Press Release

(Hong Kong – 25 July 2012) A team of five student members of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE), representing Hong Kong at the 43rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in Estonia, won two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal and returned with glory.

Gold medalist Lam Ho Tat, a Secondary Five student from Pui Shing Catholic Secondary School, achieved an encouraging score that ranked him among the top 5% of contestants in this year’s IPhO.

Another Gold Medalist is Secondary Six student Fung Tsz Chai from Po Leung Kuk Centenary Li Shiu Chung Memorial College. The Silver medalists are Secondary Six students Chan Cheuk Lun from La Salle College and Lai Kwun Hang from Shatin Pui Ying College; while the Bronze medalist is Secondary Six student Lo Hei Chun from Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College.

This has been the ninth IPhO in which Hong Kong students have participated since 2004, and the seventh time that the Hong Kong team wins gold medals after successes in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Dr. Stephen Tommis, the Executive Director of the HKAGE, gave his commendations to the student members for their hard work and remarkable performance. He encouraged the students not to give up their interests and dreams because if they could maintain their work ethic, further achievements would naturally follow.

The good results this year mark the success of collaboration among the HKAGE, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Education Bureau (EDB). With outstanding performances in the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad 2011, they were selected to take part in a series of enhancement courses before taking part in the IPhO 2012. The students are trainees of the Physics Enhancement Programme commissioned to HKUST by the HKAGE. The delegates’ trip was funded by the EDB.

The IPhO this year was held from July 15 to 24 in Tallinn, Estonia, with 378 contestants from 81 countries/regions participating. The event aims at promoting education in physics while strengthening interaction and co-operation among experts in physics worldwide. Another purpose of the contest is to train and inspire teenagers who have academic potentials in physics.

Leader of the Hong Kong Team was Prof. Wong Kwok Yee Michael of HKUST, and deputy leader was Mr. Dik Wai Yin, a Physics teacher of Law Ting Pong Secondary School. Dr. Ng Shiu Cho, a Physics teacher of Fukian Secondary School and Dr. Sun Ke, a research associate of HKUST, served as the observers.

A team of five student members (4th – 8th from right) of the HKAGE, representing Hong Kong at the 43rd International Physics Olympiad, proudly returned home with two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal.