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The following is issued on behalf of the Student Financial Assistance Agency:
More than 920 students, five working adults and two apprentices were presented with awards and scholarships under the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) at the 19th Awards Presentation Ceremony at Hong Kong City Hall today (March 11). Officiating at the ceremony were Lady Youde; the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Mr Roger Luk Koon-hoo; the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, Dr Lawrence T Wong, and other Members of the Board of Trustees and the Council.
"We have disbursed some $169 million since 1987, benefiting directly or indirectly more than 440,000 students through various awards and sponsored activities," Lady Youde said. "These achievements are something we can be justly proud of. May I take this opportunity to express my warmest thanks to everyone who has helped in administering the Fund. I am sure we can count on your unfailing support to enable us to build on our success.
"The presentation ceremony is an event which I very much look forward to every year. It is always a very special moment for me as I meet the talented young people who will shape the future of Hong Kong. Their academic achievements and personal qualities truly deserve recognition. On this occasion, I wish all of our award winners continuing success in the future." she said.
In pursuing its objective of encouraging and promoting education and learning of the people of Hong Kong, the Fund has disbursed $9.5 million in the 2005/2006 academic year. Presented this year were six awards for overseas studies plus one overseas scholarship for a disabled student; 21 fellowships for post-graduate students, including one for the disabled; 73 scholarships for undergraduate and diploma students, including three for disabled students; six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in public examinations; 785 prizes for senior secondary school students; 31 awards for disabled students; two awards for outstanding apprentices and five awards for working adults who have undergone retraining and have successfully integrated themselves into their new work environment.
Exclusive sponsorship in the amount of $400,000 towards the Young Friends of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Scheme continued in 2005/2006 to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to the performing arts. Two lectures were selected for sponsorship under the Distinguished Lecture Series. First launched in 2002/2003, it aims to provide a forum for speakers nominated by professional bodies/associations to deliver lectures on issues of direct benefit to the people of Hong Kong.
Competition for the overseas fellowships and scholarships for 2006/2007 was extremely keen. Six brilliant contestants, from among 202 applicants, have won the awards. Each will receive a maximum of HK$251,000 and HK$232,000 a year for a fellowship award and a scholarship award respectively.
The award recipients for the Overseas Fellowships 2006/2007 are:-
(1) Mr Au Yeung Ching-man, currently an MPhil student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom;
(2) Miss Karen Chan Kit-yu, currently an undergraduate student studying Environmental Life Science at the University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a PhD degree in Biological Oceanography at the University of California, Davis in the United States;
(3) Mr Chau Siu-chun, currently an undergraduate student studying law at the University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a Bachelor of Civil Law/Master of Laws degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom;
(4) Miss Crystal Lee Hai-ning, currently an undergraduate student studying Western Music at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a Master degree in Music Therapy at the University of Queensland in Australia; and
(5) Mr Li Man-chun, currently an undergraduate student studying Mathematics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a PhD degree in Mathematics at the University of Stanford in the United States.
The award recipient for the Overseas Scholarships 2006/2007 is Mr Chau Yuen-kit of Queen's College, who intends to study Economics & Political Science at Princeton University in the United States.
An overseas award exclusively for disabled students was introduced in 1994. The 2006/2007 scholarship recipient is Miss Tsui Hoi-ying, a student with visual impairment who plans to pursue a Bachelor degree in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the United States.
Six students who obtained outstanding results in the 2005 public examinations have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals. They are:-
(1) Miss Sannie Au Yeung Min-min, of Maryknoll Convent School (Secondary Section), who scored 4 A's and 1 B in Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) in 2005;
(2) Miss Chan Chung-yan of Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School, who scored 4 A's and 1 B in HKALE in 2005;
(3) Miss Poon Wing-yan of Belilios Public School, who scored 5 A's in HKALE in 2005;
(4) Mr Kenneth Chan Kin-yan, of La Salle College, who scored 9 A's and 1 B in Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 2005;
(5) Miss Leung Ka-yan of Belilios Public School, who scored 8 A's and 1 B in HKCEE in 2005; and
(6) Mr Yam Tsz-to of La Salle College, who scored 10 A's in HKCEE in 2005.
The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Training Authority, who obtained the Awards for Self-improvement for Working Adults are:-
(1) Mr Chan Wing-tung, who took a clerical training course, is currently working as a storekeeper;
(2) Ms Chao Wai-lan, who took a standard security & property management retraining course, is currently working as a security guard in a property management company;
(3) Mr Li Tsun-kit, who took a full-time adult short course in plumbing & pipe-fitting in building construction, is currently a plumber and pipe fitter in an engineering company;
(4) Mr Ng Chi-hop, who attended a receptionist & clerical work training course, is currently a tutorial assistant; and
(5) Ms Elsa Wu Siu-fan, who attended a domestic helper training course, is currently a domestic helper working for several employers.
The two outstanding apprentices nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who obtained the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:-
(1) Mr Chau Wai-leung, who completed a craft certificate course in air-conditioning and refrigeration; is currently an air-conditioning mechanic in an engineering company; and
(2) Mr Lam Ka-ho, who completed a foundation diploma, a diploma and a higher diploma in electrical engineering, is currently a technician in a railway company.
A total of around $500,000 has been expended on the Award Scheme for the Disabled Students to provide 31 awardees with financial assistance for the purchase of study aids.
The 21 postgraduate students this year have been awarded the SEYMF Fellowships at $30,000 each, while the 73 undergraduate and diploma students have been awarded the SEYMF Scholarships at $20,000 each.
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund has, since its inception, supported more than 15,700 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. More than 1,600 scholars and fellows have completed their studies and are now working in Hong Kong in different sectors, contributing to the well-being and development of the territory.
Ends/Saturday, March 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:00
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