The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 15) officiated at the Award Presentation Ceremony 2017 of the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES). Seventy-eight students were selected as the third cohort of awardees.
 
     A spokesman for the Education Bureau said, "Competition was keen and rigorous, with 856 applicants who will commence their undergraduate or postgraduate study in the 2017/18 academic year vying for the title.
 
     "Apart from academic achievements, selection was also based on key considerations including the non-academic attributes of an applicant such as leadership skills and potential as well as his or her commitment and contribution to Hong Kong.
 
     "Almost all awardees completed their formal secondary school education in Hong Kong studying either local or non-local curricula. Among them, 51 are going to pursue undergraduate study and 27 postgraduate study in world-renowned universities. These include not only top-notch comprehensive universities but also world-class institutions specialising in certain disciplines.
 
     "The disciplines that the awardees are going to pursue cover a wide spectrum, ranging from conventional ones such as natural and social sciences, arts, laws, architecture and engineering to other specialties such as archaeology, physiology and neuroscience, and disciplines of study which are currently unavailable in Hong Kong such as zoology and nuclear engineering (distribution of the awardees by different disciplines is in the Annex).
 
     "The diverse pool of scholarship recipients clearly reflects the variety and vibrancy of Hong Kong. The contribution of this diverse pool of talents to our society after their graduation and return to Hong Kong is expected to fuel further long-term development of Hong Kong in many different realms and aspects."
 
     The spokesman added, "As the selection process is still ongoing, some more applicants may be offered the scholarship after today's ceremony." A list of the awardees as of August 15 has been uploaded to the HKSES website.

     Other officiating guests at the award presentation ceremony included the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, and the Chairman of the Steering Committee on the HKSES, Dr Victor Fung.
 
     The HKSES aims to support local students to pursue studies in world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong with a view to grooming a top cadre of talents with global vision, an international network and world-class education, thereby contributing to enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness as Asia's world city in a globalised knowledge economy. Key features of the scholarship scheme are available at the HKSES website (www.edb.gov.hk/hkses).
 
     Details on application for the next cohort of the HKSES will be announced shortly.

Ends/Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:57

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