Press Releases

Hong Kong, 12 September 2016 –The LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation (“LUI Che Woo Prize” or “the Prize”) is an international cross-sector, innovative prize, recognising outstanding achievements by individuals or organisations in the fields of sustainability, welfare betterment and positive energy. In order to address ever-evolving global needs and challenges, each year the Prize will set a Specific Area of Focus under each Prize Category.

The Prize announced the 2017 Specific Areas of Focus for each Prize Category:

Sustainability Prize

Specific Area of Focus: Prevention of Climate Change

Every life on Earth is affected by climate change. The World Meteorological Organisation reported in 2016 that 15 of the 16 warmest years on record have occurred during the 21st century. 2015 was the hottest year on record since 1880. Global sea levels are now rising at the fastest rate in the last 28 centuries. Between 1993 and 2010, sea levels rose by 3.2mm per year – almost twice the long term average. Climate change constitutes a serious threat to global security. Examples include higher risks of vector-borne disease (e.g. malaria) and water-borne diseases (e.g. cholera and dysentery); reduced productivity of natural resources and threatened food security; poor air quality; economic decline; social unrest; and political instability. Prevention of climate change is essential to the continued development of world civilisation, and the maintenance of ecological balance.

Welfare Betterment Prize

Specific Area of Focus: Alleviation of Poverty

Giving people the tools to alleviate poverty is the way to fundamentally solve the problem of poverty and the problems that come along with it. According to the Global Monitoring Report 2015-16 from the World Bank, the projected global poverty population living on less than US$1.90 a day is 702 million. In addition, the World Value Survey 2010-2014 found that 55.7 percent of respondents from 57 countries consider “people living in poverty and need” to be the most serious problem in the world. Poverty is a root cause of other threats to mankind such as hunger and illness. The effects of poverty are often interrelated and can form a vicious cycle. Poverty is often inherited from one generation to the next. Therefore, giving people the tools to alleviate poverty can effectively improve human welfare and life quality.

Positive Energy Prize

Specific Area of Focus: Promotion of Harmony among Diverse Groups

The human race, which comprises of different diverse groups, shares the same root. We should work together to build a harmonious and civilised world, regardless of race, nationality, religion, creed and complexion. According to the United Nations, the number of international migrants reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole, a 41 percent increase compared to 2000. Globalisation has increased interactions between diverse groups. Promotion of harmony, mutual respect, cohesion and the pursuit of common ground is the only way to eradicate conflicts, disputes, discrimination and hatred. When different groups can learn to live in harmony, irrespective of race, nationality, religion, creed and complexion, we will see a more diversified world thanks to deeper mutual understanding and appreciation, stronger exchange of traditional cultures and increased education and employment opportunities.

Founder & Chairman of the Board of Governors cum Prize Council of LUI Che Woo Prize, Dr Lui Che-woo said, “The LUI Che Woo Prize is a prize that focuses on global needs closely connected to our lives, and thus contributes to world progress. Rapid climate change poses serious threats to all life on Earth. As the saying goes, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’. Only by teaching people how to extract themselves from poverty can we truly solve poverty and the problems that come along with it. Promotion of harmony among groups not only reduces the incidence of conflicts but also leads to societal advancement and a release of positive energy.”

Nomination is by invitation only. The LUI Che Woo Prize has sent invitations to more than 1,000 nominators (including heads of universities, academic institutions and professional organisations). Nominations will be considered regardless of race, religion and nationality (for individuals) or place of establishment (for organisations).

LUI Che Woo Prize Limited

12 September 2016

 To find out more about the LUI Che Woo Prize, please visit www.luiprize.org.

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About the LUI Che Woo Prize

The LUI Che Woo Prize was launched in Hong Kong on 24 September 2015 by Dr Lui Che-woo. The Prize is an international cross-sector, innovative prize, committed to advancing world civilisation by recognising and honouring individuals or organisations globally for their outstanding achievements and contribution in the fields of sustainability, welfare betterment and positive energy.

There are three prize categories in respect of the following three objectives:

Sustainability Prize

This objective is to recognise an outstanding achievement of an individual or an organisation in maintaining a sustainable ecological balance and natural capital on the one hand and providing for the needs of future generations on the other.

Welfare Betterment Prize

This objective is to acknowledge an outstanding effort of an individual or an organisation to enhance the well-being of the human race.

Positive Energy Prize

This objective is to honour a model which can be an individual or an organisation of unwavering determination demonstrated in the adoption of a positive attitude and making constructive changes in the face of setbacks, hardship and adversity.

The 2016 Specific Areas of Focus and Laureates are set out below:

Each awardee will receive a cash award of HK$20 million (equivalent to approximately US$2.56 million), a certificate and a trophy. Each Prize is awarded to a single recipient (i.e. no sharing of a Prize) who can be an individual or an organisation.

The Board of Governors is the governing body of LUI Che Woo Prize Limited (“the Prize Company”), a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in Hong Kong, which manages and administers the LUI Che Woo Prize.