Gordon Wu, the determined engineer who heads the Hopewell construction interests and whose toll roads and power plants have played an integral part in Asian economic growth, was named last night as Leader of the Year in the business/finance category at the Sing Tao Daily/The Standard annual award ceremony.

　Wu, at the age of 68, still looks ahead to the construction of such monumental projects as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge and hopes he can get it built before 2007.

　He faced widespread doubt in the 1980s when he set out on a mainland building spree that produced a series of power plants that began to produce energy in a record 22 months after building began.

　His 123-kilometre expressway from Shenzhen to Guangzhou, at first plagued by construction problems and sparse users, knifed through the heart of what would later become an urban, industrial powerhouse.

　''I don't give up easily,'' Wu says.

　He is now trying to gain approval for a HK$4 billion hotel project in Wan Chai. Wu, who became Sir Gordon when he was knighted in 1997 by Britain's Queen Elizabeth for his contributions to China's infrastructure, received the award from Financial Secretary Henry Tang.

　Sing Tao Newspaper Group chairman Charles Ho said: "We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our tribute to outstanding leaders from different industries in Hong Kong.

　"It is in particular worth mentioning that, amidst this critical period of time, the 2003 winners demonstrated high levels of perseverance, creativity and positive attitudes in the face of all odds.''

　Other winners are:
- Community/Public Affairs: The Sars team at Prince of Wales Hospital;
- Innovation/Technology: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong University;
- Education/Academic: Hu Shiu-ying;
- Sports/Culture/Entertainment: Lau Wai-keung, Mak Shiu-fai and Chong Man-keung.

　 The award winners are selected for achievement in their respective fields, their contributions towards Hong Kong's relationship-building and image promotion on the international stage.

　As well as Tang, presenters of the awards included Ronald Arculli, chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club; John Tsang, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology; Professor Ambrose YC King, Vice-Chancellor of Chinese University of Hong Kong; and recording artist and actor Andy Lau.

Clockwise from above left: Hopewell Holdings chairman Gordon Wu, left, receives the Business/Finance category award from Financial Secretary Henry Tang; Professors Sydney Chung, left, and Joseph Sung are applauded by Jockey Club chairman Ronald Arculli after they and the Prince of Wales Hospital Sars team win in the Community/Public Affairs category; Professor of the Department of Microbiology at Hong Kong University Yuen Kwok-yung, right, accepts the Innovation/Technology category award for his department from Secretary of Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang; Chinese University Honorary Professor of Chinese Medicine Hu Shiu-ying, right, receives the Education/Academic category award from Vice-Chancellor Ambrose King; and actor Andy Lau, left, who co-starred in the blockbuster movie Infernal Affairs, stands proud after presenting the Sports/Culture/Entertainment category award to the makers of the hit movie, screenwriter Chong Man-keung, second left, director-screenwriter Mak Shiu-fai and co-director Lau Wai-keung.