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The LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation (“the LUI Che Woo Prize” or “the Prize”) held its Inaugural Prize Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on 3 October 2016, recognising the significant contributions to world civilisation by the three inaugural laureates and share in the Prize’s mission of building a more harmonious world with over a thousand esteemed guests.

 

Officiating guests included The Hon Tung Chee-hwa, Prize Council Member and Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; The Hon CY Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Zhang Xiaoming, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR. Around 800 guests comprising government officials, academics, religious leaders, elites from business sectors, more than thirty consuls and local and international media attended the ceremony to witness and congratulate the achievements of the three laureates.

Dr Lui Che-woo, Founder of the LUI Che Woo Prize, congratulated the three inaugural laureates. "I am grateful for their outstanding contribution in fostering world civilisation. They are truly role models and I wish them every success in their continued endeavours to create a better future for us all. I hope the Prize strives for the betterment of the welfare of mainkind and builds a virtuous and harmonious world."

 

LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation organises its inaugural Prize Presentation Ceremony on 3 October 2016. From left: Rémi Carrier, Executive Director, representing Medécins Sans Frontiéres Hong Kong (MSF), to receive the Welfare Betterment Prize of LUI Che Woo Prize, Dr Lui Che-woo, Founder, LUI Che Woo Prize; Dr Chiels Liu ChenKun, President, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Hong Kong, representative of MSF; Prof. Yuan Longping, Sustainability Prize Laureate of LUI Che Woo Prize; James E. “Chip” Carter, III representing James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr., to receive the Positive Energy Prize of LUI Che Woo Prize and Prof Lawrence J. Lau, the Chairman of Prize Recommendation Committee

Yuan Longping is awarded the inaugural LUI Che Woo Prize 2016 in the Sustainability category, with the Specific Area of Focus on “World Food Supply: Safety and Security”, for his scientific achievement in developing high-yielding hybrid rice which has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the security of world food supply. Professor Yuan said, “I am very pleased to be awarded the LUI Che Woo Prize. It is a source of encouragement and motivation that drives and inspires me to reach higher heights.”

 

Media session of LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation Inaugural Prize Presentation Ceremony.

Médecins Sans Frontières (“MSF”) is awarded the inaugural LUI Che Woo Prize 2016 in the Welfare Betterment category, with the Specific Area of Focus on “Treatment and/or control of epidemics, infectious diseases or chronic illnesses”, for its indispensable contributions to the treatment and control of the cholera outbreak in Haiti in 2010 and the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014. “MSF is honoured to be one of the recipients of this Prize. We are particularly pleased that the LUI Che Woo Prize chose the field of the treatment and control of epidemics and infectious diseases as a critical focus for this first award. That shows a real awareness of the importance of improving treatment options and emergency response capacities for people in the most exposed parts of the world. MSF’s experience of fighting against the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has hugely reinforced our view that much more needs to be done by the world community to minimize the huge risks that still exist.” said Dr Liu Chen-kun, President of Médecins Sans Frontières – Hong Kong.

 

The LUI Che Woo Prize is governed and selected by a three-tier structure comprising the Prize Council, the Prize Recommendation Committee and the Selection Panels of three Prize Categories.

James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. is awarded the inaugural LUI Che Woo Prize 2016 in the Positive Energy category, with the Specific Area of Focus on “Individuals or organisations whose behaviour and achievement inspire, energise and give hope to others”, for all the good work that he and The Carter Center that he established in 1982 have done. They have contributed significantly to the promotion of positive life attitude and enhancement of positive energy in the world. “First of all, I am very honoured to be considered by this wonderful benevolent man. And secondly, it’s a pleasure and honour to be associated with others who have been given same prize. We find that this gift will make it possible for The Carter Center to expand its own programs considerably and I intend to give and make the prize money go to The Carter Center not for me personally.” James Earl "Jimmy" Carter said.

Each awardee will receive a cash award of HK$20 million (equivalent to approximately US$2.56 million), a certificate and a trophy.

“Rice is the most important food crop in China; it feeds more than 60% of our people. To develop hybrid rice for the welfare of people all over the world is one of my lifelong wishes. It is a great honour to be awarded the Sustainability Prize of the LUI Che Woo Prize, to keep the Prize’s value, I will continue to promote the sustainable development of the world’s resources, focusing my efforts to reach new heights in the development of hybrid rice, and ultimately achieve global application of the technology.”

 

Prof Yuan Longping, Sustainability Prize Laureate of LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation 2016.

