Teen Innovators Win Top Prize for Plastic Alternative in Hang Seng x HKFYG's Seek Our Ways Social Ideation Programme
Eric Chan Sui-wai, Commissioner for Youth officiates at the Seek Our Ways Ideation Programme Awards Presentation Ceremony, alongside Diana Cesar, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of the HKFYG, Grace Chan Man-yee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, distinguished guests and over 400 students.
Supported by Hang Seng Bank and organised by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) Leadership Institute, the Programme themed 'Future Exploration is in the Hands of Youths', focused on three key social areas: 'Environment and Sustainable Development,' 'Promoting Sports for All,' and 'Elderly and Wellness.' It encourages young people to tackle social issues through creative solutions. The debut edition attracted an overwhelming response, receiving nearly 1,000 applications from students. After over 10,000 hours of diverse learning and mentorship over six months, more than 400 participants developed nearly 90 innovative solutions to drive social progress.
Following rigorous rounds of competition, nine teams advanced to the finals held recently, where they presented their ideas to a panel of judges. Three winning teams were selected based on their solutions' effectiveness, innovation, scalability and their presentation skills.
The Final Pitching Competition and Award Presentation Ceremony took place at Hang Seng Headquarters, with Eric Chan Sui-wai, Commissioner for Youth officiating as the Guest of Honor. He was joined by Diana Cesar, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of the HKFYG and Grace Chan Man-yee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. The event also brought together school representatives, mentors and over 400 students to witness the emergence of winning teams.
Diana Cesar, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, said, 'As Hong Kong's largest local bank, Hang Seng Bank is very pleased to leverage our connections and the expertise of our colleagues to empower youth in driving social innovation through this Programme, alongside our financial support. We hope this Programme encourages young people to engage with societal issues, broaden their horizons and ignite their interests in social innovation.'
Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of the HKFYG, remarked, 'Social innovation requires keen insight and the courage to change; every change begins with attention to issues and imagination for the future. I am delighted to see participants actively engage in the Programme, injecting new hope and possibility into society.' She also expressed her gratitude to Hang Seng Bank and other partnering organisations for their support in nurturing future leaders.'
Fifteen-year-old students Ho Lok Ting, Law Hau Wing, Lo Sin Sum and Tsang Lok Yu, the Grand Award winners in the Junior Secondary Division, designed their 'Fully Biodegradable Gel' after learning about sea turtles harmed by plastic waste. The material, made from gelatin and agar, can package dry foods or even serve as shopping bags while decomposing harmlessly.' Law Hau Wing said, 'Traditional plastic linger for centuries as it is non-biodegradable and harmful to the environment. Our 'Fully Biodegradable Gel' disappears without a trace. We hope to collaborate with food manufacturers to bring the product to market.'
The Senior Secondary Division Grand Award went to Fanling Kau Yan College, where five Form Four and Form Five students, Chen Tin Oi, Lee Yan Ue, Liang Ka Ki, Ng Ka Yin and Zou Tsz Ham designed a 'One School, One Elderly Centre' proposal to pair schools with elderly centres, fostering mutual learning and companionship. Inspired by an initiative in their sister school in Mainland China, the team developed a sustainable model including curricula, activities, and a B2B framework to scale the project in Hong Kong.
A cross-university team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong College of Technology, won the Tertiary Division Grand Award for 'Fruitful', a project repurposing apple pulp into leather-like material. Over the past six months, team members Cheng Hoi Kei, Ho Ka Hei, Lai In Ha, Wong Ngai Fung and Yau Ho Lun conducted in-depth research on this technology and overcame technical challenges. They aim to produce wallets, coasters and other accessories, reducing reliance on synthetic fabrics to promote sustainable development in Hong Kong.
Each winning team will receive HK$20,000 and an opportunity for valuable career immersion experience at Hang Seng Bank. Audience-voted 'My Favourite Team' Awards were also presented, with each winning team receiving HK$5,000. For further details about the winning teams, please refer to the appendix. The second edition of the Programme will open for applications by the end of this year, encouraging more youngsters to drive social progress.
