Speech by CE at Shaw Prize 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony
12.11.2023

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Shaw Prize 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony today (November 12): Deputy Director Lu Xinning (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR), Dr Raymond Chan (Chair of the Shaw Prize Foundation), Professor Reinhard Genzel (Chair of the Board of Adjudicators of the Shaw Prize Foundation), Professor Kenneth Young (Chair of the Shaw Prize Council), esteemed laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, A very good evening to you all. It's my great pleasure to take part in this year's Shaw Prize ceremony. A great pleasure, to welcome all of you here in Hong Kong! This evening's ceremony is the award's first in-person ceremony since 2019. A truly remarkable occasion. The Shaw Prize was set up more than two decades ago, by the late Sir Run Run Shaw. Hong Kong is proud to be home to this prestigious international award, which many consider to be the "Nobel Prize of the East". It recognises and honours the world's leading scholars and scientists, for significant breakthroughs in the three scientific disciplines of astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences. All nominations go through the rigorous consideration by Selection Committees and a Board of Adjudicators, all composed of prominent academics and scientists from around the world. I would like to express my sincere congratulations to all the laureates from 2020 to 2023, for your exemplary work in science. Your achievement not only manifests your lifetime pursuit of academic excellence, but also serves as an important inspiration to scientists and researchers in the world, especially the younger, up-and-coming generation. Therefore, I'm glad that you could finally make it to Hong Kong, to receive your well-earned awards and, hopefully, enjoy the many attractions of Asia's world city. Hong Kong is blessed with some of the world's top universities and their research institutes. Our talented academics strive to bring about societal changes in various fields of scientific endeavour, to ultimately benefit humanity - from life science and medicine, to robotics and moon rovers. With the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is determined to develop into an international innovation and technology centre. The Government is committed to creating an innovation ecosystem that is conducive to research and development, scientific breakthroughs, and sustainable commercialisation of research outcomes. And tonight is just the start of a seminal week of scientific marvel. I'm pleased to note that many of you will take part in the inaugural Hong Kong Laureate Forum, a week-long series of events scheduled to begin tomorrow. The Forum will bring together over 20 Shaw Prize laureates and distinguished scientists, to exchange with hundreds of young scientists in a thought-provoking line-up of world-class seminars and discussions. My congratulations, once again, to all Shaw Prize winners for your inspired breakthroughs. Congratulations, also, to the Shaw Prize Foundation for your untiring efforts to keep the founders' great vision going, and for making this wonderful award scheme truly international. I wish you all the best in the world of science, and here in Hong Kong. Thank you very much. Ends/Sunday, November 12, 2023 Issued at HKT 20:05 NNNN