Hong Kong, 3 October 2016 – The LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation (“the LUI Che Woo Prize” or “the Prize”) today held its Inaugural Prize Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong, 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.

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.”

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 very big risks that still exist.” said Dr Liu Chen-kun, President of Médecins Sans Frontières – Hong Kong.

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, which has contributed significantly to the promotion of positive life attitude and enhancement of positive energy in the world. “Well, 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.” Mr. 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.

Dr. Lui Che Woo added, “The inaugural laureates come from different countries, different backgrounds, comprise individuals and organisations, reflecting the international, diversified and extensive nature 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 truth, goodness and beauty, will grow across the land and add a little colour to our world.”

Officiating guests included Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, Prize Council Member and Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Mr. CY Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Mr. Zhang Xiaoming, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR. Around 800 government officials, academics, religious leaders, elites from business sectors, and local and international media attended the ceremony to witness and congratulate the achievements of the three laureates; and more than thirty consuls. In addition, African Children’s Choir from Uganda, Mr. Trey Lee, a well-known cellist, Ms. Yim Wan, a pianist, and Ms. Michelle Siu, 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 as follows:

For 2017 Specific Areas of Focus, please refer to Appendix 1.

For more information about LUI Che Woo Prize, please refer to Appendix 2.

LUI Che Woo Prize Limited

3 October 2016

For media inquiries, please contact Ruder Finn Asia:

Appendix 1

2017 Specific Areas of Focus

Sustainability Prize

Specific Area of Focus: Prevention of Climate Change

Every life on Earth is affected by climate change. The World Meteorological Organisation reported in 2016 that 15 of the 16 warmest years on record have occurred during the 21^st century. 2015 was the hottest year on record since 1880. Global sea levels are now rising at the fastest rate in the last 28 centuries. Between 1993 and 2010, sea levels rose by 3.2mm per year – almost twice the long term average. Climate change constitutes a serious threat to global security. Examples include higher risks of vector-borne diseases (e.g. malaria) and water-borne diseases (e.g. cholera and dysentery); reduced productivity of natural resources and threatened food security; affected air quality; economic decline; social unrest; and political instability. Prevention of climate change is essential to the continued development of world civilisation, and the maintenance of ecological balance.

Welfare Betterment Prize

Specific Area of Focus: Alleviation of Poverty

Giving people the tools to alleviate poverty is the way to fundamentally solve the problem of poverty and the problems that come along with it. According to the Global Monitoring Report 2015-16 from the World Bank, the projected global poverty population living on less than US$1.90 a day is 702 million. In addition, the World Value Survey 2010-2014 found that 55.7 percent of respondents from 57 countries consider “people living in poverty and need” to be the most serious problem in the world. Poverty is a root cause of other threats to mankind such as hunger and illness. The effects of poverty are often interrelated and can form a vicious cycle. Poverty is often inherited from one generation to the next. Therefore, giving people the tools to alleviate poverty can effectively improve human welfare and life quality.

 Positive Energy Prize

Specific Area of Focus: Promotion of Harmony among Diverse Groups

The human race, which comprises of different and diverse groups, shares the same root. We should work together to build a harmonious and civilised world, regardless of race, nationality, religion, creed and complexion. According to the United Nations, the number of international migrants reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole – a 41 percent increase compared to 2000. Globalisation has increased interactions between diverse groups. Promotion of harmony, mutual respect, cohesion and the pursuit of finding common ground is the only way to eradicate conflicts, disputes, discrimination and hatred. When different groups can learn to live in harmony, irrespective of race, nationality, religion, creed and complexion, we will see a more diversified world thanks to deeper mutual understanding and appreciation, stronger exchange of traditional cultures and increased education and employment opportunities.

Appendix 2

Background Information of LUI Che Woo Prize

Founded by Dr. Lui Che Woo on 24 September 2015, the “LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation” (or “the Prize”) is an annual, first of its kind international cross-sector innovative award for advancing world civilisation and inspiring people to build a more harmonious world. It aims to recognise and honour individuals or organisations all over the world for outstanding contributions and encourages the 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 recognises accomplishments beneficial to mankind and also encourages them to keep up the momentum and inspire others to build a better world together.

The LUI Che Woo Prize aims to recognise and honour individuals or organisations all over the world with outstanding achievements and contributions in respect of the following three objectives:

Objective 1: Sustainable development of the world (Sustainability Prize)

This objective is to recognise an outstanding achievement of an individual or an organisation in maintaining a sustainable ecological balance and natural capital on the one hand and providing for the needs of future generations on the other.

Objective 2: Betterment of the welfare of mankind (Welfare Betterment Prize)

This objective is to acknowledge an outstanding effort of an individual or an organisation to enhance the well-being of the human race.

