Six secondary students from Hong Kong won two gold and four silver medals in this year's International Junior Science Olympiad.

The Hong Kong team comprised five boys and one girl. Ng Shuk-hei and Suen Ming-to from St Paul's Co-educational College each won a gold medal in the science competition. The four silver medalists are Kyan Cheung from Victoria Shanghai Academy, Choi Ho-long from Pui Ching Middle School, Mai Tai-sheuk from Queen's College and Wong Chun-lam from G T (Ellen Yeung) College.

The IJSO is a science competition for secondary school students aged 15 or below. The competition tests students in physics, chemistry and biology up to the senior secondary level, comprising written assessments and science experiments.

The competition was suspended last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the competition was hosted by the United Arab Emirates from December 12 to December 21. Some 320 contestants from 70 countries or regions participated in the competition. Due to the pandemic, contestants participated through online activities.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung congratulated the young winners on their excellent performance.

"The impressive results of the Hong Kong team this year demonstrated our students' tremendous potential in science and technology. The Education Bureau will continue its support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to nurture technology talents and encourage them to pursue a career in innovation and scientific research." Yeung added that the government has injected HK$1.6 billion into the Gifted Education Fund in order to develop gifted education.

The Advisory Committee on Gifted Education is currently vetting applications for funding support in this school year.

"Through quality advanced learning programs outside of school, it is hoped that gifted students at the primary and secondary levels are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to embrace the rapid economic, scientific and technological developments as well as the changes and challenges in society, thereby enhancing the versatility and international competitiveness of our talents," Yeung said.

The Hong Kong team was fully funded by the EDB.

In order to select the team's members, the International Junior Science Olympiad - Hong Kong Screening last year whittled down the pool.

The remaining students subsequently completed science enhancement programs provided by the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education. Students who stood out in these programs were then selected to represent the SAR in the IJSO this year.

In the 2019 IJSO in Doha, Qatar, six students on the Hong Kong team snatched two gold and four silver medals.

From left: Suen Ming-to, Kyan Cheung, Wong Chun-lam, Mai Tai-sheuk, Ng Shuk-hei and Choi Ho-long.

Whiz kids up to the test in science olympiad