AS Watson Group Hong Kong Student Sports Awards (HKSSA), Hong Kong’s only territory-wide school sports awards, held the 12th award presentation ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Stadium today. With the participation of 85% of all primary, secondary and special schools in Hong Kong, HKSSA presented awards to 898 student sports elites this year.Launched in 2005, HKSSA opens to all local schools to commend one sports talent from each school every year, recognising the effort made by student sports elites behind their achievements and injecting positive energy into the youth.
Mr. Li Bing, Director, Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Mrs. Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen,JP,Permanent Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, Mr. Yeung Tak-keung, Commissioner for Sports, Home Affairs Bureau, were invited to present the awards to the student sports elites.With the theme of “Are You Ready?” to encourage the awardees to get ready for the challenges ahead, as well as to echo with the motto of HKSSA “Yes I can!”, the award aims to inspire the awardees to pursue their dreams and embrace the future.
Ms. Cecilia Yeung Man-wai, the winner of High Jump at Asian Grand Prix Taipei 2017 and Ms. Yvette Kong Man-yi, member of Hong Kong Swimming Team in Rio 2016 were also invited to share their experience in striving for success with the awardees, and encourage them to pursue their dream.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Dominic Lai, Group Managing Director of AS Watson Group said, “Celebrating the 12th anniversary, together with 898 awardees this year and the participation of 85% of all primary, secondary and special schools in Hong Kong,HKSSA is one of the largest scale student sports elite recognition programmes. It is encouraging to see that the schools support the awardees very much.”
Lai added that, “To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong SAR, CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, the parent company of AS Watson Group, organised different celebration activities to share the joy with the people of Hong Kong. HKSSA is one of the celebration activities, and we wish the awardees could live by the motto of HKSSA ‘Yes I Can!’, and strive for a bright future for Hong Kong.”
Mrs. Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen,JP,Permanent Secretary for Education, Education Bureau said, “I would like to extend special thanks to AS Watson Group for its continuous support for student sports activities in Hong Kong, serving as a role model of socially responsible corporate. We look forward to the continuous support from AS Watson Group to encourage the youth to take part in sports activities, and bring more opportunities to the student sports elites in Hong Kong. I believe the awardees could adhere to a ‘Can-Do Spirit’, bringing positive energy to the sports ground and academic field to pursue excellence.”
Mr. Yeung Tak-keung, Commissioner for Sports, Home Affairs Bureau, said in the ceremony, “In addition to the award certificate and cash scholarship, HKSSA award winners also have opportunity to participate in an overseas exchange sports tour. Apart from arousing interests of local students towards sports activities and developing talents of sports elites, HKSSA also provides opportunities for young students to broaden their horizons.”
As one of the past HKSSA awardees in secondary school, the winner of High Jump at Asian Grand Prix Taipei 2017Ms. Cecilia Yeung Man-wai shared her story with all the awardees,“We should never give up when there are obstacles and challenges, but to equip ourselves and stay confident to chase our dreams.”
Ms. Yvette Kong Man-yi, member of Hong Kong Swimming Team in Rio 2016, also shared her experience in overcoming challenges with the awardees,“Joining Olympic Games is always my dream. Dream is not impossible to achieve. We can make our dreams come true with our persistence and efforts. All of us should live by the motto of HKSSA, ‘Yes I Can!’ to start a new chapter in life proudly.”
AS Watson Group also presented the awardees a tube filled with seeds as a gift to symbolise dream and hope. The Group hopes that the awardees can make good use of the experience gained from HKSSA to pursue their dreams like growing a plant with their belief.
2016 – 2017HKSSA Nomination
The HKSSA has gained overwhelming support from local schools over the past years. This year, total 898 students are awarded.Each participating school is entitled to nominate one sports talent every year. All awardees would receive cash scholarship and would be invited to the award presentation ceremony and leadership workshop. Awardees will also have the opportunity to join a sports exchange tour to Mainland China to broaden their horizons.
The Group hopes that students will continue to pursue their dreams, strive for excellence and promote sporting culture actively and inspire others to embrace the future.
Key Facts about the 898 Winners
There are 507 boys and 391 girls this year with the youngest winner a7-year-old primary two student. Some awardees are elite athletes while some are already representing Hong Kong in international competitions.
