Press Release

HKHS Celebrates 20 Years of its Scholarship Legacy 
Inspiring over a Thousand Students for Shaping a Bright Future

The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) proudly marks the 20^th anniversary of its Hong Kong Housing Society Award (HKHS Award), which has consistently supported the development of talents for the housing and elderly-care industries of Hong Kong.  The 20^th HKHS Award presentation ceremony was held today (18 January), recognising 117 students from higher education institutions, each awarded a scholarship or bursary of HK$10,000.  Since its inception, the HKHS Award has benefitted more than 1,600 outstanding students with sponsorship totalling nearly HK$12 million.

HKHS Chairman Prof Ling Kar-kan said, “For many years, the Housing Society has held fast to its social mission.  While advancing housing development, we are also dedicated to driving Hong Kong’s sustainable development, with a strong focus on empowering the next generation to thrive.  Over the past 20 years, the HKHS Award has fostered the industry to pass on the shared legacy, creating long-term social benefits.  Echoing the theme of this year’s ceremony, “Cultivating New Generations, Twenty Years and Beyond”, we are committed to inspiring the next generation to build upon our past achievements and sustain the professional growth of the local housing industry.  All these serve to shape a shared bright future for Hong Kong, contributing to the sustainable development of the community”.

The ceremony featured a special guest appearance by the awardee in the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Selection 2024, Janet Kung, to share her inspiring journey in pursuing her dreams.  As Hong Kong's only female ice climbing mountaineering athlete and the “Queen of Bun Scrambling”, Kung, with her passion to ice climbing and unwavering perseverance in overcoming challenges,  bit by bit and step by step, has finally reached the pinnacle of snow mountains despite resources limitation.  She encouraged the awardees to make good use of the scholarships for self-enhancement, driving oneself forward with staunch determination in the face of challenges, like ice climbing.  Kung also encouraged the students dare to go beyond own limitations, creating a meaningful life for oneself and the community.

Taking a cue from the theme of this year’s award ceremony, “Cultivating New Generations, Twenty Years and Beyond”, past scholarship recipients and the beneficiary organisations of HS Academy Alumni Club’s volunteering services, joined hands to perform the HKHS Award’s 20th-anniversary theme song “Dreams within Reach”.  The lyrics speak the minds of the scholarship recipients and express their heartfelt gratitude to HKHS’s support, encouraging each other to give back to the society after graduation.

Established in 2006, the HKHS Award aims to support talent development for the housing and elderly-care industries of Hong Kong by recognising students with excellent academic performance in related disciplines, while providing financial assistance to those in need.  Awardees of this year come from 13 local tertiary institutions and their respective schools of continuing education and community colleges, as well as three member institutions of the Vocational Training Council, namely the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, and the Hong Kong Design Institute.

In addition, HKHS has been granting the annual “Father Cronin Memorial Award” to outstanding students of The University of Hong Kong’s Master of Housing Management Programme since 1994.  This year, the awardee received a scholarship of HK$10,000 in recognition of his exceptional academic performance.

To further engage the award recipients, the “HS Academy Alumni Club” (Alumni Club) was established in 2019 to provide a platform for the awardees to serve the community.  Over the years, the Alumni Club has organised over 60 activities including community events, professional development, health and well-being activities and volunteer services, in order to broaden the members’ horizons and nurture them to become a leader of tomorrow.  The Alumni Club members have contributed nearly 5,100 hours of volunteer services, benefitting more than 46,000 people.  Besides, the Alumni Club members are given priority for summer internships and recruitment interviews at HKHS, enabling them to embark on their journey of career development.