Winning teams of Grand Award
Teen Innovators Win Top Prize for Plastic Alternative in Hang Seng x HKFYG's Seek Our Ways Social Ideation Programme / Page 7
Winning teams of 'My Favourite Team' Award voted by the event's audience
Hashtag: #TheHongKongFederationofYouthGroups
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
BYD to start first car assembly in Pakistan by mid-2026
China's BYD has announced plans to commence the assembly of its first electric car in Pakistan by July or August 2026, aiming to meet the increasing electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle demand in the region, a company executive said, according to Reuters. This development comes as part of BYD's strategic expansion in the Asia-Pacific market and follows the company's plan to initiate vehicle sales in Pakistan last year. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The Insurance Savings You Expect BYD Pakistan sales and strategy vice president, Danish Khaliq, revealed to Reuters that the new assembly plant, currently under construction since April near Karachi, represents a collaboration between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Pakistani utility Hub Power. The facility is expected to have an initial production capacity of 25,000 units annually on a double shift schedule. However, he did not provide details on when the plant would reach full capacity or when mass production would start. Khaliq further explained that the plant would begin by assembling imported parts and locally producing non-electric components. The initial focus will be on supplying the domestic market, with the possibility of exporting to other right-hand drive countries in the region if it makes economic sense. BYD has already commenced delivering imported EVs in the country since March, with sales surpassing internal targets by 30%, although exact numbers were not disclosed. The market for EVs and plug-in hybrid cars in Pakistan is expected to grow significantly, with Khaliq anticipating a three to fourfold increase by 2025 from around 1,000 units last year. Khaliq noted that BYD is aiming for a 30-35% market share in this segment. According to a HUBCO filing, BYD Pakistan reported a profit of around PKR444m ($1.56m) in the March quarter of this year. The Pakistani market is set to welcome the upcoming launch of BYD's Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck. The Pakistani government is promoting EV adoption by reducing power tariffs for chargers by 45% in January and encouraging the establishment of private charging stations, addressing the current lack of infrastructure for all-electric vehicles. "BYD to start first car assembly in Pakistan by mid-2026 – report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The CMA: Compensation for Investors Affected by Violations Committed in the Shares of 'Watani Iron Steel Co.'
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Capital Market Authority (CMA) announces the completion of compensation for investors affected by the violations committed in the shares of Watani Iron Steel Co., which occurred before and after the company's direct listing on the Parallel Market (Nomu). These violations were committed by five individuals convicted under the decision issued by the Appeal Committee for Resolution of Securities Disputes (ACRSD), published on the websites of the CMA and the GS-CRSD on April 4, 2024. The decision, resulting from the penal lawsuit filed by the Public Prosecution and referred by the Capital Market Authority, obligated them to pay SAR 41.4 million in illegal gains resulting from these violations. The compensations were deposited into the accounts of the affected investors through the Compensation Fund, which was established pursuant to a resolution of the CMA's Board to compensate affected parties in accordance with the distribution plan approved by the CRSD. This facilitates the compensation process and ensures that entitlements are delivered to their rightful owners with minimal effort. Since the publication of the ACRSD's decision, the CMA has worked on assessing the appropriateness of activating Article (59) of the Capital Market Law, which grants the CMA the power to organize compensation procedures for individuals affected by violations and to establish dedicated compensation funds sourced from illegally obtained gains. Compensation for affected individuals is carried out in accordance with a distribution plan approved by the Committee. This led to the establishment of this fund to compensate eligible parties under a distribution plan approved by a decision of the CRSD, in line with the rules, procedures, and legal provisions to enhance the efficiency of these funds. The approved distribution plan was designed in proportion to the scale of the violations committed, the value of the illegal gains realized from those violations, and the extent of harm suffered by investors who traded the company's shares during the violation period. Compensation amounts for some investors reached more than one million Saudi Riyals, representing the highest compensation approved by the CRSD. In this context, the CMA affirms that the distribution plan approved by the CRSD