Hong Kong is home to a wide array of contests that reward winners with a variety of perks. From shopping vouchers to piles of cash, there is no shortage of opportunities to win big in this thriving city. One contest worth checking out is the hongkong prize, which awards writers who write about Asia’s history and culture. This highly prestigious writing contest draws thousands of applicants each year and can lead to some amazing perks for those who make the cut.
This year, the HK Prize winners included people who have risked their lives for their work, such as a man who founded an organization to provide shelter for homeless adults and a professor responsible for liquid biopsy technology that helps doctors more quickly diagnose cancer. Other notable recipients were a coming-of-age drama titled To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self and top grossing actor Michael Hui, who received the Lifetime Achievement award. The ceremony was held in a studio instead of a star-studded location due to pandemic fears, but it took organizers just 11 minutes to announce winners across 19 categories.
The HK Prize has become known for its focus on human rights and social responsibility, recognizing scientists who have made groundbreaking contributions in their fields and making an impactful statement about humanity today. It also aims to promote Hong Kong as a global hub of science and innovation. Scientists who are interested in applying for the HK Prize must be enrolled in a Hong Kong institution of higher education or have a research appointment in Hong Kong. Research papers entered for consideration should be original and must not have been published elsewhere. They should include prospective or retrospective clinical studies; observational or epidemiological studies; meta-analysis; basic science studies, or any combination of these.
Its logo and trophies, designed by architect Yves Belanger, juxtapose a pearl and a jade amulet with holes pierced through them to symbolize the balance between scientific research and art. The trophies are engraved with the names of HK Prize past winners and the words “Hong Kong prize” in Cantonese, English, and Chinese. The winner receives a certificate, and his or her name is displayed on the HK Prize website.
The HK Prize is sponsored by the Bank of Hong Kong. In addition to the monetary prize, winning scientists will have the opportunity to present their research at an international scientific conference and gain exposure internationally. The HK Prize was established in 2012. It is open to all researchers who have completed an original research article that meets certain criteria. It must be a prospective or retrospective clinical study; an observational or epidemiological study; a meta-analysis; or a basic science study. The HK Prize is open to scholars from Hong Kong, mainland China, and other countries. The judging panel selects the most outstanding research articles each year. The winners will be notified by email and invited to attend the HK Prize ceremony in October of that year.