http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010809/od/education_dc.html

Thursday August 9 11:33 AM ET

Smoking, Singing Whiz Kid Tops School Exams

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Encouraged by his mother, a Hong Kong teenager smoked, drank, gambled, sang karaoke and played video games all the way to 10 straight As in the territory's most competitive examinations.

Chan Kwan-kit scored 10 As in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, which determines whether students can continue with pre-university courses or have to leave school.

``If I had to do nothing but study to get my grades, then I'd rather not get them,'' he was quoted as saying in the Chinese-language Sing Pao newspaper on Thursday.

He was one of a record 17 students who notched up 10 As this year but his approach to studying made him stand apart from the other industrious students.

Kwan-kit says he has smoked for three years and frequented karaoke bars -- even during his exams. He is an avid pianist and member of the school choir.

Nonetheless, he still finds time to study, is taking classes in accounting and German this summer, and hopes to win a scholarship to Harvard University.

His mother, who sells newspapers, introduced him to drinking, card playing and the popular Chinese gambling past-time mahjong. She told the newspaper it was important to expose children to new things at the right time.

``He said he wanted to go into business. If that's the case, then drinking and gambling may become part of his life. I don't want him to know nothing else but studying,'' the mother said.

The qualifying examination puts enormous pressure on Hong Kong teenagers who have to fight for a limited number of pre-university places in government-assisted schools.

This year, there are just 24,300 places for 49,900 students making the grade. Those who don't score high enough have to start looking for jobs, find a place in costly private schools or go overseas to study.

A 16-year-old girl, who apparently could not bear the pressure, leapt to her death on Tuesday, a day before the results were released.

-- Tidbit (of@the.day), August 10, 2001