The Hong Kong Prize is one of Asia’s premier high school contests, rewarding academic achievements as well as extracurricular participation and cultivating young people with a spirit of self-challenge. In addition to monetary prizes, finalists stand the chance to be crowned champion in their respective categories and win an opportunity to gain international recognition for their work at the awards ceremony in Beijing.
A number of HK Prize alumni have gone on to achieve fame and success in the arts and academia, including award-winning writers such as Xi Tianqi (Best Young Journalist), who has become an inspiration for aspiring journalists. Hong Kong filmmakers and producers have also achieved great successes, with the late director Benny Chan winning top honours at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his cops-and-robbers actioner Raging Fire and actor Andy Lau earning best supporting role for the movie.
In the world of science, HK Prize winners have made significant contributions to their fields. For example, Thein Swee Lay and Stuart Orkin’s gene editing research helped reactivate fetal haemoglobin production in patients suffering from sickle cell disease. This has paved the way for two new sickle cell therapies that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and demonstrates how scientific discoveries can make a difference in human lives.
Moreover, the HK Prize facilitates dialogue and collaborations among scholars and students of Hong Kong history, politics, society and culture and encourages the development of new theories and concepts in studying this important subject matter. The HK Prize also helps to promote the dissemination of Hong Kong studies and enhances its visibility worldwide.
The HK Prize’s board is comprised of leading Hong Kong and Asian scholars and practitioners. It is chaired by professor Louise Corbett and the prize committee is led by professors Peter Ho and John Tsui. The HK Prize also partners with the Department of Sociology and Centre for Criminology, HKU, to promote training in criminology and offer regular workshops for police officers.
The HK Prize is supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the University of Hong Kong and many other sponsors and supporters. Its objective is to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to Hong Kong’s global standing and whose contributions have an impact on the development of Hong Kong and the region. The HK Prize is open to residents of Southeast Asia, mainland China and other countries and territories, with applications being accepted starting March 1. For more details on the HK Prize, visit the World of Winners splash page.