Apart from the places offered by the eight government-funded local universities, there are higher diploma and associate degree programmes. The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, for example, organises several practical training courses that equip students for the employment market.

Enoch Young Chien-ming, special adviser to the director of University of Hong Kong, School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU Space), said the advantage of doing sub-degree courses was that they allowed students to find their real interests before taking up further studies.

'Under the Hong Kong university education system, it is too early for [Form Seven graduates] to decide their study path,' he said. 'On entering university, they must decide what they want to study [as their major subjects]. But in overseas universities, students study general subjects in their first two years before specialising in the final two years.'

Professor Young said Hong Kong was headed in the right direction with the introduction of the four-year degree programme in 2012, and scrapping the British education system.

There are many good sub-degree programmes on offer. 'If students work hard, they stand a good chance of advancing to the university level. I've seen many sub-degree graduates return to school after working for one or two years to obtain a first degree. They are very successful,' said Professor Young, who was director of HKU Space for more than 10 years before stepping down recently.

At Polytechnic University's Hong Kong Community College, which was established in 2001, an average of 70 per cent of associate degree graduates were able to continue with their university education. Last year, 72.4 per cent succeeded, with one-third enrolling in government-funded universities; the rest studied at self-financed universities.

Simon Leung Tak-wing, Polytechnic University's Hong Kong Community College director, said graduates should first consider their abilities and interests before choosing their sub-degree courses.

They should also consider the quality of programmes, teachers and the study environment before committing themselves.

'It is important for these institutes to increase their transparency to allow the public to know more about their teaching quality and student academic performance,' he said.

Last month, 139 students - part-way through an associate nursing degree at the Hong Kong Institute of Technology - were informed that they could not become registered nurses as the Nursing Council had refused to recognise the course.

Dr Leung described this incident as 'anecdotal', regarding it as an individual case rather than a widespread problem in Hong Kong.

However, Fung Wai-wah, the convenor of an alliance concerned with sub-degree education, noted that the policy for monitoring associate degree programmes had many grey areas and the government should not rely on operators' own regulations.

For example, he said, if an associate degree course enrolled unqualified students and if the Education Bureau found out, the whole course should be scrapped.

He added that the government did not have the manpower to check every school, thus enabling unscrupulous colleges to continue taking risks.

Mr Fung said students should check the background of the college to ensure that it was reliable and officially registered. 'It is vital to make sure that their courses are accredited by both the government and the relevant professional body,' he stressed.

Clement Ng Po-shing, vice-director, student guidance centre at the Hok Yau Club, said in view of the rising concern about the quality of associate degrees, the centre would hold related talks on July 7 and 9.

The centre has also conducted workshops offering guidance counselling skills for Form Seven teachers. 'Although we have professional counsellors, we believe that teachers can play the role more effectively as they know their students better,' Mr Ng said.

'Many teachers are too involved in teaching and have lost touch with the rapid development of the education system. They are university graduates and some may have negative feelings about associate degree programmes.'

With the mainland's robust economy, many students are becoming interested in studying there, hoping to find employment across the border.

The Hok Yau Club has received many inquiries in this regard. It has also organised talks with the Chung Hwa Travel Service, Taipei's de facto representative office in Hong Kong, with a view to getting A-level graduates to study in Taiwan.

The Hok Yau Club's hotline (25033399) for A-level graduates and parents has been open, between 10am and 10pm, since last Saturday.