Hong Kong Hutchison Whampoa Limited ("HWL") announced here Thursday that the Group has committed for the second year a sponsorship of 2 million pounds for the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards.

HWL's sponsorship aims at providing more opportunities for highquality mainland and Hong Kong scholars to study science, technology, medicine, engineering and social sciences in top UK universities and encourages them to contribute to the community upon their return.

The Group's contribution to the awards scheme arose out of the visit to the Mainland and Hong Kong in 2003 by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in which Blair invited HWL Chairman Li Ka-shing to participate in the scheme.

HWL then contributed 2 million pounds in November 2003 which, together with the latest commitment, had taken the Group's total sponsorship to 4 million pounds. The total contribution made by the Group will fund 110 scholars' studies in the UK. The UK Government will also contribute the same amount as matching funds.

The first batch of 53 Hutchison scholars under the awards scheme have already started their doctoral studies at top-rated UK universities since last autumn.

Source: Xinhua