The "Oscars" of the service industry, the Hong Kong Awards for Services, culminated on December 18 with an award presentation Gala Dinner, with guest of honour Henry Tang, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology.

Five categories were up for grabs -- Innovation, Productivity, Customer Service, Tourism Services and Export Marketing -- with the Grand Award of the Innovation category being taken by RoadShow Holdings Limited for its multi-media advertising services on-board buses.

By taking advantage of the high percentage of the Hong Kong population that use busses, the company has captured a previously untapped market, commented members of the HKGCC Judging Panel, headed by Chamber Vice Chairman Dr Lily Chiang.

"It offers an effective medium for information services while adding value to passengers' transit experience," she said. "Its success is demonstrated by its commercial achievements, and the combination of multi-media being combined with a traditional transportation service makes it a distinctive 'Hong Kong-style innovation'."

For the HKGCC Innovative Service Award, Best Western Rosedale on the Park, Citibank NA, Everbright Groups Ltd and Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd, all walked away with an award. Each company was assessed on service development and performance, corporate policy and planning, commercial results and prospects, and social contribution.

"Hong Kong people can rightly take pride in the services sectors, which contribute about 85 per cent of GDP and employ over 80 per cent of the working population. It is the engine of growth for the economy and a cornerstone that has helped build Hong Kong into one of the leading business hubs in the world," Dr Chiang said.

In organising the 2002 Innovation Award this year, the Chamber itself introduced an innovation by organising a junior category, namely the "HKGCC Innovative Business Contest for University Students."

Commenting on the new category, Mr Tang said, "Our services sector is world-renowned for quality, efficiency and entrepreneurship. I am heartened to see that the business community is taking active steps to nurture these values among our younger generations."

The objectives of the new student award are to promote better understanding of the service industries and to encourage creative thinking and innovative business ideas among university students.

Participants had to submit a 2,000-word-long business proposal on assigned topics, which were judged for creativity, practicability and business prospects. Students that submitted the best entries were invited to present their ideas verbally to the judging panel.

"We receive applications from over 200 university students, so obviously the contest was very successful," Chamber CEO Dr Eden Woon said. "Winning students were able to demonstrate not only academic intelligence but also a creative, business mindset."

In a ceremony held on January 9, Dr Woon together with Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau Kenneth Mak, presented certificates to sixteen students who submitted outstanding entries.

"For Hong Kong to continue to succeed, creativity, speed and quality have to be promoted not only among the practising business sectors, but also among our younger generation," Dr Woon said.

The 2002 HKGCC Innovative Business Contest for University Students was co-organised by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Hong Kong, and supported by the Business and Services Promotion Unit of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau.