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The following is issued on behalf of the Student Financial Assistance Agency:
Around 900 students, five working adults and two apprentices were presented with awards and scholarships at the 26th Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) at Hong Kong City Hall today (March 24).
Officiating at the ceremony were Lady Youde; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr Philip Wu; Chairman of the SEYMF Council, Dr John Chan; and other members of the Board of Trustees and the Council.
Lady Youde said, "This year we have continued our policy of promoting the very best quality of education and research, supporting talented young people in our schools and universities as well as in industry and commerce.
"Since its establishment in l987 the fund has granted over $233 million to more than 660,000 young people. We are always delighted to hear how their lives have been transformed by the new opportunities offered to them, and proud to witness their success in their chosen careers," she added.
In the 2012/13 academic year, the fund disbursed $6.72 million. Presented this year were two fellowship awards, four scholarship awards plus three honorary scholarships for overseas studies; one overseas fellowship for a disabled student plus one overseas honorary scholarship for another disabled student; 13 fellowships for post-graduate students, inclusive of three honorary awards; 26 scholarships for undergraduate and diploma students, including six honorary awards; four scholarships for disabled students pursuing undergraduate and diploma studies; six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in public examinations; 822 prizes for senior secondary schools students; 17 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 2012/13 to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to the performing arts. In 2012, more than 9,500 students became members of the Young Friends Scheme and over 26,000 students participated in various programmes and activities of this scheme.
Competition for the overseas fellowships and scholarships for 2013/14 was extremely keen. Six brilliant contestants, from among 180 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 2013/14 are:
(1) Miss Chua Shui-ying, currently working as a Sustainability Development Manager at the MTR Corporation Limited, who intends to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States; and
(2) Mr Roger Phang Yu-wai, currently a trainee solicitor at a law firm, who intends to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Civil Law at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The award recipients for the Overseas Scholarships 2013/14 are:
(1) Mr Francis Lam Yu-ting of St Paul's Co-educational College, who intends to study chemistry at Imperial College, London, in the United Kingdom;
(2) Mr James Lo Yuen-fai, currently a Headmaster's Assistant at the Diocesan Boys' School, who intends to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom;
(3) Mr Christopher Jason Wan Kai-hin of the Chinese International School, who intends to study natural sciences at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom; and
(4) Miss Priscilla Yeung Ming-yi of the Diocesan Girls' School, who intends to study political science at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States.
The award recipients for the Overseas Honorary Scholarships 2013/14 are Miss Chan Yan-wing, Mr Chow Man-kin and Miss Jocelyn Fan Hei-nok. Each will receive $10,000 for the honorary award.
An overseas award exclusively for disabled students was introduced in 1994. The 2013/14 fellowship recipient is Mr Lau King, who is a Master of Philosophy student with hearing impairment studying physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He plans to pursue a PhD degree in Physics at the University of California (Berkeley) in the United States. The award recipient for the Overseas Honorary Scholarship for Disabled Students is Mr Wu Ho-ting.
Six students who obtained outstanding results in the 2012 public examinations have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals. They are:
(1) Mr Lau Chun-ling of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, who scored 4As and 1B in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) in 2012;
(2) Miss Leung Hiu-wai of Ying Wa Girls' School, who scored 4As and 1B in the HKALE in 2012;
(3) Miss Evelyn Lu Ruoyun of PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College, who scored 4As and 1B in the HKALE in 2012;
(4) Mr Chan Sze-hoi of PLK No.1 WH Cheung College, who scored 7 'Level 5**'s in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) in 2012;
(5) Miss Kang Di of St Paul's Co-educational College, who scored 6 'Level 5**'s and 1 'Level 5*' in the HKDSEE in 2012;
(6) Mr Leung Ka-chun of Pui Ching Middle School, who scored 6 'Level 5**'s and 1 'Level 5*' in the HKDSEE in 2012.
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) Mr Cheng Tak-hang, who took a Certificate course in Assistant for Chinese Medical Clinic Training, and is currently a dispenser;
(2) Ms Eva Chung Kwok-yin, who also took a Certificate course in Assistant for Chinese Medical Clinic Training, and is currently a Chief Supervisor of Clinic Assistants of a Chinese Medicine Clinic;
(3) Mr Man Wing-chun, who took a short course in Surveying and Setting-out, and is currently a director of a construction company;
(4) Ms Navasit Pairintr, who took a Certificate course in Domestic Helper Training, and is currently an owner of a domestic service company; and
(5) Ms Shu Xiuwen, who took a Certificate course in Elementary Book-keeping, and is currently an accounting and quantity surveyor.
The two apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who obtained Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:
(1) Mr Chan Ka-lok, who attained a Higher Diploma in Building Studies, and is currently a construction technician; and
(2) Mr Tse Chi-hei, who attained a Higher Diploma in Automotive Engineering, and is currently a vehicle mechanic.
A total of around $303,000 has been expended on the Award Scheme for Disabled Students to provide 17 awardees with awards for the purchase of study aids.
Ten post-graduate students were this year awarded with Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships at $30,000 each, while 20 undergraduate and diploma students were awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarships at $20,000 each. Three post-graduate students and six undergraduate and diploma students have been conferred with Sir Edward Youde Memorial Honorary Fellowships and Scholarships at values of $3,000 and $2,000 each respectively.
The Fund also spent $822,000 on the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Prizes for 810 senior secondary school students from around 410 schools throughout the territory and 12 students from the Vocational Training Council.
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund has since its inception supported over 21,700 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. Over 2,300 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 society.
Ends/Sunday, March 24, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:38
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