The HK Prize and Its Long History
Hong Kong, one of the most international and cosmopolitan cities in Asia, has nine artists on this year’s Art Prize shortlist. Nearly two-thirds of the finalists are women, marking the highest percentage in the award’s history. The shortlist also includes two Asian countries – Pakistan’s Noormah Jamal and Thailand’s Sirinya Suratcharoenkul.
In a nod to the city’s history, the prize logo juxtaposes a pearl and pierced jade amulet. The motif, which appears on the awards’ trophies and on the plaques awarded to winners, has happy connotations in Chinese culture.
The HK Prize competition provides young people with an excellent platform to build a good reputation and showcase their talents, winning cash prizes and other perks in various fields. However, it is important to read the rules and regulations carefully before entering.
A record HK$1.62 billion in prize money and incentives will be offered by The Hong Kong Jockey Club this season, with the overall purse boosted by a single-season increase of 11.5%. The total prize pool is backed by the Club’s long-term commitment to reward owners for their continued support of Hong Kong racing.
This year’s HK Prize nominees include activists fighting for freedom and democracy. Some have been silenced or even arrested under a harsh national security law imposed by Beijing after anti-government protests in 2019. China’s actions mark a dramatic erosion of the freedoms guaranteed to Hong Kong when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
The award is a way to recognise their contribution and encourage more young scientists to become leaders in the region, said the organisers. It also aims to help young people make the best use of their potential in contributing to society and building a better future for the world.
To maintain the high standards of judging, the HKAI has set up a Review Committee and Compliance Oversight Team to oversee the operation of the prize. The review process is conducted by independent experts. If an awardee’s work infringes the HKAI Charter, the Board can terminate their award and withdraw the prize money, certificate and trophy.
The winner of the 1st prize will be determined in a random draw, while the second and third prizes will be awarded to participants who obtain the top three marks respectively. The money that would have been paid out to the first and second prize winners will be added to a jackpot for the next draw, if there are no winner(s). This method of prize distribution is similar to the Lotto 6/49 system adopted by several other countries around the world. The prize was launched in 2016 and is funded by donations from members of the scientific community and from the University of Hong Kong through a Government matching scheme. It is also sponsored by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.