Over 900 students, five working adults and two apprentices have been presented with awards and scholarships under the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund at the 20th Awards Presentation Ceremony at City Hall.

Lady Youde officiated at today's ceremony and said the fund has disbursed $178 million since 1987 to thousands of students to help them in their quest for a fulfilling life. The fund has disbursed $8.49 million in the 2006-2007 academic year.

Presented this year were seven awards for overseas studies, 20 fellowships for post-graduate students, 73 scholarships for undergraduate and diploma students, including four for disabled students, six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in public examinations, 789 prizes for senior secondary school students, 21 awards for disabled students, and two for outstanding apprentices and five for working adults who have undergone retraining and have successfully integrated themselves into their new work environment.

Competition for the overseas fellowships and scholarships for 2007-2008 was extremely keen. Seven brilliant contestants, from among 204 applicants, won. Each will receive a maximum of $283,000 and $262,000 a year for a fellowship award and a scholarship award.

The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund has since its inception supported more than 16,400 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. More than 1,700 scholars and fellows have completed their studies and are now working in Hong Kong in different sectors.