Youth Recognition Ceremony Celebrates Resilience and Achievements of Disadvantaged Children and Teens

Recognition ceremony commends children and adolescents for outstanding performance and resilience in face of adversity

The Director of Social Welfare (DSW), Mr Edward To, attended the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony today (March 7) with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), Mr Orlando Ho, to meet with about 180 children and youths who were wards of the DSW and those receiving residential care from the TWGHs. The ceremony recognised their remarkable progress and accomplishments in academics, conduct, sports, arts, and community services. Mr To encouraged them to keep striving forward and bravely pursue their dreams.

Addressing the event, Mr To said that every award recipient tells a touching story of resilience in the face of adversity, demonstrating extraordinary courage and tenacity amid life challenges as well as forging the qualities of self-discipline, confidence, and self-reliance in a difficult environment. Some of them have all the more attained exceptional achievements, setting a good example for other children and youths. Their performances are truly commendable.

Mr To also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers, volunteers, and social workers at the event for their companionship and support in the personal growth of these disadvantaged children and youths. Their care and love have allowed these children and youths to grow up in a nurturing family setting and instilled in them a positive outlook on life, which is of immeasurable value to their future.

At the ceremony today, 42 children and youths were awarded the Best Achievement Award or the Best Progress Award.

Eighteen-year-old Sing is one of the recipients of the Best Achievement Award. Sing lost parental care at a young age and became a ward of the DSW when he was four. Growing up in a devoted foster family, he has been overcoming different challenges in life with resilience and a positive attitude. With excellent academic performance and personal conduct, Sing also has a strong passion for music. He excels in vocal performance and is talented at playing the piano and violin, obtaining a level 4 diploma in singing from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, along with grade 8 piano and grade 5 violin qualifications. In recent years, he has showcased his extraordinary musical talent and earned notable awards in international and local music contests, including the first prize in the piano category at the 2025 Australian International Music Competition - Sound of Music and multiple accolades in three other competitions, namely the 2025 GASCA Japan International Music Competition in Tokyo, IYACC Hong Kong-Taiwan International Music Competition, and the Seventh Hong Kong Youth and Children Music Competition of the Hong Kong Youth and Children Talent Association. Sing received a scholarship from the Changing Young Lives Foundation this year to support his continued development in the musical arena, in which his efforts and talents have been recognised. He plans to give back to society through his music and knowledge in the future and inspire other teenagers with a similar underprivileged background to lead a fruitful life through personal endeavour and a positive attitude.

Another awardee of the Best Achievement Award is 16-year-old Ah Ming (pseudonym). Coming from a single-parent family, Ah Ming has been receiving residential care services since the age of 5 due to his mother's chronic illness. Under the meticulous care of a small group home of TWGHs, he has gradually developed self-discipline, confidence, and a sense of responsibility. On top of proactively taking care of younger peers at the small group home, Ah Ming has shown significant progress in academics, behaviour, and social skills. He is also enthusiastic about sports and actively participates in his school's athletics team training. With his persevering character, Ah Ming represented his school in the 16th Hong Kong Tug of War Open Tournament last year and secured the second place in his team's category, winning glory for his school. His artistic talents are equally outstanding, and his ceramic works have been selected for public exhibitions.

Children and adolescents are made wards of the DSW for various reasons that rendered them unable or unsuitable to live with their family members. Prioritising the best interests of children and adolescents, the Social Welfare Department's social workers will, depending on individual case circumstances, apply for wardship for a case in accordance with the court procedures stipulated in the Protection of Children and Juveniles Ordinance (Cap. 213 of the Laws of Hong Kong) and draw up appropriate long-term welfare plans for them, such as arranging for adoption or reunion with their families, or preparing them to live independently when they become adults. As at the end of December 2025, a total of 788 children and youths were made wards of the DSW.

