Organised by The Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation (the Foundation), the ‘For Our Future Scholarship’ has reached its sixth edition with enthusiastic support from across the community. This year, in addition to awarding scholarships to undergraduates with academic excellence and a passion for community service, the Foundation continued the ‘For Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship’ for a second year. Dedicated to PhD students in STEM disciplines, this award aims to encourage more local youth to pursue careers in the innovation and technology (I&T) sector, further aligning with the national ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ to establish Hong Kong as an international I&T hub.

This year’s response was overwhelming, with nearly 280 applications from 14 local tertiary institutions across both scholarship categories. The esteemed judging panel for the ‘For Our Future Scholarship’ included Miss Pamela LAM, Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Stanley CHOI, Chairman of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, and Mr Daryl NG, Chairman of the Foundation. Following a rigorous selection process, 15 outstanding undergraduates were awarded a scholarship of HKD 50,000 each.

The judging panel for the ‘For Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship’ included Mr Ivan LEE, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Terry WONG, CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; and Mr YIN Cong, Managing Director of the Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments Limited. A total of 10 PhD students were awarded, each receiving HKD 80,000.

The award ceremony, held on 28 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, was graced by numerous honourable guests including Miss Alice MAK, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Ivan LEE, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Miss Pamela LAM, Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr CUI Feng, Second-level Inspector of the Department of Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Daryl NG, Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Kenneth FOK, Deputy to the National People's Congress and Executive Vice Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Terry WONG, CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Stanley CHOI, Chairman of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, Mr YIN Cong, Managing Director of the Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments Limited, Ms Winnie CHIU, Mr Albert CHUANG and Ms Sharon HUANG, Vice Chairs of the Foundation, alongside representatives from various tertiary institutions. Together, they witnessed the proud moments of the outstanding students receiving their awards.