Adjudicator Christopher Wiltshire said: ''It was a very difficult decision for first and second places because both the two performers had great strength and no real weaknesses.'' What Mr Wiltshire went for were the tonal quality and a little more control in the allegro. He was really impressed by the winning performance as he found it most enjoyable.

''He played a lovely tone and moved easily through the opening of the larghetto in a stylish and controlled manner, and the phasing of it was musical,'' the judge said.

Shiu-hung, 17, said this was not the first time he had won a prize in the Schools Music Festival.

''Since I first took part in the festival in Form 1, I have won three awards in the recorder solo competition,'' he said.

The winner attributed his victory to his good sense of music and the opportunity that God gave him. ''I am very happy with my performance although I found it a bit nervy when I started playing the piece.'' His other strong points were his ability to enhance communication with the audience and the thorough preparation for the competition.

In order to understand the music better he read a number of books so as to get a feel of the period of the music.

''I began to prepare two months ago but just started practising two weeks before the competition with my accompanist, Chiu Sin-hang, who played the piano.'' Shiu-hung is the chairman of the school's music society. He took an early interest in the instrument when he was in Primary 5.

After moving on to secondary school, he continued playing the recorder on his own; he is now in Grade 5.