The SHKP Reading Club of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) collaborated with the Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance for the second year in a row to organize the Read to Dream x Future Engineer Grand Challenge, encouraging primary and secondary school students to apply science and technology creatively in their daily lives through a series of activities. This year’s contest has been met with great enthusiasm, with nearly 300 entries submitted - a record-breaking number.

The award ceremony was held today (19 July), with Lander Lam, Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Gifted Education) of the Education Bureau, Chen Zhilu, Deputy Division Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the HKSAR, Mike Wong, SHKP Executive Director and Deputy Managing Director, Clifford Choy, Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance Vice Chairman, Wu Siu-wai, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers Vice President, and Jenny Koo, Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council presenting the prizes.

The final was held on 15 July, attended by Christopher Kwok, SHKP Executive Director, Li Wenbin, Deputy Director General of the Kowloon Sub-office of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, Ng Wun-kit, Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance Vice Chairman and other guests of honour. 

At the award ceremony, Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance Vice Chairman Clifford Choy said: “The students’ remarkable designs are a testament to their creativity, as well as their ability to explore and learn. I believe that behind every design lies a story of repeated attempts and perseverance, and a demonstration of their passion for the competition and the future. This challenge is more than just a competition. It offers a valuable opportunity for learning and growth, which are just as important as the results.” He encouraged the students to maintain their enthusiasm for innovation and technology, and to approach future challenges with courage and determination.

In his speech at the final, Christopher Kwok said: “The National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, and talent is essential for fostering I&T development. The Read to Dream x Future Engineer Grand Challenge aims to develop students’ interest and ability in I&T from an early age, with the ultimate goal of nurturing a pool of scientific researchers and I&T professionals in Hong Kong over time. The contest has drawn a lot of creative entries, and the participants have shown great imagination and a good grasp of I&T applications. I hope all the students will continue to work hard and contribute to the development of Hong Kong and serve the country when they grow up.”

This year marks the fifth Future Engineer Grand Challenge organized by the Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance, and the second year of collaboration with the SHKP Reading Club of SHKP. The contest was expanded with three new themes – “Smart Living”, “Green Innovation and Technology” and “Art Technology” – to encourage students to use innovative technology to enhance quality of everyday life. A total of 287 entries from more than 800 students from 122 schools were received, more than double the number of entries received last year. 

Each contest theme is divided into primary, junior secondary and senior secondary categories. A total of 75 outstanding works were chosen by a panel of over 30 judges to compete in the final round of the competition. The judges then selected the winners of the first, second, third, and merit prizes in each category from among these works. The judges came from The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Hong Kong Section, The Institution of Engineering and Technology Hong Kong, and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. The winners’ list is available on the website of the Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance. The winning designs are displayed in the SHKP Reading Club’s booth at the Hong Kong Book Fair, which started today (19 July).

The designs this year were both creative and practical. Smart Fish Tank Monitoring System, by Ho Lap Primary School (sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), the first-prize entry in the primary category under the theme “Smart Living”, automatically measures indoor and water temperatures. It is equipped with a regular automated feeding system and uploads the data to an Internet of Things (IOT) platform, enabling users to remotely monitor the fish tank data. Joyful Farming, by Fung Kai No.1 Secondary School, the first-prize entry in the junior secondary category under the theme “Green Innovation and Technology”, is an irrigation system that automatically adjusts the environment to allow the users to carry out hydroponic farming easily. FLAI (Follow to Learn An Instrument), by Diocesan Girls’ School, the first-prize entry in the senior secondary category under the theme “Art Technology”, uses AI and machine learning to monitor the users’ posture when playing piano and provide advice on how to improve.

SHKP’s dedication to promoting I&T education
Since its inception, the Read to Dream programme has benefitted over 30,000 primary and secondary school students, motivating them to cultivate a love of reading and pursue their aspirations. To support the Group’s innovative technology business development and the government’s efforts to promote STEM education, various STEM-focused activities are organized to develop the young generation’s I&T potential.

In addition to the STEM contest, the Read to Dream x Future Engineer Grand Challenge 2023 also organized other activities, including:

• Collaborating with long-term partner the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to sponsor 2,000 students to visit the Hong Kong Book Fair and provide them with an allowance to buy books;
• Providing each of 800 underprivileged students under the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, the North District Primary School Headmasters Conference and the Sham Shui Po Residents Association with a HK$250 book allowance to buy STEM and Chinese culture books at the book fair; and
• Holding school outreach activities this academic year, including seminars or workshops, to deepen students’ interest in, and knowledge of, STEM.