The win grin: Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang is flanked by SCMP Group Editor-in-Chief David Armstrong and Director of Information Services Yvonne Choi.

The World City-My City essay and photo competition has attracted well over 1,000 high-quality entries, winning the praise of Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang.

Jointly organised by the Information Services Department and the South China Morning Post in November to promote Hong Kong as Asia's world city, the competition has attracted an impressive 951 essays and 260 photos in junior (10-14), youth (15-18) and open (19 or above) categories.

Top response

Attending the prize presentation ceremony today, Mr Tsang said he was happy to see a fantastic response from young people, who submitted 880 essays and 163 photos. He said he was captivated by the essays that also provided a useful snapshot of the values of the community.

"Among the themes most often mentioned were the many freedoms we enjoy, the international flavour of our community, respect for people of different nationalities, or for those who hold different beliefs, and the perseverance of our people to overcome difficulties, as was seen during the SARS outbreak in 2003," he said.

"It is heartening, and heart warming, to see that these values are considered to be part of what makes us tick, that people identify freedom, plurality, tolerance and tenacity as part of the essence that makes Hong Kong our home, as well as a world city."

Contrasts & quirkiness

Mr Tsang said the photos submitted reflected the contrasts and quirkiness that could be found on every street corner - from trams to the Star Ferry; from modern architecture to Chinese heritage and culture.

"What was evident in nearly all the photos was that photographers tried very hard to be innovative in their composition and framing - they tried to make the familiar look new, or to make those viewing the photos stop and think about why it was taken in such a way," he said.

Mr Tsang said the main thing that impressed him about all the entries is that everyone who took part obviously put a lot of time and effort into trying to define what makes Hong Kong such a great city.

"As I have said on many occasions, the beating heart of our city is most definitely our people - people like you who make Hong Kong Asia's world city - your city, my city, our city."

All winners

The winners and runners up received $7,000, $3,500 and $1,750 in the Open category; $5,000, $2,500 and $1,250 in the Youth category; and $3,000, $1,500 and $750 in the Junior category.

The winners and runners up in the essay competition are:

* Junior: Winner Olivia Cheung, 1st runner up Jamilla Li, 2nd runner up Thashbeeh Moosah;

* Youth: Winner Thomas Belfer, 1st runner up Wong Yung-tsz, 2nd runner up Kelvin Ho;

* Open: Winner Lai Pui-lim, 1st runner up Aster Elms, 2nd runner up Cecile Gamst Berg.

The winners and runners up in the photo competition are:

* Junior: Sunny Yip, 1st runner up Elaine Li, 2nd runner up Lee Lok-him;

* Youth: Winner Chu Lai-jing, 1st runner up Brian Li, 2nd runner up Yau Kwan-chiu;

* Open: Winner Mark Parsons, 1st runner up Chow Kai-tik, 2nd runner up Ginger Richardson.

Click here for the winning entries.