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The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (May 12) congratulated eight secondary students on their achievements at the 16th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO). The Hong Kong team achieved the city's best ever results at the APhO, returning home proudly with three gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals and two honourable mentions.
One of the gold medalists was Secondary Five student Wong Yat from GT (Ellen Yeung) College and the youngest member in the team. He also won the "Best Solution to the Condensed Matter Physics Problem". The other two gold medalists were Secondary Four student Tai Wai-ting from Queen Elizabeth School and Secondary Five student Wong Yuk from Diocesan Boys' School. The silver medalist was Secondary Four student Frankie Lam Shun-leung from Diocesan Boys' School. The bronze medalists were Secondary Five students Gabriel Wong Chun-hei from La Salle College and Lee Chun-ting from Carmel Pak U Secondary School, while the honourable mentions went to Secondary Five student Cheung Chun-tung from CCC Heep Woh College and Brian Yang from Diocesan Boys' School.
"This year's good results mark the success of collaboration among the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and the Education Bureau (EDB)," Mr Ng said.
"To nurture diversified talents in the science and technology fields with a view to enhancing the international competitiveness of Hong Kong we are strengthening science, technology and mathematics education, including furthering curriculum development, organising a cross-disciplinary symposium, enhancing teacher training, holding an integrative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Fair for students, and strengthening collaboration among schools, tertiary institutions, professional bodies and the industries concerned."
The APhO contestants were trainees under the Physics Enhancement Programme at universities, and commissioned by the HKAGE. Following outstanding performances at the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad 2014, these students were selected to take part in a series of enhancement courses before taking part in the 16th APhO. The trip was funded by the EDB.
This year's APhO was held from May 3 to 11 in Hangzhou with around 190 contestants from 25 countries/regions participating in the event. The APhO aims to promote physics education and strengthen interaction and co-operation among physics experts in Asia, as well as to train and inspire teenagers who are highly talented in physics.
The Physics Department of the HKUST will host the 2016 APhO in Hong Kong in May next year. Schools are urged to support the event and actively participate in the related activities. Details of the activities are available on the Facebook fan page of the Organizing Committee of the 2016 Asian Physics Olympiad (www.facebook.com/apho2016).
Ends/Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:00
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