HONG KONG, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- A prize presentation ceremony of the fourth LUI Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilization was held Thursday in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with the Sustainability Prize awarded to the Nature Conservancy, the Positive Energy Prize to Fan Jinshi, and the Welfare Betterment Prize to Jennifer A. Doudna.
Lui Che-woo, founder of the prize, said at the ceremony on Thursday that he founded the prize based on his belief in lasting serenity and shared harmony. He hoped everyone can pursue inner peace by becoming more loving and understanding, and together cherish what the world has to offer.
"Knowing that the hard-earned achievements of the laureates align with my vision for the prize, I feel nothing but happiness," he added.
Awarded the Sustainability Prize, the Nature Conservancy, founded in 1951 in the United States, is one of the biggest international environmental groups in the world, alleviating issues around water, land, biodiversity, and many more pressing problems across the globe, through utilizing new and innovative technologies and science. They strive to nurture, restore and protect the ecosystem.
Sally Jewell, Chief Executive Officer of the Nature Conservancy, said, "Change is possible. But it takes courage, commitment, and above all -- leadership. My colleagues and I believe that Hong Kong and the entire Asia Pacific region can lead the world toward a more sustainable future."
Fan Jinshi, honorary director of the Dunhuang Research Academy in China, was commended for her dedication for the past 56 years to studying and preserving the Mogao Grottoes, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site in Dunhuang, in northwest China's Gansu Province. Her work has greatly advanced the archeological and historical understanding of the significant cultural treasure.
"It is my great honor to protect, study and promote the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. This tough but meaningful task deserves not only my lifelong dedication, but also the continuous contributions of future generations," Fan said.
The laureate of the Welfare Betterment Prize, Jennifer A. Doudna is a U.S. biochemist and a co-inventor of revolutionary genome-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9 that allows genetic material to be added, removed or altered in animal and plant cells. It could be the key to treating or preventing inherited genetic disorders, and also help to engineer plants that are resistant to climate change. It has a great potential applications for improving human welfare.
"I do believe that the positive message of Dr Lui Che-woo and our collective efforts to build a more harmonious world can improve our health, happiness, and future success," Doudna said.
As a corporate titan in Hong Kong, Lui has been devoting himself to charity works, education in particular, with hundreds of schools and other institutions sponsored by him in Hong Kong, Macao and the Chinese mainland.
Lui established LUI Che Woo Prize in 2015, donating 2 billion Hong Kong dollars (255 million U.S. dollars) as its initial fund. Each prize bears a monetary award of 20 million Hong Kong dollars (2.55 million U.S. dollars).