“MSF exists for independent and neutral medical action where it is needed most. Our mission is of impartial humanitarian care, standing above considerations of race, religion, economics or political convictions. Our priorities are based on medical ethics, rather than material or ideological interests. So we are honoured to be recognized for that as one of the first winners of this very generous Prize. We are proud as well that the commitment of our field workers in some of the most difficult and even dangerous environments is recognized so clearly here.”

 

Dr Chiels Liu Chen-Kun, President, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Hong Kong, on behalf of MSF, receiving the Welfare Betterment Prize of LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation 2016.

“The Carter Center motto is “Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, and Building Hope.” I believe the most important of all of these is “Building Hope”. My father’s personal motto has always been “Why Not the Best?” . “Building Hope” and “Why Not the Best” are creeds that are built on solving problems, on making the world a better place, on being best person you can be. In short, it is the Positive Energy inherent in these words that carry over to become the positive results that the LUI Che Woo Prize recognizes and honors this evening.”

 

James E. “Chip” Carter, III representing James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr., receiving the Positive Energy Prize of LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation 2016.

Dr Lui Che-woo, Founder, LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation, thanked various parties in the community for their support, “The inaugural laureates come from different countries, different backgrounds, comprise individuals and organisations, reflecting the international, diversified and extensive scope of the LUI Che Woo Prize. I believe that harmony is of prime importance, and represents the best way to reduce the incidence of world conflicts. I sincerely hope that the LUI Che Woo Prize, as a seed of love and kindness, will grow across the land and add more colour to our world.”

 

In his address, The Hon CY Leung, Chief Executive of HKSAR, highly commended Dr Lui Che-woo is well-respected and long-time philanthropist. He said, I thank Dr Lui for his generosity in supporting charitable causes - not only in Hong Kong, but also across national boundaries, across institutions and sectors. I share Dr Lui's conviction that, whenever and wherever we join hands and hearts, we can build a caring, loving and harmonious world. He applauded and congratulated the three LUI Che Woo Prize laureates - for their remarkable achievements in advancing world civilisation, and in building a better future for mankind.

 

In addition, Trey Lee, a well-known cellist, Yim Wan, a pianist, and Michelle Siu, African Children’s Choir from Uganda, an artist with disabilities, were the honoured performance guests at the ceremony, bringing positive energy and harmony to society, and helping to build a peaceful and loving world.

 

 

 

 

  

The LUI Che Woo Prize is an international, cross-sector, innovative prize. 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 2017 Specific Areas of Focus for each Prize Category is as follows: 

   

 

 

The LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation Laureate Professor Yuan Longping, widely known as “Father of the Hybrid Rice”, delivers a public lecture to a full house at Hotel ICON, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. At the lecture, Professor Yuan shared his inspiring story of developing the hybrid rice to secure world food supply and his innovative technology in breeding high-yield rice.

 

 

 

The LUI Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilisation holds the LUI Che Woo Prize Laureate Public Lecture with Rémi Carrier, Executive Director at MSF Hong Kong, and Dr Natasha Reyes, Emergency Response Support Unit Manager at MSF Hong Kong, as speakers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. As representatives of MSF, Carrier and Dr Reyes share MSF’s first-hand experience and perspective on the challenges of responding to the Ebola epidemic, the brutal hospital attacks they faced, and more.

   

 

The LUI Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilisation holds the LUI Che Woo Prize Positive Energy Prize Laureate Public Lecture with James Earl “Chip” Carter III, and Curtis Kohlhaas from The Carter Center, at The University of Hong Kong. James Earl "Chip" Carter III, son of James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr., and Curtis Kohlhaas, Chief Development Officer, The Carter Center introduced the good work and the contributions made by James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. and The Carter Center in promoting global harmony

Background of the LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation

On 24 September 2015, Dr Lui Che-woo launched the “LUI Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilisation” (“the LUI Che Woo Prize” or “the Prize”) which is an annual, first of its kind, international, cross-sector and innovative award for advancing world civilisation and inspiring people to build a more harmonious world. It aims to recognize and honour individuals or organisations all over the world for outstanding contributions in advancing welfare of mankind and encourages continuation of that work in three objectives: sustainable development of the world, betterment of the welfare of mankind and promotion of positive life attitude and enhancement of positive energy. The recipients are not being limited to academics and scientists. The LUI Che Woo Prize recognizes accomplishments beneficial to mankind and also encourages them to keep up the momentum and inspire others to build a better world together.