Chief Executive Congratulates Shaw Prize Laureates at 2026 Award Ceremony in Hong Kong

Speech by CE at Shaw Prize 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony 

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Shaw Prize 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony today (November 10):

Dr Raymond Chan (Chair of the Shaw Prize Foundation), Professor Kenneth Young (Chair of the Shaw Prize Council), Professor Reinhard Genzel (Chair of the Board of Adjudicators of the Shaw Prize Foundation), esteemed laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. It is a great pleasure to be here, with you, on this grand occasion - the 23rd Shaw Prize Award Presentation Ceremony. This year, we celebrate the seminal achievements of seven laureates in three disciplines: astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences.

I am honoured to congratulate each one of you on your pioneering work and consequential discoveries. In advancing the sciences, you contribute to the evolution of civilisation. You light the way for the next generation to follow - to discover their own bright way.

Your work reflects a deep commitment to science and the pursuit of knowledge. Hong Kong shares that commitment, and we are turning it into action. In Hong Kong's inaugural Five-Year Plan, launched in September, we place high priority on developing a large area of Hong Kong land called the Northern Metropolis. More than a new economic engine, the Northern Metropolis will promote the integrated development of education, industry, and research and technology.

We are developing three university towns, covering an area of more than 1 000 hectares. Each will have its own focus. One will focus on medicine, life and health technology, AI, robotics, microelectronics, and emerging industries. Another will be a centre for applied post-secondary education in smart manufacturing and for cultivating global talent. The third will emphasise the arts and blue-and-green development elements.

These university towns will attract and welcome scholars and students from around the world, together with interdisciplinary research institutes, joint laboratories and other centres. These will bring academia, research and industry together.

The Shaw Prize celebrates curiosity, rigour and discovery. Those are also the qualities behind our investment in the university towns. The Government believes in a future centred on science. We believe in the rewards that knowledge brings to us all.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will enjoy this very special evening here in Hong Kong, Asia's education city. Once again, congratulations to the 2026 Shaw Prize laureates. Thank you.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Shaw Prize 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony this evening (November 10). Photo shows (from fourth left) the Chair of the Board of Adjudicators of the Shaw Prize Foundation, Professor Reinhard Genzel; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Zhang Yong; Mr Lee; the Chair of the Shaw Prize Foundation, Dr Raymond Chan; Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Li Yongsheng; the Chair of the Shaw Prize Council, Professor Kenneth Young, and other guests at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, speaks at the Shaw Prize 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony this evening (November 10). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Sexual Offences Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2026 to be gazetted on Friday

The Government will publish the Sexual Offences Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2026 (the Bill) in the Gazette on Friday (November 13).

A spokesperson for the Security Bureau today (November 11) said, "The Bill aims to achieve two policy objectives, namely, strengthening protection for victims of sexual offences, and modernising the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong to keep pace with the times.

"At present, many of the sexual offences in Hong Kong are based on similar provisions in the laws of England enacted in 1956. Over the years, social perceptions related to sexual offences have been evolving. We also notice that there are inadequacies in the existing sexual offence provisions. For instance, some offences are gender-specific, resulting in a narrow scope; some provisions carry distinctions based on sexual orientation; some offences lack consistency on treatments across genders; the provisions and penalties of some sexual offences are not fully commensurate with the gravity of relevant acts; and some terminology used in some provisions is outdated. The Government considers it necessary to review and improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, so as to address the inadequacies of the current provisions and respond to changes in social perceptions related to sexual offences."

The spokesperson said, "The range of legislative amendment proposals is based on the coverage and recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in its review of relevant legislation, and on the study of developments in relevant legislation in other major common law jurisdictions (including Australia, Canada, England and Wales, New Zealand, Scotland and Singapore), covering different areas including non-consensual sexual offences, sexual offences involving children and persons with mental impairment, miscellaneous sexual offences, and other related amendments proposed to strengthen protection for victims of sexual offences.

"We consulted the Panel on Security of the Legislative Council (LegCo) on July 7 on the Government's legislative amendment proposal, and received its full support. We also conducted a one-month public consultation exercise from July 7 to August 5, with a total of 6228 written submissions received. Among them, 99.3 per cent (6182 written submissions) showed support and made positive comments, fully reflecting that the legislative amendment proposal has gained wide support from the community."

The spokesperson added, "Our legislative amendment proposal has also incorporated suggestions received by the Government during the public consultation exercise, including the creation of a new offence to deal with perpetrators' criminal acts of prolonged and repeated sexual abuse against children. We will also criminalise the cybercrime of 'cyberflashing' through the refinement of provisions."

The spokesperson emphasised, "We hope to improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, the earlier the better, to strengthen protection for victims of sexual offences while ensuring that the laws on sexual offences can keep pace with the times."

The Government will introduce the Bill into the LegCo on November 25 for First Reading and Second Reading, with the target of completing the legislative exercise within the current term of Government.