NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Empowering Young Talent, Shaping Our Future

One student from the Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club College clinched the 2025 HLMA Gold Award for his research on Markov Chains, which have wide-ranging applications, including finance, data science, and network systems. Guided by a supervising teacher, who himself was a 2010 HLMA winner, this is a powerful testament to how HLMA illuminates the beauty of mathematics and inspires the next generation. First-time finalists also made a brilliant entrance, with three schools earning awards on their debut. Queen’s College won the Bronze Award, while King George V School and Victoria Shanghai Academy each received an Honorable Mention.

Officiated by Dr. Choi Yuk-lin, JP, Secretary for Education, the Awards Announcement and Presentation Ceremony brought together educators, academia, and community leaders to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our brightest young minds in mathematical research. More than 20 past HLMA winners joined us, including many who are conducting research at top universities such as MIT, Yale, and Oxford. Some came to support their alma mater, while others seized the chance to reconnect with the HLMA community. One came to cheer on his younger brother, whose team earned an Honorable Mention.

Before the results were announced on stage, Prof. Richard Schoen, Chair of the 2025 HLMA Scientific Committee, and Prof. Ngaiming Mok, Chair of the HLMA Steering Committee had an engaging discussion titled “Ubiquity of Mathematics: the Language of Discovery”. Moderated by Ms. Jennifer Zhu Scott, Co-founder and CEO of Power Dynamics, they discussed mathematics not only as the foundation of innovation, but also a disciplined process that clarifies complex problems — enabling students to link abstract ideas with real world challenges in an era shaped by AI and data.

On the day before the Oral Defense, the finalist teams were treated to a first-ever Tea Gathering with Scientific Committee and Steering Committee members, a warm and informal networking session that gave students a rare opportunity to connect and engage with world-class mathematicians beyond the competition setting. Dr. Sze Chun Fai, Jeff, JP, Under Secretary for Education, delivered an inspiring address, commending Hang Lung’s long-standing commitment to nurturing young talent and advancing STEM education. 

HLMA sparks a lifelong passion for knowledge. From a student’s first self-initiated research topic to their next breakthrough, HLMA nurtures disciplined reasoning and bold imagination that drive discoveries.

Watch the highlight video to relive these memorable moments and celebrate the passion and perseverance of Hong Kong’s next generation of innovators!