Hong Kong scientists have won a first-class and six second-class honours in the 2008 State Science & Technology Awards.

Congratulating the winners on their achievements, the Government said their outstanding results show Hong Kong's strengths and capabilities in basic and applied research and development.

The award-receiving research projects include those nominated by the Government and Mainland agencies.

Winning projects

The Discovery of Malignant Phenotype-Related Molecules & Establishment & Application of Sequential Prophylactic Strategy in Gastric Cancer project, with University of Hong Kong Prof Benjamin Wong and Dr Jide Wang on its team of researchers, won the State Scientific & Technological Progress Award first-class honour.

The Study & Engineering Application of a New Biological Technology for the Removal of Organic Nitrogenous Pollutants from Wastewaters project, in which University of Hong Kong Prof Herbert Fang participated, received a second-class award.

These projects won State Natural Science Award second-class honours:

* Carboranes & Metallacarboranes: Synthesis, Structure & Reactivity led by Chinese University Prof Xie Zuowei;

* Chaos Anti-control & Generalised Lorenz Systems Family - Theory & Applications led by City University Prof Guanrong Chen;

* Molecular Mechanism Underlying Sperm Maturation in the Epididymis, with Chinese University Prof Hsiao-chang Chan among its team of researchers; and,

* Theory, Methodology & Applications of the Uniform Design, with Baptist University Prof Fang Kai-Tai among its team of researchers.

Project High Quality Superfine Natural Polymer Powders & High-Value-Added Applications, in which Polytechnic University Prof Li Y participated, won a second-class honour under the State Technological Invention Award.