FHKI 2024 Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong & Industrialist of the Year Award

Prestigious Honour conferred on Laurent Lam of Golden Resources Group

 

 

The Federation of Hong Kong Industries (“FHKI”) is pleased to announce the conferment of the 2024 Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong (“YIAH”) and the Industrialist of the Year (“IOY”) Award. The ceremony, held today (14 November), was honoured by the presence of Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong. Laurent Lam, Chairman and Group Executive Chairman of Golden Resources Development International Limited (Golden Resources Group) was awarded the distinguished IOY Award. In addition, the ceremony recognised six outstanding young industrialists with the 2024 YIAH. The recipients, in alphabetical order, include: Billy Chu, CEO of MDM Group Inc. Limited; Nelson Ko, Executive Director of Wilson Garment Accessories (International) Limited; Samantha Ko, Executive Director and the Vice-Chairlady of BOE Varitronix Limited; Ir Dr David Kwok, Chief Operating Officer of Wah Tung Facade Company Limited; Scarlett Liu, Vice-Chairman of Han Empire Group Limited; and Michelle Ng, CEO of Arts Optical International Holdings Limited.

 

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong warmly congratulated the award recipients, praising their significant contributions to the industrial sector and affirming that their awards were well-deserved. He stated that the Government will press ahead with the establishment of the Hong Kong New Industrialisation Development Alliance to promote closer collaboration among the Government and the industry, academia, research and investment sectors. He expressed his hopes for FHKI to play a central role in this initiative, stating, “The development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong cannot be solely undertaken by the Government. It requires the active involvement of all stakeholders to accelerate this process, with the industrial sector playing a crucial role. I expect that the FHKI will take a leading role in the alliance, working closely with the Government and various sector stakeholders to foster a dynamic and strong new industrial ecosystem."

 

FHKI Chairman Steve Chuang offered his congratulations to the recipients of both awards, stating, “As Director Xia Baolong (of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council) expressed to the business community last week, building a better Hong Kong stems from dedication to ‘staying rooted in Hong Kong’. Our industrialists, firmly rooted in Hong Kong, are pillars of the city's economy and integral to our country’s reform and opening-up. With the continued policy support from both the Central Government and the HKSAR Government, it is my hope that today's award ceremony will motivate industrialists across different generations to embrace the opportunities presented by this new wave of industrial transformation, demonstrating resilience and determination to make even greater contributions to the resurgence of Hong Kong's industrial sector.”

 

Laurent Lam, the 2024 Industrialist of the Year, expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am deeply thankful to the Federation of Hong Kong Industries for awarding me the 'Industrialist of the Year'. This award is not only my personal honour but also a testament to our unified efforts and dedication of our entire team at Golden Resources Group. Looking ahead, Golden Resources Group aims to leverage our platforms in Vietnam and Niseko, Japan, to create more business opportunities and assist more Chinese and Hong Kong brands in penetrating these markets, thereby making a greater contribution to the Belt and Road initiative.”

 

Golden Resources Group, a stalwart in the Hong Kong rice industry for 78 years, is the largest wholesaler and distributor of rice in the region, famed for its top-selling brand “Golden Elephant”. As the fourth helmsman of the group, Laurent Lam has dedicated years to stabilising the supply and pricing of rice in Hong Kong, continuously enhancing quality and pioneering technological innovations, thereby setting multiple benchmarks in the rice industry. Under his leadership, Golden Resources Group has not only excelled in the rice sector but has also actively expanded beyond it. The group has achieved considerable international expansion, owning 500 Circle K convenience stores in Vietnam and developing a "Retailtainment" project in Niseko, Japan. This project is poised to transform the area into a new landmark for skiing holidays, integrating dining, entertainment, retail, and hospitality services.

 

Established in 1988 by FHKI, the Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong aim to honour young entrepreneurs aged 21 to 45 who have shown remarkable success in their sectors. Introduced in 2002, the Industrialist of the Year Award recognises industrialists of any age who have significantly contributed to the local industry, economy, and community. The selection process for all awards is rigorously managed by an esteemed panel of judges.

 

This year's YIAH has achieved a historic milestone with half of its six recipients being women, highlighting the growing diversity in Hong Kong's industrial sector. This unprecedented representation showcases the rising prominence of women in manufacturing and business leadership, demonstrating how our new generation of industrialists is driving innovation and entrepreneurship regardless of gender.

 

To date, the awards have recognised 24 IOY recipients and 263 YIAH awardees. Profiles for all awardees this year are included in the Appendix.

 

 

Picture 1: FHKI Chairman Steve Chuang delivered his speech.

Picture 2: Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong delivered his speech.

Picture 3: The 2024 IOY Award was conferred on Laurent Lam, Chairman and Group Executive Chairman of Golden Resources Development International Limited.

 

Picture 4: Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong (centre), FHKI Chairman Steve Chuang (left 4) and award winners posed for a group photo.

 

• Laurent Lam, Chairman and Group Executive Chairman of Golden Resources Development International Limited (right 4)
• Billy Chu, CEO of MDM Group Inc. Limited (left 3)
• Nelson Ko, Executive Director of Wilson Garment Accessories (International) Limited (left 2)
• Samantha Ko, Executive Director and the Vice-Chairlady of BOE Varitronix Limited (left 1)
• Ir Dr David Kwok, Chief Operating Officer of Wah Tung Facade Company Limited (right 3)
• Scarlett Liu, Vice-Chairman of Han Empire Group Limited (right 2)
• Michelle Ng, CEO of Arts Optical International Holdings Limited (right 1)

Picture 5: Awardees pose for a group photo with distinguished guests and FHKI representatives.

 

 

*Please visit here for higher resolution photos.

