The 3rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (2016) Kicks Off in High Gear to Demonstrate the Excellence of Hong Kong’s Public Relations Industry

Professor Frederick Ma shares his invaluable insights into the importance of corporate communication with PR practitioners

(Hong Kong, 8 December, 2016) The registration period for the 3^rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (2016) has begun today. In light of the latest corporate communication trends, two new award categories – “NGOs/NPOs/Social Enterprises Communications” and “SME Communications” – have been included in the Awards to demonstrate the excellence and professionalism of practitioners in the industry.

The Hong Kong Public Relations Awards, organised by the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals’ Association (PRPA), has become a flagship event for the public relations industry since its inception in 2010. Encouraged by the success of the first two Awards held in 2010 and 2014, the PRPA has decided to launch the 3rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (2016).

The Hong Kong Public Relations Awards aims not only to increase awareness of the significant role of public relations in helping organisations to achieve their goals, but also to give due recognition to the excellence and professionalism of practitioners in the industry who have planned and executed outstanding public relations campaigns that have contributed to the success of the corporations and organisations they have served.

For the 3rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards 2016, a Distinguished Business Leader Talk was held, prior to a briefing session held to give details about the Awards. With the theme of “The Importance of Communication to the Success of an Organisation”, the seminar saw Professor Frederick Ma Si-Hang, chairman of MTR Corporation Limited, share his invaluable insights into how corporate communication is fundamental to the success of organisations.

Professor Frederick Ma Si-Hang said: “The communication department is the ‘heart’ of a company. It is worth investing resources in it though it may not be a ‘profit-making’ department. In time of crisis, the communication department would be the one to provide advice to the management and turn crises into opportunities, or even help the company embark on the road to success.”

In addition to the six previously established Campaign Awards Categories, namely, Reputation/Brand Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, Stakeholder Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications,  New Media/Digital Communications and Event Management, the scope in the Awards has been widened to include two new categories – NGOs/NPOs/Social Enterprises Communications and SME Communications, with a view to encouraging more organisations and companies from these sectors to participate in the Awards.

One Gold Award and two Silver Awards will be named in each of the categories. A Grand Award of Excellence will be presented to the overall winner among the Gold Awards, while a Most Creative Campaign Award will be presented to the entry that demonstrates the highest creativity in its communication strategies, tactics and execution. For the Individual Awards category, two awards, namely, the Young Professional of the Year and the Distinguished Professional of the Year, will be presented to recognise the outstanding performance of public relations professionals.

Professor Paul S N LEE, of the School of Communication, Hang Seng Management College, will be the chief judge of the judging panel. Professor Lee, together with eight other judges, who are leaders in the fields of business, public relations, media and academia, would select winners from the entries pool.

Dr John Chan, Chairperson of the 3rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (2016) Organising Committee, said: “In addition to the six regular Campaign Award entries, we have broadened the scope by introducing two new award categories, namely “NGOs/NPOs/Social Enterprises Communications” and “SME Communications”, in the hope of attaining active participation from the industry.

“We believe that promoting services or brands via public relations means is as important and effective for NGOs and small businesses as for big corporations.” In addition, in order to reflect the latest technological development, efforts have been made to further integrate the award categories of the Integrated Marketing Communications and the New Media / Digital Media Communications.

Since its establishment in 1995, the PRPA has been striving to promote professionalism in the public relations industry. The PRPA also provides a platform for practitioners to exchange views and share experience for the development of individual professionals and the industry as a whole.

The registration period has begun today and will end on January 19, 2017. To be considered for the Awards, all entries should relate primarily to campaigns completed or launched with major parts completed between 1 April 2015 and 31 December 2016. For online registration and more information, please visit the website of the “3rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (2016)” at www.prpa.com.hk/hkprawards.

There are eight categories of Public Relations Campaign Awards and two categories of Individual Awards.

Public Relations Campaign Awards

1. Reputation / Brand Management
2. Corporate Social Responsibility
3. Stakeholder Communications
4. Integrated Marketing Communications
5. New Media / Digital Communications
6. Event Management
7. NGOs / NPOs /Social Enterprises Communications
8. SME Communications

Individual Awards

1. Young Professional of the Year
2. Distinguished Professional of the Year

Special Awards

1. Grand Award of Excellence
2. Most Creative Campaign Award

Judging Panel

Sponsors and Supporting Organisations

Gold Sponsor

Hang Lung Properties Limited　 MTR Corporation

Silver Sponsor

CLP Power Hong Kong Limited

Hang Seng Bank

K. Wah International Holdings Limited

LINK Asset Management Limited

New World Development

NWS Holdings Limited

Yuan Tung Financial Relations Limited 

Crystal Sponsor

Galaxy Entertainment Group

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hongkong Electric Company Limited, The

iGen6 New Media Group

Ogilvy Public Relations

Public Communication Strategic Consultancy Limited

Sinclair Communications

Wasabi Creation Limited

Wharf (Holdings) Limited, The

Winavia Public Relations Communications Ltd

Media Partner

CMRS Group

Hong Kong Economic Times

Metro Finance

Standard, The

Prize Sponsor

InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong

Supporting Organisation

Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry, The

Chartered Institute of Marketing, The (Hong Kong)

Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, The

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, The

Hong Kong Management Association, The

Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA)

International Association of Business Communicators, Hong Kong Chapter

Junior Chamber International Hong Kong (HCIHK)

Professor Frederick Ma Si-Hang, Chairman of the MTR Corporation, shared his invaluable insights into the important role of corporation communication in an organisation

Professor Frederick Ma Si-Hang and the representatives of sponsors and supporting organisations for the 3rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (2016)

Professor Frederick Ma Si-Hang and the members of the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals Association