HONG KONG: HKCEE results proved the makings of an exciting day for students trying to put their lives back together at the city's only drug rehabilitation school.

Students at Christian Zheng Sheng College didn't qualify for Secondary Six admission, but to the 11 students from the school who sat the exam, the results were something to treasure.

The youngsters felt they had made a remarkable achievement, and at the same time, proved to their families that they are reforming.

The college's highest achiever was 20-year-old Auyeung Pui-lam, who came to the college four years ago after a conviction for theft. He scored eight points on the exam, passing all seven subjects for which he sat.

"I got all passes. I have not expected that. I have passed the one worrying me most, English," Auyeung yelled over the phone to his mother.

Auyeung had worried that he would not get his results slip yesterday because of the heavy weather. He said he prayed Tuesday night, and woke up at 5:40 am yesterday. When he got the results, tears came to his eyes.

"My effort is not wasted," he said.

Auyeung want to offer the slip as a gift to his deceased grandmother, who reminded him always to study hard. The one-time problem youngster once considered giving up. The example of Zheng Sheng graduate Wilson Wong, who will enter Lingnan University to study accounting in September, proved an inspiration. "I would not be who I am today without the help of Zheng Sheng," he said.

Auyeung decided to pursue career development for a few years before going back to his studies.

Thirty-year-old student Tsang Wai-ngor looked disappointed after learning about her result. She scored zero points in the exam, well below her expectations. She had hoped she could pass the Chinese Language exam.

Tsang has been through difficult times in her life. She abused drugs for a long time before pledging to quit the habit when she came to rehab and accepted Christianity. A romantic entanglement pushed her right back into drugs.

Adding to her feelings of despair, her mother and younger brother were killed in 2003. One year later, determined to reform, she entered Zheng Sheng.

Tsang found studying extremely difficult. Her ability to concentrate was impaired by her past history of drug abuse. She is still on meditations to cure systemic lupus erythematosus and the effects of drug abuse.

"I keep thinking about my mother whenever I face difficulties," she said. "I think she would be happy about what I become now."

(HK Edition 08/06/2009 page1)