Hong Kong Prize
Winning one of the world’s largest annual awards for young people’s voluntary activities has made us realize just how much life we could be missing out on if we don’t set aside some time to volunteer. Over its 60-year history, this award has given over 500,000 young people an opportunity to get involved with activities which have taught them invaluable skills and helped build self-confidence – such as community service projects, physical recreation expeditions and residential projects.
Veteran actor Patrick Tse was this year’s winner of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor, making history by becoming the oldest Best Actor winner at this ceremony. Tse’s performance in Time earned a standing ovation when accepting his award, and at 85 he has enjoyed an extraordinary 70+ year career – becoming one of the highest grossing Asian actors since 1950!
In science, Thein Swee Lay and Stuart Orkin won the BOCHK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PRIZE for their research in genome editing. Through this endeavor, their research enabled fetal hemoglobin to reactivate, providing potential new therapy options for those living with sickle cell disease who cannot use blood transfusions as treatments. Two therapies approved by FDA have now become available in the US market, giving patients with such conditions another option available to them.
As the 2024 Paralympic Games begin in Paris, an unprecedented number of athletes from Hong Kong are competing. Athletes who win gold medals will receive a government bonus of HK$6 million while silver and bronze medallists receive government bonuses of HK$3 million and 1.5 million respectively. Bronze medalists may also qualify for Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme apartment space incentives.
Hong Kong will send 23 athletes to Paris Games’ epee event this year, where Hong Kong’s first female fencing gold medalist, Kong, has made history by becoming a remarkable success story. Starting fencing at age 11, she persevered despite injuries and setbacks until finally winning multiple international competitions with impressive victories at international competitions. Her mother once advised against staying with fencing; today her record speaks for itself!
The HK Prize, affiliated with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, fosters perseverance and self-challenge among young people by encouraging them to undertake various services, skills, physical recreation activities, expeditions or residential projects – making this country’s premier youth award since 1961 and instilling generations of Hongkongers with strong senses of responsibility and social morality.