A team of five secondary students representing Hong Kong achieved remarkable results at the 49th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), winning one gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal.
      
     The IPhO aims to promote physics education, enhance contacts and co-operation among scientists and educators all over the world, and nurture and inspire teenagers who are highly talented in physics. This year, the IPhO was held from July 21 to 29 in Lisbon, Portugal, with the participation of around 400 students from 86 countries or regions. 
      
     Rahul Arya (King George V School) won a gold medal in the competition. Gaurav Arya (King George V School), Chau Chun-wang (St Margaret's Co-educational English Secondary and Primary School) and Joshua Leung (La Salle College) each won a silver medal, and the bronze medallist was Sean Mann (Diocesan Boys' School).
      
     The Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, congratulated the Hong Kong team today (July 30) on their outstanding performance. 
      
     "The impressive results achieved by the Hong Kong team this year demonstrate our students' great potential in physics and high level of critical and creative thinking ability," Dr Choi said.
      
     "The Education Bureau is committed to promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, and will continue to work in collaboration with the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) and relevant professional bodies in providing challenging learning experiences for talented students, including participating in national and international STEM-related competitions. We believe the potential of talented students could be further stretched through engaging them in these quality STEM learning activities," she added.
       
     The members of the Hong Kong team, which was fully funded by the EDB to join the competition, had earlier distinguished themselves in last year's Hong Kong Physics Olympiad. They subsequently received training under the Physics Enhancement Programme jointly arranged by the HKAGE and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The best performing students in the programme were then selected as contestants representing Hong Kong to participate in the IPhO this year. The success of the Hong Kong team once again showcased the fruitful collaboration among relevant parties in nurturing talented students in Hong Kong.
      
     To nurture more talents, the EDB is proposing to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council an injection of $800 million into the Gifted Education Fund to support the enhancement of services of the HKAGE and to provide quality advanced learning programmes for gifted students by different gifted education providers, so as to further enhance the development of gifted education in Hong Kong.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
 
     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
 
     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (July 30) that Hoi Mei Wan Beach in Tsuen Wan District, which was closed earlier due to maintenance of the shark prevention net and the sighting of a stingray, is now reopened and the red flag has been lowered.

     A spokesman for the LCSD said the stingray had left the enclosed zone of the shark prevention net. The maintenance contractor had also completed inspection of the net at the beach, and confirmed that the net was in good condition and that there were no big fish inside the enclosed zone of the net.

     The spokesman appealed to swimmers to swim in the enclosed zones of the shark prevention nets for the sake of safety, adding that LCSD staff would remain vigilant and strengthen patrols in the swimming zones.

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The Electoral Affairs Commission will hold two public forums this week on its provisional recommendations on the boundaries and names of the constituencies for the 2019 District Council Ordinary Election. Members of the public are welcome to attend any one of them to express their views on any constituency.
 
     The two public forums will be held from 7pm to 9.30pm on August 1 (Wednesday) and August 3 (Friday) at Lai Chi Kok Community Hall, 863 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po, and Lung Hang Estate Community Centre, Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin, respectively.
 
     The public consultation exercise started on July 23 and continues until August 21.
 
     The Commission will submit its final recommendations to the Chief Executive after taking into account representations received during the consultation period.
 
     Written representations on the proposed boundaries and names may be submitted by post to the Commission's Secretariat (10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai), by fax (2511 1682) or by email (eacenq@reo.gov.hk) by August 21. Late submissions will not be considered.
 
     Members of the public can visit the Commission's website (www.eac.gov.hk), Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of all District Offices, the Registration and Electoral Office, post offices, management offices of public housing estates, and major and district public libraries to study the maps and descriptions of the proposed boundaries of individual constituencies. For enquiries, please call 2827 1269.

     Asia Engineering (International) Company Limited deposited construction waste on the pavement without adopting dust emission control measures during its renovation works at Elizabeth House, 250-254 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. It was convicted and fined $10,000 at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 30) for contravening the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation.
      
     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a report from a resident of the building that renovation works at the building emitted dust, which affected nearby pedestrians and residents. EPD enforcement staff carried out an inspection on January 12 this year and found that renovation work was carried out at the building. The contractor concerned deposited construction waste on the pavement outside the building without adopting dust emission control measures, which caused dust dispersion and affected nearby pedestrians and residents. The EPD initiated prosecution against the contractor in accordance with the Regulation after investigation and evidence collection.
      
     The spokesman said that renovation works contractors should adopt effective measures in accordance with the Regulation to prevent dust dispersion that affects nearby residents and the environment when carrying out renovation works at buildings, shopping malls or residential units. The dust control measures include erecting hoardings around works areas, duly spraying water at construction sites and using dust sheets to cover construction waste and stockpiles. First-time offenders are liable to a fine of $25,000.

     The air-conditioning system of Fulum Palace in North Point generated excessive noise persistently and affected nearby residents. Its operating company was convicted again and fined $15,000 by Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 30) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).
      
     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that the air-conditioning system of Fulum Palace at King's Road in North Point generated excessive noise. The restaurant was convicted for the first time in February this year. Fulum Palace then installed noise abatement devices for its air-conditioning system, but its noise level at night still exceeded the statutory limit, and the restaurant was thus prosecuted again. A timer switch for the air-conditioning system was installed by the restaurant this May to make sure that the system will be switched off before 11pm to avoid disturbing nearby residents.
      
     The spokesman reminded all restaurant operators that they should hire the services of qualified professionals for the installation of air-conditioning systems. Proper vibration isolation and noise abatement devices should also be in place to avoid generating excessive noise and causing nuisance to nearby residents.
      
     According to the NCO, anyone who violates the requirements of a noise abatement notice commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent conviction. Relevant company directors may also be prosecuted.