A nation will prosper only when its young people thrive. The For Our Future Scholarship, organised by The Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation (the Foundation), has entered its fifth year with enthusiastic support from the community. The Scholarship has consistently recognised university students who excel in academics and community service. This year, the Foundation introduced a new award, the For Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship, specially designed for PhD students in STEM fields. This award aligns with Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology hub, as outlined in the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan.

This year, the Scholarship attracted over 300 applications from talented students across 14 local tertiary institutions.  The esteemed panel of judges for the For Our Future Scholarship included Ms Maisie CHAN, Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; Ms Salome SEE, the Managing Director of Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings and ET Net; Professor Gillian CHOA, Former Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; and Mr Daryl NG, Chairman of the Foundation. After evaluation, 16 outstanding undergraduates were selected, with each receiving HKD 50,000.

For the inaugural Innovation and Technology Scholarship, the distinguished panel of judges included Mr Philip HAR, Deputy Commissioner for Innovation & Technology; Professor Timothy TONG, Chairman of the Research Grants Council; and Dr HU Zhanghong, CEO of Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments Limited. A total of 10 awardees were selected, with each receiving HKD 80,000.

The award ceremony, held on April 1 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, was graced by numerous honourable guests including Miss Alice MAK, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs; Ms WAN Ning, Deputy Director General of the Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Ms Masie CHAN, Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; Mr Philip HAR, Deputy Commissioner for Innovation & Technology; Mr Daryl NG, Chairman of the Foundation; Dr HU Zhanghong, CEO of Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments Limited; Ms Salome See, the Managing Director of Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings and ET Net; Professor Gillian CHOA, Former Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; Ms Winnie CHIU, Vice Chairman of the Foundation and President of Dorsett Hospitality International, Professor Ricky KWOK, Vice President (Research and Student Development) of Hong Kong Metropolitan University; Professor Dannii YEUNG, Associate Provost (Student Life) of City University of Hong Kong, as well as representatives from various tertiary institutions.

Fostering IT Talent to Drive Hong Kong's Technological Development

Mr Daryl NG, Chairman of the Foundation, in his welcome speech, highlighted, “Today, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data have become essential drivers of social development. Technology is changing every aspect of our modes of life and work. Young people should embrace technology, learn proactively, and continuously innovate. To all outstanding awardees and future leaders, it is crucial to engage with technology boldly and tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead with innovative thinking.”

Miss Alice MAK, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, praised that the 26 awardees not only excelled academically but also made significant contributions to society by applying their knowledge and abilities, serving as role models for young people. She hopes that they will continue to strive for excellence and persevere in their endeavours, while encouraging and inspiring their peers to join them in serving the community and instilling more positive energy into society.

This year’s 26 award-winning students each have remarkable stories of perseverance that embody the spirit of Hong Kong’s youth—fearless in the face of challenges and determined to forge ahead. They are also committed to serving their communities, inspiring and uplifting other young people along the way.

The complete list of awardees for this year's "For Our Future Scholarship" include: Teresa CHAN from The Education University of Hong Kong; Bosco CHAN from Saint Francis University; Rola CHAN from The Education University of Hong Kong; Jack CHAN from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Fanny LAU from Hong Kong Baptist University; Alexandra LAW from The University of Hong Kong; Adrian LEE from The University of Hong Kong; Sabrina LO from City University of Hong Kong; Amy LO from The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Edison SO from Hong Kong Metropolitan University; Kathleen SO from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Cynthia SO from Lingnan University; Andy YAU from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Gordon YIP from The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Kitty YIP from Hong Kong Metropolitan University; and William ZHU from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

The complete list of awardees for "Innovation and Technology Award" include: Howard CHAN from The University of Hong Kong; Ken CHAN from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Artemis CHAN from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Ronald CHOW from City University of Hong Kong; Victor GAO from The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Sunny LUO from Hong Kong Baptist University; Anson TSANG from The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Aubrey TSE from Hong Kong Metropolitan University; Ivan WONG from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Samuel WONG from The University of Hong Kong.