Aristo Sham Wins a Hong Kong Prize at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas
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Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham, 29, made history when he won first prize at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition held in Fort Worth, Texas. Aristo Sham, received US$100,000.07 (HK$784,738) as cash and performance bookings/management for three years as well as Neiman Marcus attire to complete his win as only an Asian participant among 340 participants from 45 nations/regions who made the final cut.
On Oct. 26, at a ceremony that coincided with Future Science Prize Week – an international philanthropic initiative to recognize pioneers in science – the winner was revealed at a ceremony. This 10th edition included prizes in life sciences, physical sciences and computer sciences along with an innovation award in AI security.
Three winners of the 2024 Yidan Prize–the world’s most prestigious education honor–will use their shared HK$30 million prize fund from property tycoon Lui Che-woo’s generous donation of HK$2 billion towards building a more sustainable world and aiding more than one million schoolchildren by tailoring educational games using digital technology. This money comes from his pledge of more harmony and sustainability for his global society in 2015.
Ng Siew Chien was honored as a Life and Science winner, adapting noninvasive tests to detect gastrointestinal and autism spectrum disorders; Zhang Hua and Chen Shih-chi won the World Innovation Prize for Engineering Technology with their breakthrough development of phase engineered nanomaterials, 3D microfabrication, and disruptive in-sensor computing paradigms for artificial vision sensors allowing information processing directly within them; other laureates included Chai Yang who created disruptive in-sensor computing paradigms enabling information processing directly in sensors.
Though these awards were intended to recognize a wide range of social and environmental initiatives, critics argue they have become politicized by China – particularly Sina Weibo where many were shocked and offended by Breaking News Photography winner Wang Jian’s images from protests during the 2019 Handover, including those showing anti-government rioters attacking police officers and burning flags seen as stigmatizing Chinese government while disgracing Hong Kong Special Administrative Region reputation.
An elderly man was dismayed after being denied a refund after attempting to break his HK$100 bill into five HK$5 coins at a claw machine arcade in October. The operator claimed the coin exchange incurs operational costs, including bank fees. When this failed in court, he sued but lost. Instead he decided to donate some coins back. Yet his experience wasn’t any different than those cited by the council as complainants; both received about one-hundred-and-fifty (HK$1,000).