Media Enquiries:

Tel: 2732 3156 / 2732 3154
E-mail: media@fhki.org.hk 

 

Appendix: Awardees of 2024 “Industrialist of the Year Award” and “Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong”

 

Industrialist of the Year Award

 

Laurent Lam Chairman and Group Executive Chairman, Golden Resources Development International Limited

Golden Resources Group, a stalwart in the Hong Kong rice industry for 78 years, is the largest wholesaler and distributor of rice in the region, famed for its top-selling brand "Golden Elephant." As the fourth helmsman of the group, Laurent Lam has dedicated years to stabilising the supply and pricing of rice in Hong Kong, continuously enhancing quality and pioneering technological innovations, thereby setting multiple benchmarks in the rice industry. Under his leadership, Golden Resources Group has not only excelled in the rice sector but has also actively expanded beyond it. The group has achieved considerable international expansion, owning 500 Circle K convenience stores in Vietnam and developing a "Retailtainment" project in Niseko, Japan. This project is poised to transform the area into a new landmark for skiing holidays, integrating dining, entertainment, retail, and hospitality services.

 

 

Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong (In alphabetical order)

 

Billy Chu CEO, MDM Group Inc. Limited

Billy Chu, founder and current CEO of MDM Group Inc. Limited, is a pioneer for the industrialisation of the construction industry. He has been recognised as a champion in pushing the digitalisation of construction procurement and the prefabrication of construction components. After graduating from McMaster University in 2010 and working his early career as a structural engineer, Billy realised that the traditional construction method is unsustainable as the construction industry is facing an ageing workforce where skilled workers and craftsmanship are slowly disappearing and driving up the construction cost. After some consideration, he founded MDM in 2014 shortly after putting together a business plan, aiming to transform the construction industry by introducing an integrated BIM and prefab solution to replace the current process where delays and abortive works are the norms.

 

Nelson Ko Executive Director, Wilson Garment Accessories (International) Limited

Nelson Ko graduated from the University of Nottingham in the UK in 2007 with a degree in Management Studies (Hons) and immediately joined the family business, Wilson Garment Accessories (International) Limited, where he now serves as the Executive Director. Established by his father in 1981, the company has earned a reputation for its high-quality tapes and cords within the garment industry, supplying major international brands. With over four decades of experience, the Wilson Group has grown to become one of the world’s leading trim manufacturers. The Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and operates branch offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and New York. Recognising the evolving needs of their clients, Nelson Ko has been instrumental in expanding and innovating the company’s product lines. He swiftly established a dedicated R&D team that continuously develops new products, securing multiple product patents and obtaining several environmental certifications for their eco-friendly product range.

 

Samantha Ko Executive Director and the Vice-Chairlady, BOE Varitronix Limited

In today's rapidly changing global, social and economic environment, BOE Varitronix Limited, as an outstanding enterprise in the automotive display industry, continues to maintain growth. In 2022, its auto display by global shipment and shipment area has reached the world's largest market share, establishing it as the global leader in the automotive display industry. As a core leader of the Company, Samantha Ko has actively promoted product transformation, strengthened global operations, and optimised industrial resource allocation with her exceptional leadership skills and international vision, injecting vitality and momentum into the sustainable development of the Group.

 

Ir Dr David Kwok Chief Operating Officer, Wah Tung Facade Company Limited

Ir Dr David Kwok is a dynamic and driven industrialist who began working for Wah Tung Facade Company Limited (Wah Tung) as a project manager in 2017. He currently serves as the COO of the business. He is a highly accomplished professional with a wide range of construction and engineering certifications. His contributions to the development of operational systems, the promotion of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) activities, and the exploration of new markets are significant to Wah Tung. Ir Dr David Kwok graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University with a doctorate. Prior to that, he received his master's degrees in engineering and arts from Imperial College London and Columbia University, respectively. Currently, he is attending Peking University to complete his MBA. His career was well-founded by his academic and scholarly accomplishments at prestigious universities. His solid achievement in research significantly contributed to the advancement of industry, especially in the building material sector.

 

Scarlett Liu Vice-Chairman, Han Empire Group Limited

Scarlett Liu, graduated from Sun Yat-sen University, has been serving as Vice-Chairman of Han Empire Group Limited since 2013. She is also Vice President of the Federation of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Paraguay and the People's Republic of China and President of the International High-tech Industry Association. The group's industries cover five sectors: culture, sports, science and technology, education, and investment. In 2019, she founded Xinhan High-tech Industry (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., and officially returned to the Greater Bay Area in November 2021 to start a business and serve as CEO. She was honoured as “Hong Kong and Macao young star entrepreneur” by the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party. In April 2021, Mr Han Zheng, the current vice president of the People's Republic of China, kindly received and had a face-to-face exchange with Scarlett. Mr Han Zheng affirmed the company's nano 3D luminous film technology and expressed high hopes for its future. He stated, "The market potential is huge. I hope you can make it bigger and stronger! I wish you success."

 

Michelle Ng CEO, Arts Optical International Holdings Limited

Michelle Ng serves as the CEO of Arts Optical International Holdings Limited ("Arts Group"). She joined the Arts Group in 2002 and ascended to the role of CEO in February 2021. Since 2011, she has held directorial positions across several subsidiaries within the group, steering business strategy and operational management. Michelle has been instrumental in advancing the group's core OEM/ODM operations, strategically enhancing and broadening its international outsourcing endeavours.

Dedicated to fostering transformative leadership within her teams, Michelle has prioritised optimising resource allocation and cultivating a culture of innovation and global collaboration. She has provided her team members with opportunities for international exchanges and professional growth, thereby facilitating their development to higher levels of performance. Furthermore, Michelle has spearheaded the recruitment of international talent, assembling diverse teams that strengthen the group's capability to expand its business across global markets.