******************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Student Financial Assistance Agency:
More than 900 students, five working adults and two apprentices were presented with awards and scholarships under the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) at the 20th Awards Presentation Ceremony, at Hong Kong City Hall today (April 14).
Officiating at the ceremony were Lady Youde, the Chairman of Board of Trustees Dr Philip Wu Po-him, Chairman of the SEYMF Council Mr John Chan Cho-chak, and other Members of the Board of Trustees and the council.
This being the 20th anniversary of the SEYMF, Lady Youde recalled, ：It seems only yesterday that I was standing here in the City Hall with the very first recipients of the Fund・s awards. In fact, of course that was in 1988 and those young people are now pursuing a great variety of careers in Hong Kong.；
：During the two decades since the fund's establishment in l987, the trustees' wise management and guidance have made it possible for the council to develop an innovative and creative programme of support for education and research in Hong Kong, disbursing around $178 million to thousands of students to help them in their quest for a fulfilling life.
：I am sure that the recipients of the awards today will be just as successful as their predecessors in fulfilling the Fund's aim of encouraging their creativity, social awareness and global outlook. They will continue to have our support as they progress, many of them to occupy key roles in shaping the future of Hong Kong,； she said.
In pursuing its objective of encouraging and promoting education and learning of the people of Hong Kong, the fund has disbursed $8.49 million in the 2006-2007 academic year. Presented this year were seven awards for overseas studies; 20 fellowships for post-graduate students; 73 scholarships for undergraduate and diploma students, including four for disabled students; six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in public examinations; 789 prizes for senior secondary school students; 21 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 2006-2007 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 2007-2008 was extremely keen. Seven brilliant contestants, from among 204 applicants, have won the awards. Each will receive a maximum of $283,000 and $262,000 a year for a fellowship award and a scholarship award respectively.
The award recipients for the Overseas Fellowships 2007-2008 are:-
(1) Miss Chan Tsz-yan, currently a secondary school teacher, intends to pursue a Master of Arts degree in English at the Purdue University in the United States;
(2) Mr Leung Kam-shing, currently a town planner, intends to pursue a PhD degree in Architecture at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom;
(3) Mr Luk Sheung-kan, currently a student studying Actuarial Science at the University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a Master / PhD degree in Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom; and
(4) Miss Seren Tang Shun-ting, currently a law student at the University of Hong Kong, intends to pursue a Master degree in Development Studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The award recipients for the Overseas Scholarships 2007-2008 are:-
(1) Mr Ray Fung Yue-kwong of Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, who intends to study Economics, Management, Accounting and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States;
(2) Miss Danielle Justine Lee of Hong Kong International School, who intends to study Human Biology at the Harvard University in the United States; and
(3) Mr Lawrence Yu Lok-lun of Queen・s College, who intends to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States.
There are in addition honorary fellowship/scholarship awards being bestowed upon three candidates in recognition of their exemplary academic achievements and impressive performance during the selection interview of the overseas fellowships and scholarships.
Six students who obtained outstanding results in the 2006 public examinations have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals. They are:-
(1) Miss Man Wing-sze of Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College, who scored 5As in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) in 2006;
(2) Miss Tong Ka-man of SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School, who scored 5As in the HKALE in 2006;
(3) Miss Mak Lung-yi of Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School, who scored 5As in the HKALE in 2006;
(4) Miss Ho Yuen-ting of Sha Tin Government Secondary School, who scored 9As in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 2006;
(5) Mr To Yick-ting of St. Joseph・s College, who scored 9As and 1B in the HKCEE in 2006; and
(6) Miss Shek Junes of Diocesan Girls・ School, who scored 10As in the HKCEE in 2006.
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) Ms Cheong Mei-sio, who took a domestic helper retraining course, is currently working as a post-natal care worker;
(2) Ms Chiu Mei-ling, who took a personal care worker retraining course, is currently working as a personal care worker in a church;
(3) Ms Poon Siu-ling, who took a foot reflexology retraining course, is currently a masseur in a beauty parlour;
(4) Mr Tsang Hing-kai, who attended an advanced security and property management retraining course, is currently senior security officer in a security solution company; and
(5) Ms Yu Kin-san, who attended a full-time short course in metal formwork, is currently an assistant foreman in an engineering company.
The two outstanding apprentices nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who obtained the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:-
(1) Mr Leung Chi-fung, who completed a craft certificate in building services, basic certificate for technician trainees and higher diploma in building services engineering, is currently a building services mechanic in a public transport company; and
(2) Mr Lo Wai-chon, who completed a diploma and higher diploma in mechanical engineering and is now studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Product Analysis with Design, is currently a mechanical engineering technician in a public transport company.
A total of around $500,000 has been expended on the Award Scheme for the Disabled Students to provide 21 awardees with financial assistance for the purchase of study aids.
The 20 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 16,400 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. More than 1,700 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 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN
