Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho has congratulated two Hong Kong young pianists, Aristo Sham and Wong Wai-yin, for their remarkable achievements at the Ettlingen International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Germany.

Ten-year-old Aristo Sham won the first prize and 13-year-old Wong Wai-yin won the third in the competition's Category A - for those up to 15 years of age. Sham also won the special Barenreiter Urtext Prize.

The Ettlingen International Piano Competition, one of the most important contests of its kind, has two categories, one for those up to 15 years of age, and one for those up to 20. The competition has been held once every two years since 1988.

World-renowned Chinese young pianist Lang Lang won the first prize in Category A in 1994 when he was 12 years old.

Out of the 255 entries from 45 nations received this year, 177 were entries for the 15 years of age and under competition.