Press Release

(Hong Kong - 28 August 2025) The Hong Kong Gifted Education Academy (HKAGE) and the Institute of Hong Kong Underwater Archaeology Research (IHKUAR) officially signed a framework agreement yesterday (27 August), heralding a new chapter in their collaboration on gifted education in the field of underwater archaeology. This partnership seeks to combine the strengths of both organisations in educational resources and archaeological research to cultivate gifted students' awareness of underwater cultural heritage preservation and to inspire a strong sense of mission toward its protection. 

Dr Jimmy Wong, Executive Director of the HKAGE, and Mr Tseung Pak Long, Chairman of IHKUAR, formalised the partnership by signing the agreement during the ceremony. In his speech, Dr Wong reflected on the foundation of the collaboration, stating: "Since 2023, IHKUAR has organised a series of talks and programmes on underwater archaeology for the HKAGE, integrating science and technology with humanities knowledge and profoundly expanding our students' horizons. 

“With today's collaboration agreement,” he continued, “the gifted students will gain more opportunities to develop interdisciplinary thinking while exploring cutting-edge deep-sea technology. This initiative will instil a sense of responsibility for the preservation of civilisation among our students, aligning with HKAGE's core mission of nurturing gifted talent who are committed to contributing to the community."

Mr Tseung Pak Long, Chairman of IHKUAR, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration: "Underwater archaeology is a crucial method for studying the ancient Maritime Silk Road. It helps us uncover the lifestyles of our ancestors, such as the history, cultural exchanges, and maritime trade of the past. Through co-organising underwater archaeology programmes with the HKAGE, we aim to foster students' informed understanding of archaeology, deepen their knowledge of the latest advancements in this specialised field, and offer an alternative to more conventional disciplines. Our hope is to attract more multi-disciplinary talent to this nationally prioritised profession."

Following the signing ceremony, the IHKUAR team conducted a special talk for the students. The talk was led by Mr Cui Yong, retired Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and leader of the Nanhai I Shipwreck excavation, who shared insights on how cutting-edge deep-sea detection technology is advancing the field of underwater archaeology. The event also featured the equipment including sonar detection devices and closed-circuit rebreathers. Building on the collaboration agreement, IHKUAR plans to introduce a series of underwater archaeology activities tailored to the interests of HKAGE student members. These initiatives aim to nurture a new generation of cultural heritage custodians who possess both scientific literacy and a humanistic perspective.

"This underwater archaeology talk was truly inspiring! Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of the practical knowledge involved in underwater archaeological excavations, but I also had the opportunity to interact with the equipment. This experience has sparked my desire to further explore the mysteries of underwater archaeology," said HUANG Ching Yau, an HKAGE member in Form 3, with great enthusiasm.

The HKAGE and IHKUAR sign a framework agreement, ushering in a new chapter of multi-disciplinary collaboration

A group photo of representatives from the HKAGE and IHKUAR, along with the attending gifted students

Dr Jimmy WONG, Executive Director of the HKAGE, says that the collaboration aligns with HKAGE's core mission of nurturing gifted talent who are committed to contributing to the community	Mr Tseung Pak Long, Chairman of IHKUAR, hopes to attract more multi-disciplinary talent to underwater archaeology, a nationally prioritised profession

The attending gifted students eagerly explore underwater archaeological detection equipment following the talk

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