A new prize has been set up to honour the work of a man who did much to re-establish the Department of History as one of the principal teaching and research departments in the Faculty of Arts during the 1950s. The prize will be awarded annually to a student who has submitted an excellent dissertation in the area of Hong Kong history, or any other subject relating to the history of Hong Kong, for which he/she has received a high degree of academic achievement.
The new prize is named after Dr George B. Endacott, who was responsible, almost single-handedly, for the re-establishment of the Department of History after World War II. The symbol of the award, reflected both in the prize logo and in the trophies conferred on the winners, juxtaposes a pearl and a pierced jade amulet, a combination which has happy connotations in both Chinese and Western contexts.
In a ceremony held at Hong Kong Palace Museum, the laureates shared their scientific discoveries with local students, with a hope to encourage young people to pursue careers in science. They discussed their discovery of a variety of topics, including high-temperature superconducting materials, neural networks and biology.
Each organiser is responsible for drawing up the rules of its own competition, publicising the competition, inviting entries and conducting a preliminary evaluation of the submissions. Overall coordination is provided by the Board of Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation, which consists of a Review Committee and Compliance Oversight Team. The Board is also responsible for suggesting important scientific fields for THE PRIZE, and setting requirements for nominating experts.
Besides being recognised for their contributions to society, the winning scientists also received substantial cash prizes. Individual gold medallists received HK$6 million, while silver and bronze medallists received HK$3 million and HK$1.5 million respectively. The prize money will help athletes further develop their competitive edge, and also provide them with the motivation and financial support to compete at the highest level in international events.
As the world’s third largest economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has always been a leading global centre of innovation and research and development. With its close links with the mainland, the city is well-positioned to promote bilateral scientific cooperation and provide a solid foundation for future growth.
In addition to the science awards, the government is also working hard to attract talented overseas professionals. A designated office has been established to facilitate their integration into the local community. Moreover, it will also promote the city’s various incentive schemes to lure talent.
Hong Kong’s biggest political party has called on the government to invite Nobel laureates under proposed measures to turn the city into a top talent hub. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong has also asked the government to set up a team devoted to helping these new arrivals. The DAB’s proposal would include a ten-member team to assist newcomers in different areas, from adjusting to the local culture to finding employment.