Hong Kong wins gold in mathematical olympiad

A team of secondary school students has won Hong Kong's first gold medal at the 43rd International Mathematical Olympiad in Glasgow. The students also won two silver and two bronze medals during the competition.

The Hong Kong team, led by Dr Kin-yin Li of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, returned today (August 1) after attending the Olympiad - an international mathematics competition for secondary school students.

This year's event, held from July 19 to 30, attracted 84 teams of up to six members each from around the world. The mathematical Olympiad aims to foster friendly international relationships with fellow mathematicians all over the world to discover, encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young people, and to promote mathematics.

Hong Kong students have been taking part in the competition since 1988 through the joint efforts of the IMO Hong Kong Committee, which is currently chaired by Professor Kar-ping Shum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Over the years, the performance of the Hong Kong team has been encouraging. But this year, with the help of the committee, the Hong Kong team leader and the Education Department, the team has been successful in bringing home five medals, including gold.

The Hong Kong medallists are:

Gold - Mr Yu Hok-pun from the SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School

Silver - Miss Leung Wai-ying from Queen Elizabeth School; and Mr Daniel Cheng Kei-tsi, from La Salle College

Bronze - Mr Harold Chao Khek-lun, from St Paul's College; and Mr Ivan Ip Chi-ho, from St Joseph's College

Among the 84 participating teams, China ranked first; Russia and the United States were the first and second runners-up, followed by Bulgaria and Vietnam. Hong Kong ranked 24th, outperforming Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and many other teams.

Princess Anne presented the gold medals to the winners.

Five of the six contestants from Hong Kong participated in the Education Department's 'Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students' scheme, which was launched to help fully realise the potential of gifted students.

Their achievements could also be attributed to such programmes as the 'Saturday School for Gifted Students in Mathematics' co-organised with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the training sessions organised by the IMO Hong Kong Committee.

Ends/Thursday, August 1, 2002