The Hong Kong Prize is a recognition programme that honors outstanding individuals and organizations with contributions of lasting value to society. Its selection process is designed to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency and excellence, and to encourage innovation and progress in diverse fields around the world. The HK Prize rewards groundbreaking discoveries, pioneering research and innovative artistic expressions, as well as those with far-reaching influences across industries and disciplines.
Those who wish to nominate themselves or be nominated by others must fill out an official application and submit supporting documents, including a biography and a list of achievements. The committee then performs an initial screening to shortlist candidates who meet the essential criteria. The judging panel will then score each nominee based on predetermined evaluation criteria. The top-scoring nominations in each category are then selected as the winners, and will be formally announced at an award ceremony.
Hong Kong Prize is open to all citizens and organizations based in or operating out of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for its two awards: Lifetime Achievement and Early Career Contribution. The nomination period opens on January 1, 2024, and closes at 23:59 hours on December 31, 2024. Nominations must be submitted through the online form, and will be verified to ensure that all information provided is accurate.
The first round of the nomination process aims to assess whether the applicant’s work meets the requirements of each award. The evaluation team will look at the originality and significance of the nominee’s contribution, as well as its impact on the community or society. In addition, the evaluation team will also consider how long-lasting the impact of the contribution is.
In the second round, the jury will review the applicants’ applications in detail. The judges will consider the quality of the nominee’s work, as well as how it has changed the lives of people in Hong Kong and beyond. The panel will then select the most deserving recipients in each category.
During the pro-Beijing protests in 2019, many people, including police officers and journalists, were hurt or even killed. Some public facilities were also vandalized, such as subway stations and traffic lights. Despite the protests, the jury of the prize chose not to exclude photos that could stigmatize China or the Hong Kong police force. This is unjust and intolerant, and the committee should reconsider its choice.
As a world-renowned professional swimmer, Kong has won multiple medals in major international competitions. She is a role model who has been committed to her sport, and has a strong sense of responsibility towards the Hong Kong swimming community. In addition, she has also taken part in charitable activities to promote the benefits of sports.
Having suffered two ligament ruptures in her left knee, Kong persevered with determination to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. She is a worthy winner of this award. Kong has a profound understanding of the importance of balancing academic and athletic pursuits, and is a true role model for young athletes.