The Hong Kong Prize is a merit-based award to recognise scientific research with societal benefits. The selection process is independent, without any sponsorship or personal interests, and the winners are selected by a panel of experts. Past winners have included journalists who expose human rights abuses, activists fighting for democracy in their countries, and social justice and community service workers empowering marginalised communities.
This year, the competition received more than 750 submissions from all over the world. The winning entries were selected based on their relevance to the theme, systematic use of collected materials, objectivity in analysis, citation of bibliography and footnotes and overall assessment of quality. The three top entries were awarded a cash prize of HK$25,000, HK$10,000 and HK$5,000 respectively. In addition, the winner of the Grand Prize received a commission to design a sculpture for the Four Seasons hotel in Hong Kong. The sculpture was named “A Home is a Terrible Place to Love” and was made of red marble.
The judging panel also selected two Honorable Mentions for the Written Report category. The first was a study entitled “Hong Kong Pig Farming Industry during the 1967 Riots” by Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School, while the second was a project on the Canton-Hong Kong relations and frontier region by Tak Oi Secondary School. The third Honorable Mention was given to a team of students from Carmel Pak U Secondary School for their investigation into the relationship between China and Hong Kong in the 1970s.
Besides the cash prize, the winners also get to participate in the annual Hong Kong Prize Symposium held at the University of Hong Kong. In addition, they will receive a trophy and a certificate of merit. They can also take advantage of the opportunity to promote their work at international conferences and exhibitions.
Established in 2022, the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited to attract leading scientists to Hong Kong and support forward-thinking scientific research and development in the city. An independent review committee and compliance oversight team evaluate candidates based on their scientific research achievements and the impact of their research on transformation and application in Hong Kong.
The competition is open to residents of Southeast Asia, mainland China, and the rest of the world. Interested applicants can visit the World of Winners splash page beginning March 1 to register for their chance to win. The winners will be flown to Hong Kong for an unforgettable experience while immersing themselves in Asian culture. The prizes will be awarded in three waves – with Southeast Asian residents receiving priority over mainland Chinese and then international residents. The full terms and conditions of the competition can be found here.
