The BOCHK Prize and the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, Hosted by the BOCHK Alliance of Technology and Innovation

As the 2024 Paralympics continue in Paris, Hong Kong fencers Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai have become the first Asian athletes to win two gold medals. The gold-medal winners will receive HK$1.5 million, almost double what they received in Tokyo three years ago. However, the total cash prize for the podium toppers is a far cry from what other world-class athletes receive.

The award’s logo juxtaposes a pearl and pierced jade amulet, with happy connotations in Chinese culture, and the symbol also features on the trophy conferred to the winners. The award’s Charter is designed to promote scientific and standardized management, as well as ensure objective evaluations. It also stipulates that no organisation or individual shall exert undue influence on the review process.

Scientists are encouraged to submit their research work for the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, hosted by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. The award aims to recognise scientists, researchers and research teams whose innovative works have a profound impact on society through their transformational values. The nominators should support the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and uphold high professional ethics, as well as scientific integrity. Only one person or team per year should be awarded for each award field.

This year, Universiti Malaya graduate Dr Thein Swee Lay became the first Malaysian to win the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, sharing the prize with her collaborator, Stuart Orkin. Their discovery of the mechanisms behind the fetal-to-adult haemoglobin switch has opened the door to revolutionary therapies for diseases like sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia.

The South China Morning Post’s infographics and photojournalism teams won four prizes at the Asian Media Awards in Singapore on Wednesday. The best newspaper infographics award went to the piece “Uncovering Hong Kong’s secret land grab”, which used maps, animation, illustrations, photos and text to explain how the wealthy buy up luxury estates.

The best artwork from a secondary school student will receive the Judges Prize of HK$8,000, with the winning student’s school receiving HK$20,000. Students need to be nominated by their teachers and submit their entries before the submission deadline of 16 September. The competition is free to enter. Visit our T&Cs for more information.