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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) successfully held the final of the “15th National Marine Knowledge Competition – Hong Kong Contest” today (18 January) on campus, attracting over 300 spectators. It tested the finalists on their marine knowledge, agility and mental fortitude across three demanding segments: mandatory questions, rapid-fire questions and challenge questions. Huang Changbin from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Liu Runjie from CUHK and Wu Chun-hung from City University of Hong Kong (City U) distinguished themselves with exceptional performances to secure the top three positions. They will represent Hong Kong in the national final this May, competing against elite contestants from across the country for the coveted opportunity to join national polar scientific expeditions.

The award ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President; Ms Chen Danhong, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Xia Jun, Director of the Publicity and Education Center, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Ye Shuiqiu, Deputy Director-General, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office, Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China in Hong Kong; Ms Lillian Cheong Man-lei, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, who participated by video; Mr Ma Fung-kwok, Chairman of the competition organising committee; as well as representatives from the event’s sponsoring organisation, organising committee, academic committee and various supporting organisations.

Professor Lo delivered welcome remarks, saying: “The vast expanse of the ocean presents boundless opportunities for innovation, including interdisciplinary integration, and requires cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence to achieve breakthroughs in critical fields such as deep-sea exploration, biomedicine and energy development. The nation is currently vigorously supporting marine exploration initiatives. CUHK is committed to fulfilling its social responsibilities by fostering collaboration among government, industry, academia and research. The University is integrated into the national development landscape by its advancement of marine education and research, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology hub and contributing to the high-quality development of the national economy.

Ms Chen said: “Hong Kong is an international hub for finance, shipping and trade. Leveraging its unique institutional advantages, geographical location and strong foundations in research and education, it plays an irreplaceable role in global maritime cooperation. The successful hosting of this contest will further stimulate the enthusiasm of young people and other members of the public for marine endeavours, promote the dissemination of marine knowledge and culture, cultivate marine talent and strengthen Hong Kong’s position in the national strategy of building China into a strong maritime country.” 

Mr Xia noted: “This year’s competition has, for the first time, established a Hong Kong Contest—an important milestone in the development of the National Marine Knowledge Competition. It will further encourage Hong Kong students and the wider community to take greater interest in and develop a stronger appreciation for the ocean, while inspiring enthusiasm and passion for the advancement of marine-related endeavours.”

The inauguration of the Hong Kong Contest is a significant milestone for the National Marine Knowledge Competition. The enthusiasm from the Hong Kong public and the impressive knowledge of the student competitors are truly inspiring.”

Ms Cheong stated: “With the support of our Nation, Hong Kong scientists have been actively participating in national projects, including Arctic and Antarctic expeditions and deep-sea exploration. These efforts fully demonstrate Hong Kong Power in marine and polar endeavors. Hong Kong remains committed to nurturing talent in frontier technologies, particularly in marine science, and will strengthen technological collaboration with other cities in the Greater Bay Area. This Marine Knowledge Competition, is a concrete step in aligning with and responding to the national development strategy.”

Mr Ma stated: “This year’s inaugural inclusion of the Hong Kong region in the National Marine Knowledge Competition presents a valuable opportunity to promote learning through competition. We hope this event inspires the younger generation to explore marine-related disciplines and cultivates outstanding talent in the field. We also aim to deepen the Hong Kong public’s understanding of our nation’s marine development, knowledge of marine technological innovations and ecological conservation efforts, laying a solid foundation for the long-term advancement of Hong Kong’s marine sector.”

As the inaugural Hong Kong regional final of this prestigious, national-level competition, the event garnered significant interest since its launch last September, attracting over 400 students from 20 local tertiary institutions. The tertiary student category involved a rigorous selection process lasting several months that featured online preliminaries followed by two rounds of in-person semi-finals. Eight exceptional contestants from the CUHK, HKUST, City U, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Poly U) advanced to the final. Additionally, the competition also featured a public online quiz, attracting nearly 90,000 attempts and over 20,000 registrations, including from students at nearly 80 primary and secondary schools, plus members of the general public. This underscores the powerful enthusiasm among Hong Kong’s youth and other members of the public for marine conservation and scientific knowledge.

About the “15th National Marine Knowledge Competition – Hong Kong Contest”

Established in 2008, the National Marine Knowledge Competition is a significant nationwide initiative jointly presented by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the Political Department of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, aimed at promoting marine knowledge. This year marks the introduction of the Hong Kong Contest. CUHK is honoured to receive support from national ministries as the organiser. It will collaborate with universities and social organisations in Hong Kong to advance marine technology innovation and conservation education, contributing to the development of the next generation of marine talents.

For more competition details, please visit: https://hkmarinecompetition.com.