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Six secondary school students representing Hong Kong in the 50th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) returned to Hong Kong today (July 23) with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. It was the best result for Hong Kong teams in three years.
The gold medallist is Ching Tak-wing, a Secondary Five student of Queen's College. He also won a silver medal in the China Mathematical Olympiad 2009 in January.
The silver medallists are Kenneth Hung Ka-kin (Secondary Five student of Diocesan Boys' School) and Lam Cho-ho (Secondary Seven student of STFA Lee Shau Kee College). The bronze medallists are Chung Ping-ngai (Secondary Five student of La Salle College) and Ng Ngai-fung (Secondary Six student of STFA Leung Kau Kui College). The sixth team member is Yu Tak-hei (Secondary four student of La Salle College).
The good results of the Hong Kong team marked the success of co-operation among the Education Bureau, the IMO (Hong Kong) Committee and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) in nurturing mathematically gifted students.
The students were selected to represent Hong Kong following their outstanding performance in the IMO Preliminary Selection Contest - Hong Kong in 2008 and the Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme.
The IMO was held from July 10-22 in Bremen, Germany. The main objectives of the competition are to promote mathematics education, foster friendly international relationships with fellow mathematicians all over the world, and nurture and stimulate the development of mathematically gifted young people.
Dr Leung Tat-wing, a member of the IMO (Hong Kong) Committee, was the leader of the Hong Kong team Dr Lau Yuk-kam, Assistant Professor of the Mathematics Department of the University of Hong Kong, was the Deputy Leader.
Information on the competition is available on the website of the Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme on (http://gifted.hkedcity.net/) and the HKAGE website (www.hkage.org.hk).
Ends/Thursday, July 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:49
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