included all individuals proven to have suffered harm, based on the technical records. This does not preclude the right of any individual who believes they have been harmed but was not included in the distribution plan to file an individual claim with the CRSD to seek compensation. Compensation funds complement the mechanisms that facilitate compensating investors affected by violations committed in the capital market. They add to the available avenues for compensation, such as individual lawsuits and class actions. The CMA adopts a set of criteria to determine the appropriateness of establishing a compensation fund using illegal obtained gains from violators whenever the facts and circumstances of a case indicate the existence of actual harmed parties and when the CMA deems that creating such a fund would be more effective and practical than other available means of compensation for damages sustained by market participants as a result of violations of the Capital Market Law and its implementing regulations. The CMA clarified that it employs a range of analytical tools to reach a systematic assessment regarding the suitability of establishing a compensation fund based on final decisions issued by the CRSD. This assessment relies on several criteria that help determine the most suitable compensation mechanism, whether through direct compensation via these funds or through class actions to claim compensation. These criteria include aspects related to the execution and collection of illegally obtained gains, the nature and number of violations committed, their impact, and the extent to which the Committees can adopt and practically apply the principle of compensation to all affected parties in the case under review. The CMA affirms that, in the context of enhancing compensation opportunities, it has carefully studied global best practices applied in capital markets and adopted what aligns with the nature of the Saudi capital market. This contributes to improving the efficiency of compensation mechanisms, strengthening investor confidence in the market, and protecting their rights. These efforts form part of a broader package of strategic initiatives launched by the CMA to advance the development of a more sophisticated and competitive financial ecosystem. Capital Market Authority Communication & Investor Protection Division +966114906009 +966557666932 Media@
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Global Experts Acknowledge TATA Wooden Door's Breakthrough in Urban Noise Control Through Scenario-Based Construction in China
BEIJING, July 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On July, 2025, during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Dr. Zhang Qihua, President of the Global Alliance for Sustainable Development Foundation, pointed out in an interview: "As focus stays on air and water, WHO ranks urban noise as the second-biggest environmental health risk." Noise Pollution: A Neglected Global Health Threat. "In megacities over ten million, long-term noise exposure raises cardiovascular disease risk by 27%." "This directly hinders the achievement of SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)." He emphasized that the acoustic environment is gaining attention in public health and governance. With 48% of residents suffering sleep disturbances, improving tranquility is no longer just technical—it's a systemic social task. Scenario-Based Innovation: A Chinese Breakthrough Approach In the relevant discussion, Dr. Zhang pointed out several outstanding cases from Chinese enterprises in reducing residential noise: "We have observed that some Chinese companies are exploring more adaptable noise-reduction solutions tailored to the structural characteristics of local housing." "For example, the Chinese brand TATA Wooden Door has developed quiet products tailored to family needs in small apartments, multi-generational homes, and elderly-friendly spaces. "Such approaches also offer reference value for other developing countries." He believes that the process of enabling residential scenarios through technology is not only a response to real pain points in families but also promotes the shift of 'quietness' from a single function to a lifestyle component. Global Collaboration to Promote the Popularization of the "Quiet Lifestyle" On how to promote the global adoption of the "quiet lifestyle," Dr. Zhang stated that the key lies in experience sharing and local adaptation. He believes that mature markets can share acoustic standards and governance mechanisms, while emerging markets offer valuable practices in product innovation and application scenarios. "Cases like TATA Wooden Door show that acoustic optimization isn't limited by technology and can be implemented sustainably based on needs." "Sharing practical cases through forums helps regions find suitable paths." "When people begin choosing quiet products aligned with their lifestyles, it becomes a meaningful step toward better living environments," Dr. Zhang concluded. View source version on Contacts Global Alliance for Sustainable Development Foundationhttps:// Gasdfund@ TATA Wooden DoorJiang Yutongservice@ Sign in to access your portfolio
