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Twenty-four young stamp collectors received awards at a special presentation today (April 12) at an exhibition opening ceremony at the Exhibition Gallery 4-5, Hong Kong Central Library.
Awards were presented to the winners by Hongkong Post's Acting Assistant Postmaster General (Business Development) Mr Michael Chung, Principal Education Officer (Curriculum Development) of the Education and Manpower Bureau Mr Tony Tang and Sir Ti-Liang Yang.
Thirty merit awards were also given out at the ceremony.
The youngsters were recognised for the outstanding quality of their stamp exhibits produced for the 7th Inter-School Stamp Exhibits Competition. The competition was organised by Hongkong Post, with the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) as co-organiser. This annual competition aims to promote philately among students and offers young collectors the opportunity to produce exhibits that meet the standard for participation in international philatelic competitions.
Mr Chung said the response to the annual competition was again encouraging. "With support from parents, teachers and principals, some 156 stamp exhibit frames were received from the 274 students participating in this year's event," he said. "I note that the quality of the exhibits is even higher this year, which reflects the tremendous effort the students have put into their exhibits. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude for the support given by the EMB and the participating schools and philatelic societies over the years."
The champion of Category A (students aged under 12) was a group including Chow Wan-ying, Chan Yuk-hang, Lei Hoi-yan and Chan Ying-tung from Hong Kong Southern District Government Primary School. The winner of Category B (students aged 12 to under 16) was a group including Lo Chi-leung, Chan Yiu-hei and Lam Ka-tat from Hong Kong Southern District Government Primary School. For Category C (students aged 16 and above), the winning group included Wa Chung, Tse Kai-yee and Chung Hin-kuen from St Margaret's College. Each winning team and the schools they represented received trophies and prizes.
In addition to the exhibits by Hong Kong students, demonstration stamp exhibits by talented youngsters from Mainland China are also on show at the venue from April 12 to 16. Twenty-one stamp exhibit frames submitted by the Guangdong Philately Association and 18 from the Chekiang Philately Association, all of a very high standard, are on view. Representatives from the Guangdong Philately Association and the Chekiang Philately Association were present at the ceremony demonstrating their support for the event and of philately as a healthy and educational hobby for youngsters.
Following this exhibition, the winning exhibits, including those of the champions, the first runners-up and the second runners-up of each of the three categories, will be displayed in the Postal Gallery on the ground floor of the General Post Office starting from April 24. The three categories will be displayed for periods of two weeks each: Category A from April 24 to May 7, Category B from May 8 to 21 and Category C from May 22 to June 4.
More information is available from Hongkong Post online at www.hongkongpost.com or by phone at 2921 2222.
Ends/Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:05
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