A milestone for annual awards

The Leader of the Year awards, organized by Sing Tao News Corporation, celebrated their 28th anniversary on Tuesday.

Co-hosted by Sing Tao Daily, Headline Daily and The Standard, the awards ceremony was held at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

Five categories of distinguished Leader of the Year winners were honored at the gala event.

Sing Tao News Corp co-chairman Kwok Ying-shing said that despite facing multiple challenges, winners this year had shown their resilience and bravery in building Hong Kong and contributing to society.

The ceremony also marked the 85th anniversary of Sing Tao News Corp and the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong, Kwok said.

Sing Tao News Corp co-chairman Karson Choi Ka-tsan said Sing Tao will continue to bear its social responsibility in reflecting citizens' opinions and monitoring the authorities' governance.

Guest of honor and prize presenter Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu congratulated the winners and said "only by cooperation can you bring a synergy of one-plus-one-greater-than-two."

The Sports/Culture/Performing Arts category winners are the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games athletes from Hong Kong.

Nisa Leung Wing-yu, the managing partner of Qiming Venture Partners, won in the Commerce & Industry/Finance category.

Playright Children's Play Association was named the Community/Public Affairs/Environment & Conservation category winner.

The Education/Professions/Technology & Innovation category winners were Jia Jiaya, co-chairman, and Shen Xiaoyong, co-chairman and chief executive of SmartMore Corp Ltd.

In the Young Entrepreneur category, the winners were Boxful co-founders Norman Cheung Shun-ho and Carl Wu.

The awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Hong Kong's most exemplary individuals, who have made outstanding contributions toward the city's success and prosperity, linking it to Greater China and the international community, establishing role models for the younger generation, and inspiring the public to strive for the best to help develop the SAR.

Prizes were presented by Lee, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, former secretary for justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, and Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, board chairman of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute.

Guests included Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho and Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin.

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Louise Ho Pui-shan and the Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang also attended.

This year's judging panel, chaired by Yuen, was formed by experts from varied backgrounds. They included Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong permanent honorary president Chan Wing-kee, Elderly Commission chairman Donald Li Kwok-tung and the former University of Hong Kong medical faculty dean, Gabriel Leung Cheuk-wai.

Since their launch in 1994, the awards have acknowledged more than 100 outstanding leaders for their contributions to Hong Kong and for serving as an inspiration to the younger generation.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com