The HK Prize brings together the most forward-thinking ideas on how Hong Kong can best promote and shape its role as an international development centre in Asia. The prize is designed to give people the chance to express their visions of how the city can contribute to global change, while also bringing benefits to its citizens.
The winning ideas will be supported by the government through a package of financial and in-kind support, including seed funding for start-ups and other initiatives to scale up their ideas. They will be able to take advantage of a network of high-level contacts across the region, and will also benefit from extensive publicity and media coverage.
A brain cancer survivor whose agency helps students with mental health issues, a chaan teng owner who cooks for the homeless and an artist who interprets human rights concepts through art have won this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong awards. The annual prizes shine a spotlight on the city’s unsung heroes and reward their efforts in helping others.
This year’s award was sponsored by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd and supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Accountants (HKICPA). The judges were impressed by the entries, which ranged from a student who helps the elderly to an artist who creates sculptures from garbage to a charity worker who provides care to children with learning disabilities.
The winner of the prize will receive a grant of HK$500,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will get HK$200,000 and a certificate. Other winners will receive a plaque and other gifts. The awards ceremony was held on Friday night at the Conrad Hong Kong hotel.
Students at enrolled secondary schools in Hong Kong are encouraged to submit artworks for consideration. Teachers can nominate up to 10 students. The judging panel will shortlist 20 works. The Judges Prize of HK$8,000 will be awarded to the work with the highest marks from the judges. HK$20,000 will be given to the school of the Judges Prize winner.
The competition was established in honour of the late Professor Wang Gungwu, who donated a sum of money to establish the Hong Kong Student Prize. This prize aims to encourage outstanding students in Hong Kong to combine their scholarship with achievements in other areas, such as community service and leadership.
The HKU Prize for Early Career Research in the Humanities is open to scholars of disciplines found in the latest UGC RAE. Manuscripts must be either published or under contract for publication with an academic press. The submissions will be assessed on the basis of their intellectual rigour, originality and significance. The prize is a unique opportunity for Hong Kong scholars at the early stages of their careers to be recognised for their work. For enquiries, please contact Dr Catherine Ladds (hongkongacademy AT outlook DOT com). The application deadline is 31 July.
