Five Secondary Six students representing Hong Kong at the 40th International Physics Olympiad in Mexico have won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals - a record haul since local students first took part in the contest in 2004.

The students are trainees of the Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme's Physics Enhancement Programme. Click here for details of the scheme.

The Education Bureau said the excellent results marked the success of co-operation among the bureau, the University of Science & Technology and the Academy for Gifted Education in providing training and support for gifted students.

Gold medallist Yu Lik-hang of SKH Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School had previously won first prize in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Physics Olympiad in February, and scored the highest among the Hong Kong team members in that competition.

The silver medallists are Sing Yin Secondary School's Jeffrey Poon and Lam Kin. The two bronze medallists are Yeung Wing-ki of STFA Leung Kau Kui College and Lee Tak-yan of SKH Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School.

HKUST's Prof Chen Tian-wen is leading the delegation, with St Joseph College's Physics teacher Godwin Szeto as the deputy. It will return to Hong Kong today.

The Olympiad this year was held July 11 to 19 in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, with more than 400 contestants from about 96 countries and regions participating. It aims to promote physics education, boost interaction and co-operation among world physics experts, and to train and inspire teenagers with enormous potential in physics.

Click here, or visit the academy's website, for details of the competition.