Hong Kong prodigy breaks maths exam record -report

HONG KONG, Aug 17 (Reuters) A nine-year-old Hong Kong maths prodigy has become the youngest person to gain two A grades for his British A-levels, exams usually taken at 17 or 18, local media reported today.

March Boedihardjo, an Indonesian-Chinese boy resident in Hong Kong, gained an A in mathematics and one in further mathematics, while he got a B in statistics, the South China Morning Post reported.

He was nine years and three months old when he sat the exams in the summer.

The previous record was believed to have been held by Ganesh Sittampalam, who scored an A in maths in 1988 when he was nine years and four months old, the Post said, citing British media reports.

Britain's examination authorities do not release the personal data of candidates, making the record difficult to verify.

Tony Boedihardjo, the boy's father, said he was very happy his son had set the record, but refused to allow him to be interviewed or photographed as the publicity could have ''a negative effect on his development'' according to the newspaper.

REUTERS LPB HT1027