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A team of secondary school students has won one gold, three silvers, two bronzes for Hong Kong at the 47th International Mathematical Olympiad ˇXit's best medal tally.
Their outstanding performance lifted Hong Kong's ranking to an all-time high of 14th, up from 17th last year. Gold medallist Tsoi Yun-pui is the first Hong Kong team member to win four golds in successive attempts in cross-territory mathematical competitions.
The Olympiad was held from July 10 to 18, in Slovenia, with 90 teams of up to six members from various countries and territories participating.
Among the 90 teams in the 47th International Mathematical Olympiad, China scored the highest overall marks while Russia ranked second and South Korea third.
The competition's main objective is to promote mathematics education, foster friendly international relationships with fellow mathematicians all over the world, and to nurture and stimulate the development of mathematically gifted young people.
All Hong Kong team members are student members of the "Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme" under the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB). In collaboration with the Olympiad's Hong Kong Committee, as one of the measures for nurturing the mathematically gifted, the EMB organises the annual Olympiad Preliminary Selection Contest ˇV Hong Kong. Under the scheme, the students with an excellent performance in the selection contest receive training in a series of enhancement programmes and have opportunity to represent HK in the International Mathematical Olympiad. This year, the bureau made a greater effort to facilitate the collaboration of experienced trainers in HK and from the Mainland to conduct a pre-competition Mathematical intensive training camp for team members. The camp took place from May to July for strengthening team members' capability and confidence.
The scheme has undertaken the "Mentorship Scheme for Student Tutor Training for Exceptionally Gifted student in Mathematics" for nurturing the high potential of these students and optimising their whole-person development.
The bureau will continue to provide full support and sponsorship to the other HK teams for joining cross-territory mathematical competitions, such as China Mathematical Olympiad for Girls(CGMO), Western China Mathematical Olympiad(CWMO), International Mathematical Olympiad(IMO), etc.
This year, trainers Dr Chan Jor Ting and Mr Bobby Poon, as well as being IMO Hong Kong Committee members, were the leader and deputy leader of our HK team respectively.
The list of Hong Kong student team members is as follows:
Award Name School Name
----- ---- -----------
Gold medal Tsoi Yun-pui Secondary Seven of Sha
Tin Government Secondary
School
Silver medal Chung On-yip Secondary Five of Queen
Elizabeth School
Silver medal Fong Pok-wai Secondary Five of S.K.H.
Lam Woo Memorial Secondary
School
Silver medal Hui Jack Secondary Six of Queen's
College
Bronze medal Wong Chiu-wai Secondary Four of St.
Joseph's College
Bronze medal Yuen Chak-hei Secondary Six of Queen's
College
Ends/Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:20
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