HONG KONG – Six Hong Kong students have won as many medals – two gold and four silver – in the 21st International Junior Science Olympiad, the city's Education Bureau announced on Friday.

Chan Tsz-kiu from Queen’s College and Timothy Tian from St. Paul’s Co-educational College each earned a gold medal.

The silver medalists are: Chan Wing-yan, Ma Sum-yuet and Yang Chun-chak from St. Paul’s Co-educational College and Chan Wai-yu from Po Leung Kuk No. 1 W. H. Cheung College.

Total 300 contestants from 52 countries and regions took part in the Olympiad held in Romania from Dec 2 to 12.

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Open to students aged 15 or below, the competition covers physics, chemistry and biology up to the senior secondary level, and comprises written assessments and science experiments.

Congratulating the six-member Hong Kong team on their remarkable performance, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said, “The excellent results of the Hong Kong team, which have demonstrated our students’ exceptional talent in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) and their persistence in learning, is indeed very commendable.”

“The Education Bureau will continue to strengthen the promotion of STEAM education in primary and secondary schools to nurture innovation in students, as well as step up the promotion of the effective use of the school-based student talent pool for identifying and nurturing more STEAM talent.”

She said that the bureau will strengthen collaboration with the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education to offer more diversified training, and arrange for students to participate in citywide, cross-territory, national and international competitions so that students with potential in STEAM subjects have more opportunities to develop their capabilities.

This will also help to nurture innovation and technology talent for Hong Kong, she added.

READ MORE: Hong Kong students excel in maths, science

The Hong Kong team achieved excellent results in the International Junior Science Olympiad - Hong Kong Screening last year too.

After completing HKAGE science enhancement programs, the outstanding students were selected as contestants representing Hong Kong to participate in the IJSO 2024. The team was fully funded by the EDB to join the competition.