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The following is issued on behalf of the Student Financial Assistance Agency:
More than 880 students, five working adults and two apprentices were presented with awards and scholarships under the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) at the 24th Awards Presentation Ceremony held at Hong Kong City Hall today (April 2).
Officiating at the ceremony were Lady Youde; Dr Philip Wu Po-him, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Dr John Chan Cho-chak, the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, and other members of the Board of Trustees and the Council.
Lady Youde remarked, "Over the past twenty years, the Fund has strived for the promotion of education, learning and research among the people of Hong Kong. It is our strong belief that the sustainable development of Hong Kong depends heavily on supporting the younger generation by allowing them access to high quality education. To this end, the Fund has disbursed more than $210 million to over 600,000 students through various kinds of awards and sponsored activities since its establishment in 1987.
"We are delighted that many of our awardees are now in a position to make a real contribution to the well-being of society," she added.
In pursuing its objective of encouraging and promoting education and learning for the people of Hong Kong, the Fund has disbursed $7.53 million in the 2010/11 academic year. Presented this year were: four fellowship awards, two scholarship awards plus three honorary awards for overseas studies; 13 fellowships for post-graduate students, inclusive of three honorary awards; 28 scholarships for undergraduate and diploma students, including eight honorary awards; four scholarships for disabled students pursuing undergraduate and diploma studies; six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in public examinations; 803 prizes for senior secondary school students; 18 awards for disabled students; two awards for outstanding apprentices and five awards for working adults who have undergone retraining and have successfully integrated into their new work environment.
Exclusive sponsorship of $600,000 towards the Young Friends Scheme of the Hong Kong Arts Festival continued in 2010/11 to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to the performing arts. In 2010/11, more than 7,900 students have become members of the Young Friends Scheme and over 26,000 students have participated in various programmes and activities of this Scheme.
Competition for the overseas fellowships and scholarships for 2011/12 was extremely keen. Six brilliant contestants, from among 171 applicants, won the awards. Each will receive a maximum of HK$283,000 or HK$262,000 a year respectively for a fellowship award or a scholarship award.
The award recipients for the Overseas Fellowships 2011/12 are:-
(1) Miss Joyce Lam Wing-yin, currently a student studying law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a Bachelor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom;
(2) Miss Anna Pun Ying, currently a student studying Mathematics at the University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in Mathematics at the University of California (Berkeley) in the United States;
(3) Mr Victor Shin Kei-wah, currently a research assistant at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in Sociology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom; and
(4) Miss Tsang Wing-yi, currently a teaching associate at the Vocational Training Council, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in Art History at the Northwestern University in the United States.
The award recipients for the Overseas Scholarships 2011/12 are:-
(1) Miss Fung Yuen-ying of Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, who intends to study economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom; and
(2) Mr Leung Ho-wai of Island School, who intends to study law at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The award recipients for the Overseas Honorary Fellowships 2011/12 are Mr Hung Ho-yeung, Mr Tsang Cheuk-ho and Miss Yau Oi-suet. Each will receive $10,000 for the honorary award.
Six students who obtained outstanding results in the 2010 public examinations have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals. They are:-
(1) Miss Alice Chan Yuen-on of the Diocesan Girls' School, who scored 5As and 1B in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) in 2010;
(2) Miss He Heung-ting of the Diocesan Girls' School, who scored 5As in the HKALE in 2010;
(3) Mr Poon Ming-kei of the Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School, who scored 4As and 1B in the HKALE in 2010;
(4) Mr Kwok Chit-pan of the Queen¡¦s College, who scored 10A/Level 5*s in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 2010;
(5) Miss Yiu Sze-wan of the SKH Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School, who scored 10A/Level 5*s in the HKCEE in 2010; and
(6) Mr Chan Kwan-hang of the Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College, who scored 8A/Level 5*s and 1B in the HKCEE in 2010.
The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Council, who obtained Awards for Self-Improvement for Working Adults are:-
(1) Ms Chan Hiu-shan, who took a certified accounts clerk training course, is currently an accounts clerk;
(2) Ms Chiu Pui-shuen, who took a care-related support worker training course, is currently a care-related support assistant;
(3) Ms Ho Yuk-chun, who took a post-natal care worker retraining course, is currently a post-natal care worker;
(4) Miss Lai Shuk-fung, who took a measurement technician course, is currently a quantity surveyor; and
(5) Mrs Tsoi Wai-ming, who took a massage for healthcare retraining course, is currently a masseur.
The two apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who obtained the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:-
(1) Mr Choi King-chai, who is now pursuing a higher diploma in mechanical engineering, is currently a mechanical fitter; and
(2) Mr Lai Wa-chun, who is now pursuing a bachelor of engineering degree in fire engineering, is currently a building services technician.
A total of around $300,000 has been expended on the Award Scheme for Disabled Students to provide 18 awardees with awards for the purchase of study aids.
Ten postgraduate students this year have been awarded the SEYM Fellowships at $30,000 each, while 24 undergraduate and diploma students have been awarded the SEYM Scholarships at $20,000 each. Three postgraduate students and eight undergraduate and diploma students are conferred the SEYM Honorary Fellowships and Scholarships at the values of $3,000 and $2,000 each respectively.
The Fund has also spent $803,000 on the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Prizes for 803 senior secondary school students from over 410 schools throughout the territory.
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund has since its inception supported nearly 20,000 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. Over 2,000 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 society.
Ends/Saturday, April 2, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:31
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