The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (right), and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Mr Orlando Ho (left), present a certificate to an awardee (centre) of the Best Achievement Award at the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony today (March 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (second left), and the Head of Community Services Division of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Mr Low Chen-yang (first right), chat with two awardees of the Best Achievement Awards at the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony today (March 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (right), and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Mr Orlando Ho (left), present a certificate to an awardee (centre) of the Best Achievement Award at the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony today (March 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Social Welfare Department co-organised the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) today (March 7). Photo shows the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (ninth left), and the 3rd Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TWGHs, Mr Jonathan Ng (eight left), in a group photo with other guests and some awardees. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Social Welfare Department co-organised the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) today (March 7). Photo shows the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (first right), and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TWGHs, Mr Orlando Ho (first left), in a photo with two awardees of the Best Achievement Awards. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, speaks at the 2026 Aspiring Youth Recognition Ceremony today (March 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

ROLE Ambassador award ceremony and sharing session held today

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (March 7) held the Rule of Law Education (ROLE) Ambassador award ceremony and sharing session under the ROLE Stars Train-the-Leaders (TTL) Programme, conferring the title of ROLE Ambassador to 40 trainees who have completed all the courses under the TTL Programme, and inviting the trainees to share their insights and exchange views at the sharing session.

Delivering his opening remarks at the event, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that today marked an important milestone of the TTL Programme. The 40 ROLE Ambassadors represented the first batch of trainees that completed all the training courses under the TTL Programme since it was launched in November 2023, and also symbolised the beginning of a new stage. Mr Lam emphasised that the key to maintaining Hong Kong's sound rule of law environment is to cultivate public understanding of the principles of the rule of law and to enhance the public's basic understanding of Hong Kong's common law system. He encouraged the ROLE Ambassadors to become dedicated advocates for promoting the rule of law in Hong Kong by passing on the knowledge and experience they gained from the TTL Programme to others in ways that are appropriate to their respective capacities and positions.

Four trainees representing the participating youth uniformed group, district youth committee, secondary school teachers and the Education University of Hong Kong shared their thoughts and experience of becoming ROLE Ambassadors. They said that the courses had deepened their knowledge of the rule of law and boosted their confidence in disseminating messages about the rule of law. They had concrete plans to apply what they had learned in the courses to promote correct information about the rule of law and cultivate the spirit of respecting the rule of law in schools and the community.

Mr Lam; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of SideBySide, Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung; and the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, later presented the trainees with certificates and badges of ROLE Ambassadors at the certificate presentation ceremony, commending the trainees' continuous participation and completion of all the courses under the TTL Programme, and their efforts in actively promoting the rule of law across various sectors within the community.

With the support of the Steering Committee on Rule of Law Education, the TTL Programme was officially launched by the DoJ in November 2023 and consists of three stages of courses: the foundation course, advanced course and extended course. The fourth phase of TTL Programme will be held this year. To promote continual participation in and completion of all courses under the TTL Programme and encourage proactive organisation or participation in activities for promoting the rule of law, the DoJ has launched the ROLE Ambassador recognition scheme to recognise and commend trainees who strive to enhance their knowledge of the rule of law and actively promote information of the rule of law in different sectors of the community, and to encourage the trainees to continue to fulfill their mission of promoting the rule of law.

As at end 2025, a total of about 380 trainees participated in the TTL Programme, including representatives from youth and community work organisations, as well as secondary school teachers and students from the Education University of Hong Kong. Among them, 40 have completed all three stages of courses, thereby qualifying as the first batch of ROLE Ambassadors under the TTL Programme.

The qualification of ROLE Ambassador will be valid for two years, which aims to encourage Ambassadors to continue to participate in the DoJ's rule of law education activities and to actively organise rule of law promotion activities during the period in order to obtain a renewal of the qualification. The DoJ will keep close contact and build partnerships with the trainees and ROLE Ambassadors to provide timely assistance and support. The DoJ will also continue to collaborate closely with relevant government departments and community stakeholders to promote rule of law education through diverse means and enhance the public's understanding and practice of the rule of law.

For more details on the TTL Programme and other information relating to the promotion and training on the rule of law, please visit the dedicated website at www.role-ttl.gov.hk.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (March 7) held the Rule of Law Education Ambassador award ceremony and sharing session under the ROLE Stars Train-the-Leaders Programme. Photo shows four trainees sharing their thoughts and experience of becoming ROLE Ambassadors. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (first row, fifth right); the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan (first row, fifth left); the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (first row, fourth right); the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of SideBySide, Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung (first row, fourth left), with the trainees and guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, delivering opening remarks at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases