on providing rapid antigen tests to all candidates sitting the exams, as they and the invigilators would have to be tested on every exam day.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung discusses arrangements for the Diploma of Secondary Education exams on Monday. Photo: Pool
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung discusses arrangements for the Diploma of Secondary Education exams on Monday. Photo: Pool

Yeung said the decision was made after considering the improved epidemic situation, as well as the views of schools and students. He said the government would announce changes in the arrangement as soon as possible if the health crisis worsened.

The city recorded 3,138 infections and 90 Covid-related deaths on Monday, marking the eleventh straight day that the daily number of cases dropped, and bringing the total infection tally to 1,174,560.

Under the arrangement, infected candidates who are well enough to take the exam or those under isolation because they are close contacts can do so at the Penny’s Bay facility, which will be vacated except for patients whose home conditions are not suitable for isolation.

These candidates should email the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) or call the hotline at 3628 8860, and book a Covid-19 designated taxi to Penny’s Bay before 6.30am on exam days.
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