Seagull Scholarship is formed by a group of like-minded, benevolent individuals, including Hong Kong entrepreneurs, business people, and members from various sectors of the society. The goal is to support students in need to complete their studies and realize their dreams.
Origin of Seagull
The “Hong Kong Seagull Scholarship” was founded in 1999 by Mr. Paul Lo, former Executive Vice President and current Executive Advisor of the Hong Kong Toys Manufacturers’ Association. The honorary head of the group is Mr. Li Chiyuan, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government. Seagull gathered a benevolent group of Hong Kong entrepreneurs and people from various sectors of society, with the aim of raising funds to support university students from underprivileged regions in Mainland China to complete their studies and become future talents of the nation.
Mr. Lo was inspired to found the scholarship group after participating in the Project Hope to support primary schools in Gansu in 1998. During a visit, he learned about a female student at Lanzhou University who fainted in class due to exhaustion. Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that the student came from a poor family and, in order to afford her tuition, had resorted to selling her blood. Deeply moved by her story, Mr. Lo resolved to return to Hong Kong and mobilize his network of the business community and other members of society to support university students in the impoverished northwest, helping them complete their higher education.
On February 17, 2012, the “Hong Kong Seagull Scholarship” was officially registered as a charitable organization in Hong Kong under the name “Hong Kong Seagull Scholarship Limited.”
Since Hong Kong Seagull Scholarship first flew to Lanzhou, Gansu to provide educational support in 1999, it has now entered its 25th Silver Jubilee year. Looking back to my first visit to Gansu 26 years ago, I saw from the plane countless barren mountains—such a shocking sight of the Loess Plateau! During the visit, I came to understand the poverty in Gansu and met many aspiring students who longed for opportunities to gain knowledge and change the fate of their hometowns.
Upon returning to Hong Kong, I immediately shared my experiences with friends, and received a strong response from entrepreneurs and people from all walks of life, all eager to contribute to the nation’s higher education. Even helping just one university student could raise the educational level of an entire village and begin to change its future, creating a virtuous cycle and bringing hope for a better life.
The scholarship was named “Seagull” to inspire students in impoverished regions to emulate the seagull’s spirit of fearlessness and resilience, persevering in pursuit of their dreams. At the same time, our charitable efforts are likened to “a spark of candlelight,” gathering brightness and warmth. We hope that students who have received support will, when able, also help others, passing on the candlelight so more students in need can complete their studies, and the spirit of the candlelight will burn eternally.
Over the past 24 years, the Seagull Scholarship has supported over 6,810 students, raising a total of 63.29 million RMB in sponsorships. These students have completed their university education, improving their family finances and raising the literacy and civilizational standards of their families, hometowns, and the nation. In the past two decades, as the country has moved toward rejuvenation, I believe the “little seagulls” have contributed their share!
The Seagull will continue to soar, my wish is to unite all the little seagulls to support each other, forming a big Seagull family that will continue to grow and thrive…
Paul Lo
Founding Chairman
October, 2024
Seagull’s Mission
Seagull’s mission is to bring together a group of like-minded philanthropists to provide financial support for students in need, supporting them to continue striving for their dreams and become pillars of society in the future. At the same time, we hope that these beneficiary students will pass on the torch of care in the future, benefiting more people in need.
The aspiration of Hong Kong Seagull Scholarship:
To provide support to aspiring and needy students in Mainland China.
To provide a platform for charitable people in Hong Kong to support these students.
The Hong Kong Seagull’s sponsorship program in Mainland China connects compassionate Hong Kong donors with needy students in Mainland China. Each year, the program arranges for donors to visit universities and meet the sponsored students, allowing them to provide not only financial support but also personal care and encouragement. Each visit also includes sightseeing activities, enabling donors to experience local cultures, deepen their understanding of the country’s history, culture, and landscapes, and foster a sense of national identity.
The Seagull Scholarship’s program in Mainland China has been implemented for many years, providing timely assistance to many students. At the same time, Seagull also cares about the needs of Hong Kong’s local youth. In recent years, it has actively supported and funded various youth development projects, including university student scholarships, holistic development programs for primary and secondary students, adaptation programs for newly arrived children, special education youth employment programs, and mobile toy library projects. Through these initiatives, Seagull hopes to support more young people spread their wings and soar.
