Eight students from Hong Kong secondary schools have won three gold, four silver and a bronze medal in the China Western Mathematical Olympiad 2006 and the team also seized the Champion Cup, setting a record for Hong Kong, a government press release said Thursday.

They improved upon last year's single gold, five silver and two bronze medals. Wong Chiu-wai of St Joseph's College was the only gold medalist who got full marks, and was named top contestant.

Held in Yingtan, Jiangxi, from Nov. 2 to 7, the Olympiad invited 88 mathematically talented students from 22 teams for a number-crunching quiz.

The Hong Kong team has been groomed by the Education and Manpower Bureau's Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme. It provides structured enhancement programs in mathematics and other learning areas to help students develop their potential.

Hong Kong, Hainan and Kazakhstan were given special invitations to join teams from western provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the competition.
 
Editor: Yan