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A team of six Hong Kong secondary students have achieved the best results for Hong Kong in a China Mathematical Olympiad (CMO), bringing home one gold medal, two silver and three bronze in the CMO 2010. It was the first gold for Hong Kong in the event.
The competition was held between January 20 and 25 in Chongqing.
The gold medallist, Ching Tak-wing (Secondary 6, Queen's College), also achieved the second highest score among the more than 200 participants. With another gold medal from the International Mathematical Olympiad in Germany last July, Ching is also the first Hong Kong team member to win two golds in six months in national and international mathematical competitions.
The silver medallists in Chongqing were Chung Ping-ngai (Secondary 6, La Salle College) and Yip Hok-pan (Secondary 7, Ying Wa College), while Yu Tak-hei (Secondary 5, La Salle College), Li Yau-wing (Secondary 4, Ying Wa College) and Ng Ngai-fung (Secondary 7, STFA Leung Kau Kui College) won bronze.
"As the CMO is contested by young elite mathematicians, the outstanding achievement of the Hong Kong Team in such a competitive contest is worthy of praise," the Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Gifted Education) of the Education Bureau (EDB), Mr Chan Pui-tin, said.
A ceremony to congratulate the Hong Kong team was held by the EDB and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre today (January 28).
CMO 2010 was hosted by the China Mathematical Society Olympiad Committee and organised by the Chongqing Nankai Middle School. A total of 223 mathematically gifted secondary students from 35 teams participated in the Olympiad, including teams from various mainland provinces, as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Russia and Singapore.
The CMO is aimed at enhancing and motivating students' learning of Mathematics as well as nurturing the mathematically gifted. It also serves to step up the exchanges of mathematics education among all provinces and territories of China.
During the competition, participants also had the opportunity to visit cultural relics and sightseeing spots in Chongqing. The Hong Kong students actively participated in sharing sessions to better acquaint themselves with the motherland and to boost their sense of national identity.
The Hong Kong team members received training under the "Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme" which was handed over by the EDB to the HKAGE in 2008.
The HKAGE and the International Mathematical Olympiad Hong Kong Committee (IMOHKC) are joining hands to provide structured enhancement programmes in Mathematics to help students develop their full potential. EDB continues to provide full support and sponsorship to Hong Kong teams joining national and international mathematical competitions.
The leader of the Hong Kong team was IMOHKC vice-chairman, Mr Leung Chit Wan, and the deputy leader was EDB Curriculum Development Officer, Mr Chan Siu-chuen.
Ends/Thursday, January 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:56
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