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Five secondary students representing Hong Kong have grabbed three gold medals and two silver medals at the 42nd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in Thailand.
This is the eighth year that Hong Kong students have participated in this Olympiad since 2004, and this year's team is the sixth to win gold after successes in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
The gold medallists are Secondary Five student Andy Loo (St Paul's Co-educational College), who is ranked 15th in this world contest; Secondary Six student Chau Tsz-ki (CNEC Christian College), ranked 29th; and Secondary Five student Harry Cheung (Diocesan Boys' School), ranked 36th. Cheung was previously awarded Best Contestant in the 7th Pan-Pearl River Delta and Chinese Elite Schools Physics Olympiad held in February 2011 and was awarded gold in the Asian Physics Olympiad 2011 held in May in Israel.
The silver medallists are Secondary Five student Wong Yu-fu (SKH Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School) and Secondary Five student Wong Yuk-fai (Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College).
The good results place the Hong Kong team seventh in the world rankings. The co-organisers, the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Education Bureau (EDB), are delighted with the performance of the students and pleased that the students' hard work has been rewarded. The students are trainees of the Physics Enhancement Programme commissioned to HKUST by the HKAGE. With outstanding performance in the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad 2010, they were selected to take part in a series of enhancement courses before participating in the IPhO 2011. The delegates' trip was funded by the EDB.
The IPhO this year was held from July 10 to 18 in Bangkok, Thailand, with 400 contestants from 85 countries and regions participating. The event is aimed at promoting education in physics, strengthening interaction and co-operation among experts in physics worldwide and training and inspiring teenagers who have enormous potential in physics.
The leader of the Hong Kong Team was Professor Michael Wong of HKUST and the deputy leader was Professor Du Shengwang of HKUST. A physics postgraduate of HKUST, Mr Ma Guancong, and a physics teacher at International Christian Quality Music Secondary and Primary School, Mr Cheung Shi, served as observers.
Ends/Monday, July 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:37
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