Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen (center); former president of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR Jasper Tsang Yok-sing (fifth left); Chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Journalists Li Dahong (fifth right) pose for photos with other attendees during a prize-giving ceremony of the 4th “Love Is All Round” essay writing competition, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, March 21, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Pain is an inevitable part of daily life and plays a significant role in personal growth, organizers of an essay-writing contest said, encouraging participants to embrace every obstacle with a positive mindset.

The 4th “Love Is All Round” essay writing competition successfully concluded on Thursday, with 39 talented writers receiving awards for their inspiring pieces selected by a group of local news industry veterans.

Former president of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR Jasper Tsang Yok-sing (fourth right); President of Hong Kong Federation of Journalists Zhang Guoliang (center); Founder of Lu and Marisa Charitable Foundation Lo Kai-shui (fourth left); Zhou Li (third left), deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, and chairman of Asia Leadership Roundtable, and other attendees pose for photos before a prize-giving ceremony of the 4th “Love Is All Round” essay writing competition, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, March 21, 2024. (GABY LIN / CHINA DAILY)

The contest, which aims to motivate Hong Kong residents, particularly the youth, to keep a writing habit, asked participants to share their thoughts and ideas on how to turn life’s suffering into motivation to overcome adversity

The contest, which aims to motivate Hong Kong residents, particularly the youth, to keep a writing habit, asked participants to share their thoughts and ideas on how to turn life’s suffering into motivation to overcome adversity.

“As we go through different stages of life’s journey, we will have different perspectives on pain,” Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, honorary director of the contest’s organizing committee, said at a prize-giving ceremony.

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“These pains can teach us lessons and increase our wisdom, while writing and sharing our thoughts can also benefit others, which is a fantastic thing,” added Tsang, a former president of the city’s legislature.

Also at the ceremony, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said the competition is invaluable as it has spread positive energy to the society by encouraging participants to write down their stories on how they turn pain into “a mentor and friend in life”.

Zhou Li (seventh right), deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, and chairman of Asia Leadership Roundtable, poses for photos with secondary category awardees of the 4th “Love Is All Round” essay writing competition, during a prize-giving ceremony of the competition, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, March 21, 2024. Zhou is one of the members of the competition’s review committee. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)“Our society has been facing various challenges in recent years, the power of love has become increasingly precious,” said Li Dahong, chairman of the organizer Hong Kong Federation of Journalists.

Li said one of the competition’s goals is to inspire participants to demonstrate via words that love exists everywhere in Hong Kong, as well as to encourage everyone to consider how to build together a more harmonious society.

The contest has received over 3,000 submissions from across three categories – two for primary and middle school students, and one for public members.

Chan Yuk-tung, champion of the primary school category, poses for a photo after a prize-giving ceremony of the 4th "Love Is All Round" essay writing competition, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, March 21, 2024. (GABY LIN / CHINA DAILY)

Chan Yuk-tung, champion of the primary school category, told her story of how she turned “painful” piano practice into “a game”.

“I felt better after I treated practicing piano as a game … Right now I feel more confident in myself and this lesson gives me the courage to face other challenges.”

Lee Si-yun, a secondary school category awardee, poses for a photo after a prize-giving ceremony of the 4th "Love Is All Round" essay writing competition, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, March 21, 2024. (GABY LIN / CHINA DAILY)

Wang Zi, an open category awardee, poses for a photo after a prize-giving ceremony of the 4th "Love Is All Round" essay writing competition, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, March 21, 2024. (GABY LIN / CHINA DAILY)

Lee Si-yun, one of the awardees of the secondary school category, shared her approach to dealing with the grief over a family member’s passing and moving on. “I was not really into reading and didn’t have a writing habit before. After this contest, now I want to write more about my feelings, and I want to share them with other people,” Lee said.

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While Wang Zi, an open category awardee, used the event to call on society to offer more caregiver support with her personal experiences of taking care of her husband.

“I’ve been through several difficult years of seeing my husband suffer from cancer. I hope that with my piece, my experiences can help those who are also suffering, especially caregivers like myself.”