HK Prize is the annual award for Hong Kong-based humanities scholars in the early stages of their careers. The winner receives a book contract and $5,000 in cash. In addition to the main prize, there is also a First Book Prize for young scholars who are making their first monograph publication in English. The logo of the hk prize is a juxtaposition of two precious elements, a pearl and a pierced jade amulet, with happy connotations in both Chinese and Western cultures. The logo is also reflected in the trophies conferred to winners.
The prize, named after former Hong Kong governor Lord Hill of Kelvin, is awarded by the University of Glasgow and the Royal Society of Edinburgh for “a significant contribution to knowledge in the sciences or social sciences”. Previous winners have included anthropologist Sir Ian Kershaw and historian Simon Winchester, who won the award for his book “Smallpox: the story of a plague that killed a million people”.
A number of other prizes are associated with the event, including the Best News Writing category, which was won this year by China Daily for the second consecutive time. The judges praised the newspaper’s coverage of the pro-democracy protests as exemplary. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the sponsoring enterprise and numerous celebrities.
In the past, there have been some criticisms that the hk prize was not open to all members of the public, especially in light of its ties with the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the sponsoring enterprise. However, the organisers of the award have made some changes in recent years. These include allowing the public to vote online, increasing the number of judges and expanding the judging panel. In addition, the organising committee of the hk prize has been given greater freedom to select the winner.
While Elon Musk is trying to get humans to Mars and Li Ka-shing joins Bill Gates in tackling infant malnutrition, Hong Kong casino magnate Lui Che Woo is turning vice into virtue by pledging a $15 billion fortune to fight gambling addiction. Lui’s gamble pays off: the dinner-plate-sized trophy he won this year features him in his signature flat cap, along with the HK$20 million (about $2.56 million) payout that comes with being a winner of the prize. Lui’s gamble has drawn criticism, especially from US lawmakers.