The Hong Kong prize recognises academic achievements, extracurricular activities and extraordinary talents among students. Thousands apply for the award each year and it is one of Asia’s most competitive scholarship ceremonies. Winners are celebrated at an awards ceremony and rewarded with shopping vouchers and F&B benefits. The prize is sponsored by the Hongkong Prize Foundation, a charity founded by former teachers and students in memory of Dr John Young.
The Hongkong Prize scholarship scheme aims to encourage students to study Hong Kong history as part of their curriculum and to promote research in the field. The scholarship is awarded to a third-year student with the best result in the subject of History among those taking at least 48 credits. It was established in 1996 and is funded by donations from friends and students.
In the past, winners have included a businesswoman who founded an NGO that shelters homeless adults and a scientist credited with the invention of liquid biopsy technology that quickly detects cancer. Several of the finalists risked their lives to advance freedom and justice for others. This year’s nominees include a professor who has been jailed for his role in the pro-democracy protests and a Hong Kong activist who has been given a three-month sentence for her involvement with the demonstrations.
This award is a tribute to Hong Kong’s long-held tradition of culture and creativity. The symbol of the prize, expressed both in the logo and the trophies conferred to winners, juxtaposes two precious elements – a pearl and a pierced jade amulet. The image evokes Hong Kong’s legacy of cultural and creative exchange, its openness to the world, and its willingness to embrace new ideas and approaches.
The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is an annual recognition of scientists and entrepreneurs in Hong Kong who demonstrate outstanding research work with the potential for commercialisation, application or transformation for the benefit of humanity. The prize reflects the values of Hong Kong and its people in promoting scientific exploration, fostering talent and establishing Hong Kong as an international science and technology hub.
Each year, the HKAI invites scholars and experts from all over the world to form the final judging panels for its award categories. The panel members will assess candidates’ academic achievements, research proposals and their commitment to Hong Kong studies in general, as well as their contribution to the field of Hong Kong studies in particular.
The HKAI’s award categories are as follows: