Press Release

(Hong Kong – 2 July 2013) Set up to enhance the interests and develop the talents of students in Physics, the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad (HKPhO) 2013, attracted 1,100 students from more than 100 schools to participate. 120 outstanding contestants at the HKPhO will now attend the one-year training programmes in Physics, organised by the HKAGE and commissioned to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The students outperformed in the training programmes will be selected to represent Hong Kong to take part in the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in 2014.

The success of this year’s HKPhO marked the attainment of excellent collaboration among the co-organisers including the HKAGE, Education Bureau (EDB), HKUST, Physical Society of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Physics Olympiad Committee. In addition to the existing awards new categories have been introduced this year: the best Junior Student and Honourable Mention for Schools

This year, the HKPhO was held in May at HKUST and the prize presentation ceremony was held recently. The Outstanding Performance Award was made to Lui Ching Yin from Queen’s College, while the First Runner-up and Second Runner-up was Lau Chun-Ting from St. Paul’s Co-Educational College and Chen Wu Juang from The Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union Logos Academy respectively. The Best Junior Student was Wong Yat from G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College. The school that achieved the highest score among the awardees of the Best School Award was St. Paul’s Co-Educational College.

In the ceremony, Dr Stephen Tommis, Executive Director of the HKAGE, congratulated the awardees. He also used several quotes attributed to Einstein, to demonstrate the need to be creative in their experimental designs and not to feel the urge to follow text book instructions. Mr Chan Pui Tin, Chief Curriculum Development Officer, Gifted Education Section, Curriculum Development Institute, EDB and Professor Liu Renbao, Vice-President of the Physical Society of Hong Kong, were also award presenters. In the ceremony, a flag presentation was arranged to cheer the Hong Kong Team who will take part in the 43rd IPhO in Copenhagen in July 2013. The trip is funded by the EDB.

The students representing Hong Kong at the forthcoming IPhO include Lum Kai Chun from Queen’s College, Man Siu Hang from CCC Ming Yin College, Shing Ming Tony from Wong Shiu Chi Middle School, Tam Pok Man from Sing Yin Secondary School and Wong Yiu Man from Queen Elizabeth School. They said they were confident in getting future awards but they particularly looked forward to the learning process and the competitive experience of the Olympiad than winning medals.

	The student representatives of the Honourable Mention for Schools received the commendation of Professor Liu Renbao.
	Dr Tommis presented the awards to the student representatives of the Best School Awards.
	The guests cheered the Hong Kong Team who will take part in the forthcoming International Physics Olympiad.