The Hongkong prize is an award for those who strive to make a difference in their communities. Winners have included a founder of an NGO that shelters homeless adults, and a professor whose invention of liquid biopsy technology helps detect cancer earlier. The prize is awarded in recognition of exceptional work and is a great way to encourage young people to take up challenges and pursue their passions. The competition is one of Asia’s premier high school contests, and thousands apply yearly. Winners are recognized at an awards ceremony and receive shopping vouchers and F&B benefits as rewards.
The HK Prize Scholarship Contest is designed to reward students who excel academically, are passionate about community service, and demonstrate a strong spirit of social innovation. The scholarship is valued at a maximum of HK$10,000 per student. It is awarded to one full-time undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History programme, with a CGPA of at least 3.0. In addition, the winner must have a long track record of active community service and a clear understanding of their own service targets.
In addition to the cash prizes and access to top research facilities, the finalists of the Hongkong Prize will be awarded with a prestigious honorific title. Previous winners include a journalist who exposed human rights violations in her native country, and a professor who invented liquid biopsy to diagnose cancer faster. The prize is named after the city of Hong Kong, and has become an international symbol for civilisation and harmony. Its logo – which is also featured on the trophy that winners receive – juxtaposes two precious elements, a pearl and a pierced jade amulet, to evoke the idea of the human spirit triumphing even in the most challenging circumstances.
Each year, the HK Prize is awarded in fields that reflect the strengths of the city, including science and technology, life and health, new materials and energy, advanced manufacturing, and fintech. The prizes are a result of the independent review and objective evaluation carried out by a panel of experts from universities, government agencies, sponsoring enterprises, and other sectors. The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is a non-governmental merit-based award sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, to recognise scientific researchers in Hong Kong for their outstanding contributions to scientific innovation and transformation, and for the positive impact of their research results on society.
The HK Art Prize is the largest public vote-based art prize in Hong Kong, and celebrates the best work produced by local and regional artists. This year, the top prize went to Pakistani artist Sameen Agha for her sculpture A Home is a Terrible Place to Love, which was carved out of red marble. Nearly two-thirds of the shortlist of nine was made up of female artists, a record for the contest. The Public Vote Prize of HK$4,000 is also given to the school of the winner. This year, the award ceremony took place on May 17.