Professor WONG (Professor Kwok-yin WONG, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Vice President (Education)), Professor CHUNG (Professor Chi-yung CHUNG, Head of Department and Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering), Professor HU (Professor Haibo HU, Programme Leader, BSc (Hons) in Information Security), Mr KONG (Mr Hopkins KONG, PolyU CTF Team Coach), Mr SO (Mr Franklin So, General Manager, South China Sales Region, Keysight Technologies), Dr WONG (Dr Barry WONG, General Manager, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia & Taiwan, Splunk Representatives), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is my great honour to join you all here today at the Prize Presentation Ceremony of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) x NuttyShell Cybersecurity Capture The Flag (CTF) 2024. This event serves as a remarkable platform to nurture and recognise the talents in the field of cyber security, showcasing the remarkable potential of our future cybersecurity professionals.

First and foremost, may I express my deepest thanks to PolyU and NuttyShell for their great commitment to cybersecurity education and for organising this exceptional event. Cybersecurity has become one of the most critical domains nowadays. The ever-increasing reliance on technology and the interconnectedness of our world have made it important for us to safeguard our digital assets and protect our society from cyber threats. The efforts of PolyU in providing a strong foundation for cybersecurity professionals in Hong Kong are truly commendable.

Secondly, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the participants who have demonstrated their exceptional skills, knowledge, and dedication throughout this competition. I am happy to know that the competition has attracted over 100 team applications. The response is a proof to the growing interest among our students towards cybersecurity.

Enlarging the Innovation & Technology (I&T) talent pool to create a strong impetus for growth is not only a strategic priority but also one of the four broad development directions in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint. In view of such keen demands for I&T talent in recent years, the Government has been actively promoting professional accreditation, encouraging institutions to offer more information security courses and organising activities for the youth in raising their interest. All these programmes aim to enhance the cyber security knowledge of the younger generation and kindle their interest in cybersecurity field, enhancing their digital skills and fostering innovative thinking.

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all guests, participants, and organisers for making this event possible. Hope this event serve as a catalyst for further collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in the field of cybersecurity. I wish everyone enjoy this event! Thank you.

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