Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers a speech at the presentation ceremony of Hong Kong News Awards 2021 at JW Marriott Hotel, Admiralty, Hong Kong, July 22, 2022. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu vowed on Friday to align Hong Kong’s development with national strategies to prop up the special administrative region’s competitiveness.

China Daily Hong Kong Edition this year won 10 prizes across eight categories at the awards

This will not only bring Hong Kong unlimited opportunities, but also provide endless story sources that the city’s media industry can develop, he said.

Delivering a keynote speech at the awards ceremony of the city’s prestigious Hong Kong News Awards 2021, Lee cited President Xi Jinping’s speech in the city on July 1, saying that the next five years will be a critical period for Hong Kong to move ahead, and that the media will play an important role in telling a good Hong Kong story.

This year, China Daily Hong Kong Edition won 10 prizes across eight categories at the awards.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (sitting, fifth from left) poses for a photo with other officials at the presentation ceremony of Hong Kong News Awards 2021 at a hotel in Hong Kong, July 22, 2022. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Continuing its 12-year winning streak, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has bagged a total 105 awards. The contest, organized by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, this year had 619 entries from 12 Chinese- and English-language newspapers in the city.

Liu Weiling (7th from right), deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Group and executive editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, and journalists from China Daily Hong Kong Edition, which scooped 10 awards in different categories at the 2021 Hong Kong News Awards, are all smiles as they pose for a photo after the award presentation ceremony in Hong Kong, July 22, 2022. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Extending his congratulations to all award winners, Lee encouraged them to maintain their professionalism and news ethics as always when reporting quality news stories and striving for excellence.

China Daily’s Wang Yuke, winner in the Best Business News Writing (English) category, is photographed with four crests she won in the Hong Kong News Awards 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Chen Zimo of China Daily, winner in the Best News Writing (English) category, smiles with her crest. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Noting that some people move to endanger national security under the guise of press freedom, Lee warned that the government will unswervingly act against illegal activities, and that real media professionals should stay away from such activities.

Zhou Mo of China Daily, who came second runner-up in the Best Business News Writing (English) category, poses for the camera with her crest. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Mok Kwok-cheong (left) and Billy Wong of China Daily, who jointly won two merit in the Best News Page Design (Single Page) and Best News Page Design (Series) categories, are seen posing with their awards. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

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Looking ahead, Lee said he hopes the media industry will make the best use of its transmissibility and influence in composing a new and fascinating chapter for Hong Kong.