2019 “Distinguished Master, Accomplished Students” Mentorship Programme Kick-Off Ceremony
Nurture Talents of Science and Technology Create the Best Future of Hong Kong

(31 March 2019, Hong Kong) The kick-off ceremony for the 2019 “Distinguished Master, Accomplished Students” Mentorship Programme was held today at the InnoCentre. The Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong (ASHK), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES), Hong Kong Institution of Sciences (HKIS) and Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF) launched the programme this year.

Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, officiated at the ceremony, with the participation of almost 200 distinguished masters, accomplished students, secondary school principals and teachers.

51 famous scientists and engineers have volunteered to serve as mentors for 136 newly admitted students from local secondary schools this year. The mentors will provide advice to the participating students for one year based on students’ interests and expectation in the field of sciences.

Professor Lap-chee Tsui, “encourage and guide the students to be the future of Science”
Professor Lap-chee Tsui, the Founding President of ASHK, indicated that the Central Government promulgated the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and science and innovation technology formed part and parcel of it. Hong Kong should manage and boost the development in this area, in order to be the international innovation and technology hub.

Nurturing the next generation is a vital step for fulfilling the anticipation. Professor Tsui further indicated that cooperation with various parties from society is important for promoting science and technology. Since its inception, ASHK has participated and promoted science in different ways. The “Distinguished Master, Accomplished Students” Mentorship Programme is one of them. It is a remarkable and valuable opportunity as it provides a platform to gather a group of successful scientists and engineers. It is also a precious chance for students to meet and learn from them, thereby encouraging and guiding the students to be our future of science and technology.

Mrs Eva Cheng Li Kam-fun, “the ‘mentees’ today will become the ‘masters’ tomorrow”
Mrs Eva Cheng, Executive Director of Our Hong Kong Foundation, expressed deep appreciation for the masters who volunteered to join the “Distinguished Master, Accomplished Students” Mentorship Programme. “We are thankful for them for taking the time to mentor and inspire the up-and-coming young talent, and contribute to the development of the society,” Mrs Cheng said. 

She also reminded the mentees to stay humble and grateful, to learn and explore the boundless world of science and technology with their masters, adding: “I believe the ‘mentees’ today will become the ‘masters’ tomorrow.” 

Mrs Cheng said that Our Hong Kong Foundation was very proud to be one of the programme’s organisers. She also noted that the programme would serve as a “torch” and light up the way for future science and technology development in Hong Kong. With the masters’ guidance, the mentees would thrive and shine in these areas, and create a better future for Hong Kong, she said. 

Mr Lau Yung-yan, “the truth is discovered after a hundred question marks”
tudent representative Lau Yung-yan of the Hong Kong Taoist Association Tang Hin Memorial Secondary, gave thanks to the programme host and cooperating organisations. He said that there is a saying always comes to his mind, “the truth is discovered after a hundred question marks.” He would definitely grasp this opportunity to meet and learn conscientiously from the famous scientists and engineers, thereby discovering the truth of science and achieve his goal.