Hong Kong Students Shine at IOI 2026, Winning Two Golds and Ranking Sixth Overall

Hong Kong students triumph at 38th International Olympiad in Informatics

A team of four students representing Hong Kong achieved excellent results in the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), winning two gold medals, one silver medal and one honourable mention. Representatives from 92 countries or regions from all over the world participated in this year's IOI, which was held in Uzbekistan. The Hong Kong team ranked sixth, marking the city's best-ever performance at the IOI.

The four students awarded at the IOI 2026 are as follows:

Gold medal:

Adam Xu (Wah Yan College, Kowloon)

Ivan Mak (La Salle College)

Silver medal:

Lo Ting-wai (Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School)

Honourable mention:

Berton Choy (La Salle College)

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (August 19) congratulated the team on their excellent performance. "It is very encouraging to see the remarkable achievements of the Hong Kong team in the IOI to produce Hong Kong's best performance to date, which is a result of the students' persistent work. The students have demonstrated their problem-solving and programming skills, and innovative thinking," she said.

"The Education Bureau (EDB) continues to vigorously promote digital education and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools. The Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools has been released to holistically cultivate students' digital literacy, innovative thinking, and capability to adapt to future society. I wish to extend my gratitude to the school sector for partnering with the EDB in promoting digital education and STEAM education in Hong Kong continuously. Schools not only promote innovation and technology as well as digital education through classroom teaching, but also provide diversified learning opportunities for students outside the classroom including competitions in order to develop a solid foundation in mathematics, science and technology among students and nurture their creativity, enabling them to apply knowledge and skills to solve problems, enrich their learning experience and broaden their horizons."

The IOI under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is for secondary school students under the age of 20. It aims to promote coding education, nurture students' computational thinking and problem-solving skills, that is the most recognised worldwide computer science competition for secondary school students.

Since 1997, the EDB and the Hong Kong Association for Computer Education have jointly organised the Hong Kong Olympiad in Informatics (HKOI). Outstanding winners from the HKOI are selected as Hong Kong representatives every year to enter the IOI. They are required to attend a series of training programmes to better prepare for the international competition. In the tradition of passing the torch, many of the trainers are previous contestants of the international event.

A team of four students representing Hong Kong achieved excellent results in the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics held in Uzbekistan from August 9 to 16. They are (from left) Lo Ting-wai, Adam Xu, Ivan Mak and Berton Choy. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 7) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted two incoming Mainland male passengers, aged 32 and 42, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 5 and 6 respectively, seized a total of 61 816 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $280,000 and a duty potential of about $205,000 from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases