Deep Blue Exploration Showcases Style, Technology Builds Dreams for the Future. On July 7th, hosted by the Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy (HKSPSF) and organized by the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation, the 2025 "Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge" (Hong Kong Selection) successfully concluded at the Chiang Chen Studio Theatre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This year's competition, themed "Community of Marine Destiny - Ecological Monitoring, Guarding Coral Reefs", attracted participating teams from primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong, providing a stage for young people to showcase their innovative technology talents.
Government Attention, Support from All Sectors
At the opening ceremony, Ms. Chelsea Chen, Founder of HKSPSF and Vice Dean of the Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction Future Technology Research Institute, stated in her welcome speech that this competition focuses on the ocean, hoping to inspire the younger generation's passion and responsibility to explore and protect the blue. She said that when students are debugging the underwater robots in their hands, they are not just completing a task, but learning to think like scientists and create like engineers. Every skill mastered today may become a key force in protecting this blue home tomorrow.
In his speech, Mr. Tony Wong, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, stated that the government has always been actively creating more opportunities for students to contact and learn innovative technology, and has continuously incorporated elements such as STEAM and artificial intelligence into primary and secondary school curricula in recent years. He pointed out that unmanned system technology is developing rapidly and its application range is increasingly wide, playing an important role in fields such as environmental monitoring, emergency rescue, and scientific research and exploration. Commissioner Wong emphasized that he hopes that through participating in the competition, students will not only learn practical skills such as mechanics, programming, and sensor application, but also learn how to actively use technology to solve challenges facing society and the environment.
Professor Bo Wu, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, spoke on behalf of the co-organizers, stating that the theme of this year's competition has deeper significance for the times. The combination of unmanned systems and ecological protection is not only a technological breakthrough but also a response to the proposition of sustainable human development. He pointed out that as a scientific research pioneer based in Hong Kong and contributing to the country, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University always shoulders the dual mission of aspiring to the forefront of technology and cultivating the foundation of science popularization, responding to the common proposition of human exploration of the unknown with cutting-edge technology from extraterrestrial planets to deep-sea frontiers.
Mr. Che Wang-kin, Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation, stated in his vote of thanks that as the organizer of this selection, he would like to express his sincerest gratitude to all institutions and partners involved in planning, supporting, and promoting this event on behalf of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation. He first thanked HKSPSF for their trust, allowing the Foundation to become the organizer of this year's selection. Chairman Che especially thanked the Innovation and Technology Commission for its funding and recognition, as well as the full support of various co-organizers and supporting organizations such as The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Yau Tsim Mong District Office, for jointly building a platform for Hong Kong primary and secondary school students to showcase their creativity and technology. He said that he looks forward to continuing to work together to promote Hong Kong's innovation and technology education to a higher level in the future, and wished all participating students to move forward bravely on the road of technological exploration and become future innovation pioneers.
At the opening ceremony, the organizer presented certificates of appreciation to various supporting units, thanking them for their strong support for the competition. Ms. Chelsea Chen, Founder of HKSPSF and Vice Dean of the Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction Future Technology Research Institute, and Mr. Che Wang-kin, Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation, accompanied Mr. Tony Wong, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, to present a certificate of appreciation to the co-organizer, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;
Dean Chelsea Chen and Chairman Che Wang-kin accompanied Mr. Li Wenbin, Deputy Director of the Kowloon Sub-office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, to present a certificate of appreciation to the supporting organization, Yau Tsim Mong District Office;
Dean Chelsea Chen and Chairman Che Wang-kin accompanied Mr. Edward Yu, JP, District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), to present a certificate of appreciation to the co-organizer, Kowloon Federation of Associations Yau Tsim Mong District Committee;
Dr. Chan Lai-fong, Permanent Honorary Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation, presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of co-organizers.
Ceremony Launch, Competition Opening
At the solemn and enthusiastic launch ceremony, Mr. Tony Wong, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau; Mr. Li Wenbin, Deputy Director of the Kowloon Sub-office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Mr. Edward Yu, JP, District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong); Mr. Che Wang-kin, Member of the CPPCC National Committee and Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation; Ms. Chelsea Chen, Founder of HKSPSF and Vice Dean of the Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction Future Technology Research Institute; Mr. Yeung Tsz-hei, BBS, MH, President of the Kowloon Federation of Associations Yau Tsim Mong District Committee; Hon. Shang Hailong, Member of the Legislative Council and Founding President of the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association; Ms. Pun Chan Oi-ching, SBS, JP, Founding Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation; Dr. Chan Lai-fong, JP, Permanent Honorary Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Charity Foundation; Mr. Li Jiaxuan, Director of HKSPSF; Professor Bo Wu, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Mr. Zhou Sheng, General Manager of United Electronic Publishing Limited; and Dr. Fung Kam-wing, Director of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, jointly performed the launch ceremony symbolizing "Deep Blue Exploration", marking the official start of the 2025 "Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge" (Hong Kong Selection).
Technology Competition, Innovation Showcase
This challenge revolves around the theme of "Community of Marine Destiny - Ecological Monitoring, Guarding Coral Reefs". Participating teams need to build unmanned autonomous biomimetic vehicles and marine science technology equipment. The unmanned systems independently developed by each team are unique in shape and infinitely creative, showcasing the imagination and innovation capabilities of young people in the water. During the competition, students not only demonstrated technical skills such as mechanics, programming, and sensor applications but also embodied the spirit of teamwork and the ability to solve practical problems.
In the subsequent defense session, the participating teams fully demonstrated the teenagers' knowledge output, scientific communication ability, and team presentation ability by displaying team posters, expounding design concepts and implementation methods, and sharing competition experiences and feelings.
Far-reaching Significance, Looking to the Future
This year's competition was also funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission. The promoted teams will represent Hong Kong in the national finals to be held in August 2025 and receive professional training, providing a broader display platform for Hong Kong youth. With the successful conclusion of the competition, the 2025 "Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge" (Hong Kong Selection) successfully came to an end. The young contestants demonstrated the technological literacy and innovation potential of contemporary youth with their extraordinary innovative thinking, excellent practical ability, and tenacious fighting spirit. Their persistent pursuit of marine technology, unremitting exploration of knowledge, and responsibility for environmental protection fully embody the spiritual outlook of the new generation of youth who are brave to explore and dare to innovate.
This event received strong support from the Kowloon Sub-office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government, Yau Tsim Mong District Office, Datong Publishing Media Ltd., Kowloon Federation of Associations Yau Tsim Mong District Committee, Yau Tsim Mong Federation of Associations, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association, United Electronic Publishing Limited, and many other units, jointly contributing to the development of science and technology education for young people in Hong Kong.
【Editor: Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy (HKSPSF)】