The Hong Kong Prize Scholarship Contest celebrates academic achievements and extracurricular activities among young people in a fun and creative way. Thousands of students apply for the competition annually, and some go on to win big prizes and build up a good reputation. There are also opportunities to attend workshops and participate in extracurricular activities that broaden the participants’ worldviews.

The Prize is sponsored by the Bank of China Hong Kong Limited and organised by the Hong Kong Alliance for Technology and Innovation. It is awarded to scientific researchers and teams in recognition of their pioneering efforts and the successful application or transformation of their research results for the benefit of society. The review and evaluation process are carried out by a selected group of adjudicators, including scholars from universities and industry experts.

In addition to the prize money, winners can look forward to increased international visibility through top-tier media coverage and access to world-class facilities in Hong Kong. The winners will also be able to use the HK$10,000 School Development Fund to cover expenses related to their studies or their research projects.

This year, the shortlist includes nine artists from Hong Kong, with some exploring themes such as honour and disgrace. Pakistani artist Noormah Jamal’s painting Did the Seed Grow? was chosen for its vacant expressions that suggest a sense of detachment. Another painting, Untitled, depicts a group of figures with their faces covered. Proceeds from the auction will help bolster SAF’s Make It Better program, which offers expressive arts workshops to children in disadvantaged communities.

Those who have won the Prize in the past have found that it has helped to boost their career prospects and have inspired them to pursue their passions. One Hong Kong student who won the 2017 Prize, a chemistry undergraduate, said that winning the Prize has given her more confidence to work in the field of chemistry. She also hopes to be a mentor for young science students and encourage them to be passionate about their studies.

Hong Kong’s youth is full of talent, and the HK Prize has been helping them to explore their potential. The Prize is designed to recognise their academic achievements and extracurricular activities, while encouraging them to follow their dreams and expand their horizons. By doing so, the Prize aims to nurture an innovative and creative generation of leaders for Hong Kong and the rest of Asia.

The winner of the Hong Kong Prize will receive a cash prize, a certificate and a trophy. The other finalists will receive shopping vouchers and F&B discounts.

Applicants should submit a clinical study or an observational/epidemiological/basic science investigation, which must be conducted in Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China, or Taiwan. The studies should be a high-level research project with clear hypothesis and objectives, a clear methodology with appropriate controls, and have the potential to make a real impact on medical treatment or public health. The results must be published in peer-reviewed journals.