Forty secondary schools met here in Hong Kong Saturday at the Final Event of the 22nd Hong Kong Mathematics Olympiad to strive for the laurel.
   
After a series of keen competition at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) campus, La Salle College became the champion, while Sha Tin Methodist College and Pui Ching Middle School took the second and third place.
   
The Olympiad is jointly organized by the Department of Mathematics of HKIEd and the Mathematics Education Section of the Education and Manpower Bureau of Hong Kong.
   
The competition aims to promote, encourage and sustain students' interest in the study of mathematics and to foster inter-school communications.
   
According to the organizers, the competition has been growing support from schools. The number of participating schools this year breaks record again, at 267.
   
The organizing committee of this year's Olympiad is planning to hold a Mathematics Camp on May 9 in Hong Kong in which participants will receive different challenging tasks to sharp their mind and strengthen their problem-solving abilities.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2005)