The Hong Kong Prize is one of the world’s richest awards. Established in 2015, the prize carries a cash prize of HK$20 million—more than double that of Nobel laureates—and is awarded annually for three fields of research. The review makes independent judgments and objective evaluations on candidates’ scientific and technological innovation achievements, the transformation of those achievements, as well as the social or economic value created. Its decisions are made by the Board of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Prize, which consists of a Review Committee, a Compliance Oversight Team and a Secretariat.
During the pro-Beijing protests in Hong Kong in 2019, hundreds and even thousands of people including police officers, journalists, students or tourists from mainland China or other parts of the world were attacked by anti-government rioters. Some public facilities like subway stations and traffic lights were also vandalised. The Pulitzer Prize 2020 broke the news of these events in detail, and a video of one such incident was shared by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which runs the Mark Six lottery. But the video angered some Chinese netizens. “If those rioters met US police, they would have been shot,” read one comment on Sina Weibo.
This year’s 2023 Hang Lung Mathematics Awards (HLMA) attracted close to 70 teams from around 50 secondary schools in Hong Kong, which conducted independent research under the guidance of their teachers and submitted written reports. The winning teams were selected based on their research findings and scientific merit, and then participated in an Oral Defense, during which they presented their results to a Scientific Committee comprising internationally renowned scholars and educators.
In the event that no candidate is deemed to be worthy of the award, the prize will not be granted. The Review Committee will inform the entrants of the reason for the decision. The award winners’ names and institutions will be announced through official channels, and the winners are required to attend the prestigious awards ceremony. Representatives of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Central Government agencies in Hong Kong and the sponsoring enterprise, as well as numerous celebrities, will be invited to serve as officiating guests at the ceremony.
The HK Phil, together with its principal patrons the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Swire Group, is delighted to receive this prestigious accolade. The HK Phil will use the grant to continue promoting classical music in Hong Kong and beyond, as well as supporting young musicians through its education outreach programmes. This year, the HK Phil has recorded and released Wagner’s Ring Cycle and also performed a series of concerts celebrating 100 years of HKU music studies. The HK Phil is also working towards creating a new concert hall to support its ongoing activities. Prof Poon’s outstanding contributions to preparedness and research during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplify Louis Pasteur’s vision of “science without borders”. We are extremely proud that his work has been recognised by this prestigious award.
