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The following is issued on behalf of the Student Financial Assistance Agency:
More than 930 students, five working adults and two apprentices were presented with awards and scholarships under the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) at the 21st awards presentation ceremony, held at Hong Kong City Hall today (April 12). Officiating at the ceremony were Lady Youde; Dr Philip Wu Po-him, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Mr John Chan Cho-chak, the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, and other members of the Board of Trustees and the Council.
Lady Youde remarked, "Today's ceremony not only marks the satisfactory completion of a year's work for the fund but, more importantly, represents a new milestone for our young awardees." She added, "We believe that the very best education will provide the highly skilled workforce essential to ensure the success of Hong Kong. And to this end, we have, since 1987, disbursed over $186 million to over 510,000 students through various awards and sponsored activities." She continued, "Looking ahead, the fund is committed to keeping pace with the changing world and to continuing to help our young people face its challenges."
In pursuing its objective of encouraging and promoting the education and learning of the people of Hong Kong, the fund has disbursed $8.35 million in the 2007/08 academic year. Presented this year were 10 awards for overseas studies plus one overseas scholarship for a disabled student; 20 fellowships for post-graduate students; 74 scholarships for undergraduate and diploma students, including four for disabled students; six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in public examinations; 797 prizes for senior secondary school students; 30 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 2007/08 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 2002/03, 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 2008/09 was extremely keen. Ten brilliant contestants, from among 190 applicants, have won the awards. Each will receive a maximum of HK$283,000 and HK$262,000 a year for a fellowship award and a scholarship award respectively.
The award recipients for the Overseas Fellowships 2008/09 are:-
(1) Mr Michael Chan Chi-fung, currently an MPhil student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in computer science at Stanford University in the United States;
(2) Mr Chan Kwok-yan, currently a student studying physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the United States;
(3) Miss Bonnie Cheng Yan-ki, currently a PCLL student in law at the University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a Master degree in law at Harvard University in the United States;
(4) Mr Fraser Chiu Kim-hong, currently a student studying mathematics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in mathematics at Columbia University in the City of New York in the United States;
(5) Miss Ip Wing-wun, currently a student studying music at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a Master degree in music at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States;
(6) Mr Tony Sit, currently an MPhil student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in statistics at Columbia University in the City of New York in the United States;
(7) Mr Tony Wong Wing-hong, currently a student studying mathematics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in mathematics at the California Institute of Technology in the United States; and
(8) Mr Yun Wai-wing, currently an architectural assistant, who intends to pursue a Master degree in Architecture at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
The award recipients for the Overseas Scholarships 2008/09 are:-
(1) Mr Lee Pak-hin of Queen's College, who intends to study mathematics at Stanford University in the United States; and
(2) Mr Li Yan-lin of La Salle College, who intends to study law at University College London in the United Kingdom.
An overseas award exclusively for disabled students was introduced in 1994. The 2008/09 scholarship recipient is Miss Carol Pang Wai-yung, who is a hearing-impaired student studying at Sheng Kung Hui Tang Shiu Kin Secondary School. She plans to pursue a Bachelor degree in speech and hearing science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States.
Six students who obtained outstanding results in the 2007 public examinations have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals. They are:-
(1) Miss Ling Hoh-yan of Diosesan Girls' School, who scored 5As in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) in 2007;
(2) Miss Chau Pui-ling of St Paul's Secondary School, who scored 5As in the HKALE in 2007;
(3) Mr Tsang Wai-him of Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School, who scored 5As in the HKALE in 2007;
(4) Miss Chan Man-chi of Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School, who scored 8A/Level 5*s in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 2007;
(5) Mr Chia Chi-fung of Queen's College, who scored 10A/Level 5*s in the HKCEE in 2007; and
(6) Mr Henry Chow Ho-cheung of Queen's College, who scored 10A/Level 5*s in the HKCEE in 2007.
The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Council Training Academy, who obtained Awards for Self-improvement for Working Adults are:-
(1) Ms Chan Choi-wan, who took a post-natal care worker retraining course, is currently working as a post-natal care worker;
(2) Ms Cheung Kam-ho, who took a sales representative retraining course, is currently working as a supervisor overseeing counters in two department stores;
(3) Mr Lam Yiu-chuen, who took a full-time short course in timber and aluminium formworks, is currently working as an assistant foreman in an engineering company;
(4) Ms Li Wa, who attended a hotel room attendant retraining course, is currently working as a uniform attendant in a hotel; and
(5) Mr Yan Chiu-tim, who attended a security and property management retraining course, is currently working as an assistant customer services supervisor in a property management company.
The two apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who obtained the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:-
(1) Mr Ng Siu-lam, who completed a certificate in automotive engineering, is now pursuing a higher diploma in automotive engineering, and is currently a vehicle electrician in a public transport company; and
(2) Mr Ng Wai-lun, who completed a certificate and a higher certificate in building services engineering, is now studying for a higher diploma in building services engineering, and is currently a building services technician in a building contractors company.
A total of around $500,000 has been expended on the Award Scheme for Disabled Students to provide 30 awardees with financial assistance for the purchase of study aids.
The 20 postgraduate students this year have been awarded SEYMF Fellowships at $30,000 each, while the 74 undergraduate and diploma students have been awarded SEYMF Scholarships at $20,000 each.
The fund has spent nearly $800,000 on the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Prizes for 797 senior secondary school students from over 400 schools throughout the territory.
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund has since its inception supported more than 17,300 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. More than 1,800 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, April 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:31
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