Online voting opens for Spirit of Hong Kong Lion Rock People’s Choice Award, recognising city’s unsung heroes
- Finalists include a domestic worker who selflessly aids her peers, a pioneering researcher, and an entrepreneur who overcame polio and prejudice
- The awards, co-organised by the Post and property developer Sino Group, aim to honour those whose inspirational work too often goes unnoticed
From a teenager who never forgot her commitment to special needs students, to a cycling group that helps former drug addicts integrate with the community, unsung heroes across Hong Kong are making a positive difference in countless lives every day.
The annual campaign, now in its 8th year, is co-organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group to honour remarkable people whose work may go unnoticed.
This year’s award series celebrates 19 individuals and groups for inspirational efforts that make us proud to call ourselves Hongkongers.
Those finalists include an independent researcher who studies the marital formalities of the boat-dwelling Hoklo clan, and a stroke survivor who helps his peers to get back on their feet.
Playwright with a heart for people with intellectual disabilities nominated for Spirit of Hong Kong Awards
Other contenders include an academic who has pioneered diabetes research in the city, a domestic helper who created a group to aid her colleagues, and an entrepreneur who overcame both polio and prejudice.
In addition to the online poll, judges will select winners in each of six Spirit of Hong Kong awards categories: community, perseverance, culture, innovation, youth and teamwork. Results will be announced in November.
We continue to be awed by these extraordinary people whose dedication is even more important amid the Covid-19 challenge. May their spirit inspire us all to build a better Hong Kong
Sino Group deputy chairman Dr Daryl Ng Win-kong, who sits on the judging panel, said the awards recognised the quiet and self-effacing work of wonderful individuals who embodied the “can-do” Lion Rock spirit of care, diligence, courage and commitment.
“We continue to be awed by these extraordinary people whose dedication is even more important amid the Covid-19 challenge,” he said, adding that their tremendous efforts and positive contribution to the community made them outstanding and deserving of recognition.
How yum cha experience can make a great starter for those interested in Hong Kong’s cultural scene – and help the needy
The group has been paying tribute to good Samaritans in the city through the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards since 2013.
“May their spirit inspire us all to build a better Hong Kong,” Ng said.
Fellow judge Richard Lancaster, chief executive officer of CLP Holdings Limited, noted that Hong Kong had always impressed him as a very special place.
“As a city, it flourishes and overcomes great challenges based on the spirit, passion and solidarity of its people,” he said.
“I am proud to be part of such a dedicated and caring community and humbled by the many examples I see of perseverance and caring for others in spite of huge obstacles.”
Ng, Lancaster and 10 other judges will review the finalists’ nominations for the six categories other than the Lion Rock People’s Choice Award in accordance with a set scoring system.
A Hong Kong social enterprise is empowering the overlooked, one app at a time
As with the award named after the iconic Hong Kong mountain, the Spirit of Community category champions the philanthropic work done by inspiring achievers.
The perseverance and culture categories, meanwhile, recognise people who have overcome personal challenges to succeed and those who have inspired others to preserve the city’s heritage, respectively.
Individuals who have developed breakthrough technologies for the good of society are honoured in the Spirit of Innovation class, while the youth award honours young people who have shown a deep commitment to the community.
The Spirit of Teamwork category lauds unsung corporations or groups that embrace their roles as socially responsible corporate citizens.
