Hong Kong students' performance in assessment projects showed that the students' Chinese level has been improved, according to an official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Kenneth Chen, Acting Secretary for Education told legislators that Hong Kong students' reading ability is consistently higher than the international standard.

According to 2007-2009 data, there is a continuous increase in the percentage of day school first attempters in the Certificate of Education Examination Chinese Language obtaining Level 2 or above, from 71.6 pct in 2007 to 73.3 pct in 2009.

"The percentage of day school first attempters in Advanced Level Examination Chinese Language and Culture obtaining Grade E or above have also continuously increased from 94.1 pct in 2007 to94.7 pct in 2009," Chen said.

He added that only certain candidates had written wrong Chinese characters in public examinations.

However, he also pointed out that Hong Kong students still have room for improvement and the government will continue to further improve the curriculum.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2009)