In the past, Hong Kong athletes have received international recognition for their remarkable determination to overcome physical challenges in pursuit of their goals. For example, table tennis player Kong Yin won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics after having suffered two ligament ruptures. She was also a well-rounded talent, pursuing undergraduate studies in the United States and master’s degrees in China.
Another notable Hong Kong achievement is the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2024, which was launched last Monday (December 16). Five scholars from local universities were awarded a total of HK$2 million each for their outstanding contributions in different fields of scientific research.
The prize is to inspire scientists in the city to explore beyond their comfort zones and push the boundaries of knowledge. It will help to foster the development of Hong Kong into an international technology hub. It also hopes to sow the seeds of scientific thinking, insatiable curiosity and resolute perseverance in young people through the success stories of our scientists.
BOCHK will continue to support the award going forward, and hope that it can have a significant influence on Hong Kong’s scientific research landscape and society at large, as well as serve as a catalyst for the SAR to become an international innovation and technology centre. The bank has also supported the BOCHK Foundation to launch a series of programmes for science education, including supporting young scientists in their research projects and promoting the science and technology profession.
In the field of journalism, South China Morning Post reporters have secured 12 awards at this year’s Hong Kong News Awards 2024, including the top prize in the Best Scoop category. The newspaper’s City desk reporter Edith Lin and senior news editor Jeffie Lam were jointly honoured for their investigative report on the use of unauthorised structures on luxury properties in the city, winning first place in the Best Scoop category.
The winners in the Arts and Literary sections of this year’s awards were also announced on Saturday, with Pakistani artist Sameen Agha scooping the Grand Prize for her sculpture A Home is a Terrible Place to Love. Her piece, carved out of red marble, depicts the breakdown of a household with empty and vacant expressions on the faces of the figures. The other artists in the shortlist were photographer Fong Hok-Keung for his work My Home is a Place of Peace and painter Yuen Kwok-yung for his exhibition The New Life in the Old City. All the winners were presented their awards by Hong Kong Academy of Arts and Design founder Lau Ching-wai. They will join previous winners in receiving the accolade, which carries a cash prize of HK$30,000 each. The awards were organised by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong. The full list of winners is available here.