The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) today (December 8) conducted the second stress test at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and Kai Tak Arena in the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) to evaluate the capability of the venues and their nea… read more
Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 2024 Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony today (December 8):
Dr Charles Chen (Founder of the Yidan Prize), Yidan Prize laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to speak to you at this year’s Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony. You are educators, researchers, and government and community leaders from around the world. You are here to celebrate the contributions of our laureates, and indeed of education, to society. Education cultivates the good virtues of our young, and is the driving force for social progress. Like all of you, I firmly believe in the power of education.
The Yidan Prize, established by Dr Charles Chen in 2016, represents a profound commitment to the transformative power of education. The Yidan Prize aims to create a better world through education. The bright minds, and dedication, of laureates throughout the years have helped to reshape the future of education, paving the way for a better future for our students.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to creating an equitable and effective educational environment for all learners. In my third Policy Address, delivered in October, I highlighted our vision of developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub. We will incentivise more local students to pursue advanced studies, expand our vocational talent pool, and promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand. We endeavour to attract more students from the member states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and other Belt and Road countries.
In my Policy Address, I announced the establishment of a new Committee on Education, Technology and Talents. This high-level committee will be led by the Chief Secretary for Administration – who I know is seated with you this evening – and will drive the integrated development of education, technology and talent. It will expand Hong Kong’s connections, formulate policies to attract and cultivate talents, foster the development of technologies, and promote Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talents.
For our shared mission in education, we fully support the Yidan Prize. This year, a total of four Prize laureates are awarded. Professor Wolfgang Lutz, laureate of the Yidan Prize for Education Research, has shaped our understanding of how education underpins human potential and well-being. His work illustrates how education is not only key to building human capital, but also central to sustainable development that propels human progress.
The laureates of the Yidan Prize for Education Development this year, Professor Mark Jordans, Ms Marwa Zahr and Mr Luke Stannard, are the team behind the “Can’t Wait to Learn” Program from the War Child Alliance. The platform focuses on enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy skills among marginalised children, through personalised digital learning. The laureates, who were teachers and researchers themselves, have led the initiative to grow from a pilot project, to an evidence-based intervention, reaching over 200 000 children.
My warmest congratulations to all laureates this year. Your distinctive contributions to education are inspiring to all educators, and demonstrate the commitment to enhancing learning opportunities for all. I look forward to your continued efforts, and the positive impact you will undoubtedly have on education, on society, and on all our students.
My thanks to Dr Chen and the Yidan Prize Foundation, along with everyone who has consistently supported the Yidan Prize in its noble mission. Your unwavering commitment has been instrumental in advancing the cause of education.
On that note, I wish you all an enjoyable evening. Thank you. read more
​Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony and cocktail reception of the 3rd ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition – Hong Kong today (December 8):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I am very delighted to be here today, seeing some familiar faces, as well as so many young ones. I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to the International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong (ICC-HK), along with the professional mediators, adjudicators, sponsors, supporting organisations, volunteers, teachers, students and many others who have dedicated their time and efforts to bring this competition to life.
ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition
The ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition serves as an important platform that offers university students from around the globe the opportunity to apply mediation advocacy skills in simulated mediation for commercial disputes, and gain a thorough understanding of the mediation process. This experience also provides the chance to meet new friends and exchange valuable perspectives.
The ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition – Hong Kong is now in its third iteration. The last competition was held online in 2020, spanning 16 time zones. This time, I am truly excited that we get to see everybody here in Hong Kong. We are pleased to welcome 18 teams to the competition. The champion team will gain the qualifications to attend the annual ICC Mediation Competition at the ICC global headquarters in Paris next February. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I must admit I am a bit jealous.
Latest mediation developments in Hong Kong
Mediation continues to grow in popularity worldwide as an effective mechanism for resolving disputes. It provides a confidential and safe space facilitating parties to express their views candidly, often leading to creative and mutually beneficial solutions. Mediation is typically quicker and less costly than litigation, allows parties to preserve their relationships, and in turn promotes harmony and peace in society. For these reasons, the Department of Justice of Hong Kong (DoJ) has always been a keen supporter of mediation.