Objective 3: Promotion of positive life attitude and enhancement of positive energy (Positive Energy Prize)

This objective is to honour a model which can be an individual or an organisation of unwavering determination demonstrated in the adoption of a positive attitude and making constructive changes in the face of setbacks, hardship and adversity.

 Board of Governors of LUI Che Woo Prize Limited

The Board of Governors is the governing body of LUI Che Woo Prize Limited (“the Prize Company”), a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in Hong Kong. The Prize Company is led and supervised by the Board of Governors.

Board of Governors
	Dr. LUI Che Woo, GBM, MBE, JP  Founder & Chairman of the Board of Governors cum Prize Council      LUI Che Woo Prize
	Prof. Lap-chee TSUI, OC, PhD, FRS, FRSC, GBM, GBS, JP President Victor & William Fung Foundation
	Prof. Frederick MA Si-hang, GBS, JP Chairman MTR Corporation Limited
	Dr. Moses CHENG Mo-chi, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP Consultant Messrs. P.C. Woo & Co

Three-tier Structure of the LUI Che Woo Prize

The 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.

Prize Council

The Prize Council comprises five (5) international personages and leaders. Dr. LUI Che Woo is the Chairman of the Prize Council. It is responsible for the deliberation and approval of the awardees recommended by the Prize Recommendation Committee.

Prize Recommendation Committee

The Prize Recommendation Committee comprises six (6) world renowned academics or top people of different disciplines. It is responsible for deciding a Specific Area of Focus for each Prize Category every year and forming and supervising the Selection Panels of each Prize Category, reviewing the proposal for award submitted by the Selection Panels of three Prize Categories and making recommendation of the awardees to the Prize Council.

Selection Panels

The Selection Panel of each Prize Category comprises five (5) internationally renowned academics or experts of that discipline/field. The Selection Panel of each Prize Category is responsible for the assessment of nominations and the submission of the proposal for award of each Prize Category to the Prize Recommendation Committee. 

Prize Council

Prize Council Members
	Dr. LUI Che Woo, GBM, MBE, JP  Founder & Chairman of the Board of Governors cum Prize Council  LUI Che Woo Prize
	The Hon. TUNG Chee-hwa, GBM  Vice Chairman, The 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
	Dr. Condoleezza RICE Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy,  Hoover Institution, and Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy, Stanford Graduate School of Business
	Dr. James D.WOLFENSOHN  Chairman Wolfensohn & Company, LLC
	Dr. Rowan Douglas WILLIAMS  Master of Magdalene College University of Cambridge

Prize Recommendation Committee 

Prize Recommendation Committee Members
	Prof. Lawrence J. LAU (Chairman) Ralph and Claire Landau Professor of Economics The Chinese University of Hong Kong
	Prof. Sir Colin LUCAS, BBS Vice-Chancellor Emeritus University of Oxford
	Dr. MO Yan  Laureate of Nobel Prize in Literature 2012
	Dr. Heather MUNROE-BLUM, OC, OQ, PhD, FRSC Chair, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and          Principal (President) Emerita, McGill University
	Prof. Andrew YAO Dean, Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences,  Tsinghua University
	Prof. Wen-hsin YEH Senior Faculty China Adviser to the Chancellor, University of        California, Berkeley

 Selection Panel – Sustainability Prize

Selection Panel Members of the Sustainability Prize
	Prof. Margaret LEVI Sara Miller McCune Director, Center for Advanced Study in the  Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Political Science, Stanford University
	Prof. Sir James MIRRLEES  Distinguished Professor-at-Large and Master, Morningside College The Chinese University of Hong Kong
	Prof. Samuel S. M SUN Master of S.H. Ho College and Director of Institute of Plant Molecular Biology and Agriculture Biotechnology The Chinese University of Hong Kong
	Prof. C. Peter TIMMER Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Development Studies, Emeritus, Harvard University
	Prof. Joachim von BRAUN Director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF),  University of Bonn

Selection Panel – Welfare Betterment Prize 

Selection Panel Members of the Welfare Betterment Prize
	Prof. Alastair BUCHAN Dean of the Medical School and Head of the Medical Sciences Division        University of Oxford
	Dr. Mark DYBUL Executive Director The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
	Prof. Nancy IP Dean of Science The Morningside Professor of Life ScienceThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
	Prof. Dennis Yuk-ming LO Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Medicine The Chinese University of Hong Kong
	Prof. RAO Zihe Member of Presidium of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Selection Panel – Positive Energy Prize 

Selection Panel Members of the Positive Energy Prize
	Sir Philip CRAVEN President The International Paralympic Committee
	Prof. GONG Peng Director, Center for Earth System Science, Tsinghua University
	The Most Revd Dr. Paul KWONG  The Archbishop of Hong Kong
	Prof. Janice Gross STEIN Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management, University of Toronto
	Dr. Rosanna Yick-ming WONG, DBE, JP Executive Director The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups