Hong Kong has long been a key player in the global economy. Its thriving business sector is a leading source of employment, and the city has a number of top-tier academic institutions. In addition to attracting students from around the world, these institutions offer research opportunities in the latest technologies and innovations. The city also has a vibrant art scene, with many talented local practitioners. These artists are energetic centers of culture and creativity, and they reflect the views of local residents on global change through various art forms. The HK Prize offers them recognition, support and encouragement in their creative work or arts projects, as well as increased international visibility via top-tier media coverage. A controversial movie about the future of Hong Kong won top honors at the city’s film awards, despite antagonising Beijing over its depiction of the semi-autonomous region. The film, Ten Years, is a series of vignettes that tap residents’ worst fears for the city’s future as China tightens its grip on the territory. This year’s HK Prize was launched in April with a theme of “Globalisation and the New Normal”. The prize offers a cash prize worth HK$10,000 to the winning submission, as well as other benefits, such as the opportunity to participate in workshops or networking events. The winners will also be given the chance to present their work to stakeholders in the development industry. The competition is open to all full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in Hong Kong who have written an essay on any topic related to Hong Kong. The essays must address the broader context of Hong Kong’s development and society, and must be grounded in rigorous academic research. Entries will be judged on their originality, scholarship and quality of writing, as well as the level of participation by the author and the accuracy of research methods used. The Faculty of Humanities of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is the initiator and host of the Yuen Ren Chao Prize, established with the generous consent of Professor Chao’s family. The Faculty’s language science research focuses on the interplay of Hong Kong Chinese, English and other languages in research and education. Its scholars are dedicated to the advancement of new theories and concepts in studying Hong Kong history, politics and culture. In particular, they encourage the study of cross-cultural and comparative perspectives in Hong Kong studies. The Faculty will continue to foster this important area of knowledge through its interdisciplinary research and teaching.