The year 2024 has been fruitful for Hong Kong in terms of advancements in mediation. As a pioneer in capacity building, DoJ hosted the inaugural Greater Bay Area (GBA) Mediator Training Course in August 2024, providing training to approximately 400 participants in cross-boundary dispute mediation. Furthermore, DoJ continues to co-organise the latest rounds of the Investment Law and Investor-State Mediation Training in May and November 2024, and has over the years offered investment law and investor-state mediator training to more than 250 mediators and state officials from about 40 jurisdictions.
We anticipate a very busy year ahead in 2025 and are eager to continue our important work in promoting the wider use of mediation. As we proudly announced just last month during Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, the Hong Kong Government will, as a matter of general policy, incorporate a mediation clause in all government contracts requiring parties to mediate first in case of dispute. We hope that by taking the lead, the Government will inspire the private sector to follow suit. Apart from appealing to businesses, on a community level, the Pilot Scheme on Community Mediation will be introduced to raise the awareness of the general public in using mediation to resolve daily disputes. Together, we aim to deepen the mediation culture in Hong Kong.
On the international front, the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) headquarters is set to be established in Hong Kong in 2025, making it the world’s first intergovernmental legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. Upon its establishment, IOMed will offer accessible, flexible, cost-effective, and efficient mediation services, strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a global hub for international mediation.
To foster a mediation culture in society, it is crucial to start early and broad. We are always excited to connect with young people like many of you here. In addition to co-organising the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition, we have consistently supported peer mediation initiatives, including co-organising the Hong Kong Secondary School Peer Mediation Competition, which aims at exposing students to mediation concepts and equipping them with essential skills for resolving real-life problems. The Department of Justice will continue to champion these efforts.
Concluding remarks
As more people recognise the benefits of mediation, increasing resources are being invested in its development. Mediation is not just a process; it is becoming an essential skill across industries and jurisdictions. What a wonderful time it is to get involved and gain exposure. I believe mediation shapes the future – and you are that future.
I sincerely hope you take away valuable insights from this competition, and I wish you all the very best. Make lots of friends, and most importantly, have a lot of fun in Hong Kong! Thank you.
The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (December 8) held the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) Public Symposium 2024 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, showcasing the groundbreaking discoveries of the 10 project teams funded in the eighth and ninth rounds of the TRS exercises. The event attracted over 250 participants, including members of the research community and industry professionals.
The Symposium provided a valuable platform for the project teams to share their research outputs and achievements, as well as exchange ideas and insights with participants through presentations, posters and demonstrations. A wide range of cutting-edge and impactful topics were covered in the symposium, including “A Stem Cell Approach to Dissect the Molecular Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases”, “Control of Influenza: Individual and Population Immunity”, “A Paradigm-shifting, Fully-integrated, Compact Wastewater-to-resource Facility” and “Image-guided Automatic Robotic Surgery”.
The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W. Tong, commended the outstanding research efforts of the universities and expressed enthusiasm for the diverse range of innovative discoveries by the project teams. The achievements included significant advancements in influenza research and disease treatments, and creation of frontier knowledge and innovative technology aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability, emergency responses and financial resilience.
“We are thrilled to witness how the innovative ideas from these proposals have come to fruition, generating significant societal and economic impacts locally, nationally and internationally. Many of these projects have made significant achievements and technological breakthroughs that have been translated into real applications, licenses and patents, contributing to the betterment of our society,” said Professor Tong.
The TRS aims to focus academic research efforts of the University Grants Committee-funded universities on four themes of strategic importance to the long-term development of Hong Kong, i.e. understanding and prevention of diseases; development of a sustainable environment; enhancing Hong Kong’s strategic position as a regional and international business centre; and advancing emerging research and innovations important to Hong Kong. More than 80 projects have been supported by the RGC with a total funding close to $3.4 billion in the past 14 rounds of the exercise.
Details of the event and research projects are available on the RGC website (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/symposium/symposium24.html).
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (December 8) the results of the Hong Kong Reef Check 2024 which showed that despite the impact of bleaching this summer, local corals are genera… read more