Spirited winners tell the Hong Kong story best
- The hard work of inspiring individuals and groups at the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards reflects the perseverance and vision required to ensure the city is ‘back in business’
Novelist Alexandre Dumas’ observation that “example is worth more” than instruction was certainly true at this week’s award ceremony for some unsung heroes who tell the Hong Kong story better than official promotional campaigns.
The 10th edition of the awards, co-hosted by the Post and property developer Sino Group, recognised a visually impaired athlete, a social enterprise founder with cerebral palsy and record-setting blood donors among others.
Spirit of Hong Kong Awards celebrates 10th year with honours for city’s heroes
Shelley Lee Lai-kuen, chairwoman of the judging panel, offered some of the highest praise for awardees, noting they had stayed positive despite tough pandemic odds through extraordinary vision, perseverance and hard work.
Their “almost superhuman efforts”, Lee said, had ensured the city was poised to again take flight after some challenging years.
Community award winners Kwan Sek-yiu and Lee Siu-nam set records for the most whole blood and blood component donations.
Kenneth Ng Yiu-fai, who has cerebral palsy, was honoured for his work establishing an online search platform for barrier-free facilities.
Gingko House earned the teamwork award for feeding the underprivileged, while youth award winner Hannah Bailey Cherry helps ethnic minority groups and underprivileged students.
Putting Hong Kong doctors in the picture with AI-based medical imaging tools
Chapman Lee clinched the innovation award for developing AI diagnostic tools to ease the workload of doctors at hospitals. Tam Kin-lok set up a platform to enable local residents to rediscover community stories and cultural features.
The government has recently organised events to tell the world “Hong Kong is back in business” with advantages such as its open market and rule of law.
But when it comes to showcasing the complete story of the city and the spirit of its people, these extraordinary Hongkongers tell it best.