(Hong Kong, 31 October 2006) Brilliant postgraduates from Hong Kong and Mainland China will be able to continue enjoying sponsored studies in the United Kingdom, as Hutchison Whampoa Limited (“HWL”) pledged a further financial support for the Hutchison Chevening Scholarships.
The new commitment of GBP 504,000, which brings HWL’s contributions to UK scholarships to GBP 6.5 million to date, will fund about 60 outstanding young postgraduates from Hong Kong and the Mainland to pursue their further studies in Cambridge and major British universities and institutions in 2007.
HWL first started its sponsorship for the Hutchison Chevening Scholarships in 2002, when the Group pledged a financial support of GBP 2.02 million to support Hong Kong and Mainland students to study in the UK.
HWL has also contributed another GBP 4 million for the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards since 2003. These awards have provided more opportunities for Hong Kong and Mainland scholars to pursue doctoral studies in leading UK universities.
Announcing today HWL’s contribution, Deputy Group Managing Director Susan Chow said HWL had a long history of supporting higher education initiatives.
“Our further support to the Hutchison Chevening Scholarships demonstrates our commitment to developing young leaders and providing them with opportunities to achieve their goals,” Mrs Chow said.
British Consul-General Stephen Bradley said the British Government and Cambridge University would make a matching contribution to the scheme.
About one quarter of these new scholarships are being allotted for studies at Cambridge University, a staunch supporter of the Chevening Scholarships scheme.
“The Chevening Scholarships programme is the British Government’s flagship scholarships scheme. The partnership between the Chevening programme and Hutchison Whampoa has been an outstanding success. Hutchison Whampoa’s very generous contribution has been a crucial factor in expanding the scheme in Hong Kong and Mainland China,” Mr Bradley said. “It has provided a significant number of talented individuals with new opportunities for development, which will enable them to contribute so much more to Hong Kong and China in the future.”
Applications for the scholarships are open from November 2006 until 10 January 2007.