Chief Executive Carrie Lam

I am honoured to have this opportunity to congratulate the six Shaw Laureates of 2020.

COVID-19 may have delayed the presentation of the 2020 Shaw Prize. It has not, however, dimmed our delight in honouring the year's laureates and their profound achievements in Life Science and Medicine, Mathematical Sciences and Astronomy.

If anything, the pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of groundbreaking research and innovation in science and its numerous applications. It emphasised just how much we count on scientists' continuing pursuit of excellence. A case in point is the rapid development of effective COVID-19 vaccines, giving people all around the world hope for finally overcoming the pandemic.

In the 14th Five-Year Plan of the nation recently released, we are delighted by the inclusion of the central government's support for Hong Kong to develop an international innovation and technology hub. I believe this is a strong recognition of Hong Kong's strengths, particularly in basic research conducted in our universities, and the synergy in innovation and technology that is evident in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We will spare no effort in seizing these opportunities and one of the key initiatives is the Global STEM Professorship Scheme that will be launched later this year. By offering well-funded professorship and research support, the scheme aims to recruit overseas and Mainland scientists to come to work in Hong Kong. Another initiative with planning under way is the Hong Kong Laureate Forum organised with the full support of the Shaw Prize Foundation which will take place towards the end of this year.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the Shaw Prize Award Ceremony 2020 on May 20.