Seagull's Principles
“Zero” Administration Cost:
Sponsors only need to pay the scholarship amount and their own travel expenses; there are no additional administrative charges. The operational costs of Seagull's scholarship activities are covered by annual fixed donations from the 26 members of the executive committee. Any surplus, bank interest, and other donations are used for other educational projects, with details discussed at annual executive meetings.
Encouraging Students for Self-empowerment:
Sponsors of Seagull on one hand supports needy university students through financial aids, on the other hand, we encourage students to develop self-empowerment mentality through helping others, earning academic scholarship via academic excellence, or take part-time jobs during holidays to supplement their income. They are also encouraged to participate in social welfare activities and support educational work in underprivileged regions, passing on the love.
Nurturing Talent:
In addition to providing financial and moral support, sponsors can also nurture talent for their own industries by selecting students in relevant fields. Mainland universities typically hold “student-career matching fairs” in the second semester of the third year (April to August), where graduating students and companies can find matches in job opportunities. Some students are able to secure suitable jobs as early as their third year. Sponsors may contact students during this period to recruit talent, creating a win-win situation.
Deepening Understanding of China:
Since Hong Kong's return in 1997, many Hong Kong people still have limited understanding of the Mainland. Seagull's sponsors not only come together for educational support but also take the opportunity to travel across the country, experiencing local customs, tasting regional cuisines, and enjoying the gorgeous attractions and landscapes of Mainland China. This allows the sponsors to finding joy while carrying out good deeds.
Gansu Provincial Caring for the Next Generation Foundation
2024Northwest Normal University (NWNU)
2024Chongqing University (CQU)
2023Zhejiang University (ZJU)
2022Ningxia Normal University
2021Zhejiang University (ZJU)
2020Northwest Normal University (NWNU)
2019Zhejiang University (ZJU)
2019Ningxia Normal University
2018Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics (IMUFE), Hohhot University for Nationalities
2017Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics (IMUFE), Hohhot University for Nationalities
2016Yunnan University (YNU)
2015Chongqing University (CQU)
2014Shanxi University (SXU)
2013Ningxia University (NXU), Ningxia Normal University
2012Qinghai University (QHU), Qinghai Normal University (QHNU), Qinghai Minzu University
2011Xinjiang University (XJU), Xinjiang Agricultural University (XJAU), Xinjiang Normal University (XJNU), Xinjiang Medical University (XJMU), Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics (XJUFE), Urumqi Vocational University
2010Xinjiang University (XJU), Xinjiang Agricultural University (XJAU), Xinjiang Normal University (XJNU), Urumqi Vocational University
2009Lanzhou University, Northwest Normal University (NWNU), Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Northwest Minzu University, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Gansu University of Political Science and Law
2008Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia Medical University
2007Guizhou University (GZU)
2006Xi’an University, Xidian University, Northwest University (NWU), Chang’an University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an University of Arts and Science
2005Lanzhou University, Northwest Normal University (NWNU), Lanzhou University of Technology, Gansu Agricultural University (GAU), Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou Medical College, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics, Gansu University of Political Science and Law
2004Xidian University
2003Lanzhou Medical College, Northwest Normal University (NWNU), Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics, Gansu University of Technology, Gansu University of Political Science and Law, Gansu Agricultural University
2000Lanzhou Medical College, Northwest Normal University (NWNU), Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics, Gansu University of Technology, Gansu University of Political Science and Law, Gansu Agricultural University
1999AGM
2024Visit the mock subdivided units
2024AGM
2023Two times visits at Josephine’s Kitchen
2023AGM
2022Mooncake and Giving to underprivileged newly-arrived students in The Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad No. 2 Primary School
2022Visit Christian Action for “Summer without Summer Holiday”
2022Visit Salesians of Don Bosco Ng Siu Mui Secondary School
2022Visit Hong Kong Metropolitan University
2022Visit Benji's Centre Ltd.
2021
