But it has outgrown its original aim. It has become one of the highest awards a student can receive from their school in recognition of their performance. The annual prize is offered in nearly 1,700 schools around the world.

In Hong Kong, it is managed by the Harvard Club, made up of the university's graduates, and is open to all secondary schools, local and international.

The award has received the support of the Education and Manpower Bureau.

'We are looking for students in their second to last year of secondary education, who are outstanding in their studies and in other areas,' said Ken Lo and Xiao Yanming, co-presidents of the Harvard Club of Hong Kong.

'School principals and teachers are welcome to nominate recipients.

'The selection is the responsibility of each participating school.'

Schools may choose the prize from a list of 10 selected books. The runners-up may also receive a book.

All books have been published in Hong Kong and their authors are based here or are from here.

The books include The Feng Shui Detective's Casebook and Dear Eric Gets a Virus by Nury Vittachi, The Emperor's Old Clothes by South China Morning Post financial analyst Jake van der Kamp, Monday Redux by Robert Favole and Shouting at the Mountain by Elsie Tu.

Among the other titles are One Hand Two Fingers by Gavin Coates, Overleaf Hong Kong by Xu Xi, Gweilo Moments by Robin Minietta, Food Court by Timothy Kaiser and Poetry Live!, a collection of Hong Kong poetry aimed at local teenagers.

'The club feels honoured to be able to give a small award to Hong Kong's secondary school students,' said Lo and Xiao.

'We have some 200 members in Hong Kong and seek to represent the interests of the Harvard community here, which numbers more than 800, and to carry on a tradition that began in 1910 when the first book prize was awarded.'

For more information, contact Peter Gordon at 2511 4224.