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Hong Kong has scored one gold, one silver, one bronze and an honourable mention in its debut at the 35th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in South Korea. The gold medal winner also won the President's Award for best performance from a competitor from a country that is new to the olympiad - three years or less.

The Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Gifted Education) of the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB), Mr Chan Pui-tin, congratulated the Hong Kong team at the press briefing today (July 23) on its return from South Korea.

Mr Chan said, "The Hong Kong team was selected from the beneficiaries of the EMB's 'Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme'. Introduced in 2001, the scheme provides different series of structured enhancement programmes in sciences, mathematics and leadership and interpersonal skills to help develop the potential of gifted students.

"In recent years, the scheme has expanded the scope of training. In collaboration with tertiary institutions, pluralistic training activities are organised to cater to different students' attributes and needs," he added.

Last year, the EMB jointly organised the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad 2003 with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). As one of the measures to challenge and nurture students gifted in physics, participants with outstanding performance in the competition were selected to take part in series of physics enhancement programmes conducted by the professors of the Department of Physics, HKUST. After a year of training, five students were selected to represent Hong Kong in the 35th IPhO.

The 35th IPhO was held from July 16 to 22 and more than 70 five-strong teams from various countries and regions participated.

This year's competition aimed to promote physics education and to discover, encourage and challenge youngsters gifted in physics. It also helped foster friendly international relationships with fellow physicians all over the world.

The Hong Kong team was led by Professor Yang Zhi-yu of HKUST, who also took an active part in staging training programmes for the students, and the Curriculum Development Officer (Science) of the EMB, Mr Lau Yiu-hon.

The list of medallists from Hong Kong is as follows:

Gold: Mr Sum Sung-fung from Secondary Six of Kwun Tong

Maryknoll College

Silver: Mr Ho Kin-fai from Secondary Six of St Mark's School

Bronze: Mr Cheung Shi from Secondary Six of Sing Yin Secondary

School

Honourable Mention: Mr Law Man-lung from Secondary Six of

Po Leung Kuk No. 1 W H Cheung College

Mr Sum Sung-fung also won the "President's Award".

Ends/Friday, July 23, 2004

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