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To promote innovation and technology development, the Government spared no effort to create an innovation culture and foster creativity and interest among youngsters, in addition to providing funding support and improving the technological infrastructure for them, the Acting Financial Secretary, Mrs Carrie Lam, said today (May 31).
Officiating at the prize presentation ceremony of the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition 2008, Mrs Lam said that to cope with the knowledge-based economy in the 21st century, innovation and technology provided the impetus for sustaining economic development, hence nurturing of technology talents had received much attention all over the globe.
She added that China had achieved rapid development in innovation and technology in recent years and aimed to boost economic and social development through technology.
'The Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition' is one of the core government programmes to promote an innovation and technology culture in the community. Moving towards its 10th anniversary, it has become one of the most popular competitions for students. More than 3,000 students have produced outstanding investigation reports and inventions under the encouragement of teachers and guidance of advisers in the past 10 years. Some students have even won awards in international science competitions.
Last year's champions of the competition, secondary students Lau Tak-kin and Lau Tak-shing, won the Second Class Award with their invention "Anti-bump Lock" at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in the USA earlier this month. Following the foot-steps of their fellow students Chan Yik-hei and Chan Ka-kin, two asteroids will be named after them.
Mrs Lam said, "It is most encouraging that four Hong Kong students have won in this major international competition in the short spell of three years. Other than identifying talents, science competitions also help develop their interest and potential in technology."
She said the government organised competitions for youngsters to promote their interest in technological research and provided the winners with training opportunities. They will be invited to join the Youth Innovation Club set up jointly by the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. The club will organise multiple exchange and learning activities for its members to enhance their potential and broaden their horizons.
Under the theme 'Nurturing Youth for a Decade, Kindling Enthusiasm for Science', the competition this year has attracted 142 teams totalling 525 students from 57 schools, including 14 schools which are first time entrants.
In the final judging held this morning at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 20 finalist teams demonstrated their science knowledge and innovative talent in front of the judges. The winners of the 'Invention' and 'Investigation' category went to "The All-rounded Egg Opener" of Immaculate Heart of Mary College and "Antioxidant Tea ¡V Rejuvenate Your Body" of Belilios Public School for the Senior Division. For the Junior Division, the winners were "Multi-functional Trash Bin" of Fanling Rhenish Church Secondary School and "What and how makes milk curd?" of Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) respectively.
To tie in with the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, four 'Sports Science Awards' were offered, with two of them to Carmel Pak U Secondary School and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Mrs. Wu York Yu Memorial College for the Senior Division and Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College and Heep Yunn School for the Junior Division.
Members of the public can view the full results on the website www.hksspc.gov.hk.
The competition is jointly organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Science Museum. Other guests attending today¡¦s ceremony included the Honorary Secretary, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Mr Walter Chan; Vice-Chancellor and President, The University of Hong Kong, Professor Lap-chee Tsui; Dean of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Kwan Hoi-shan; Commissioner of Innovation and Technology, Mr Eddy Chan; and representatives from the Education Bureau and Hong Kong Science Museum.
Ends/Saturday, May 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:46
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