RTHK-SCMP Short Story Competition
The enthusiasm with which Hong Kongers embraced the first football World Cup to be held in Asia and a visit from her father inspired Stephanie Han to write the poignant story that won this year's RTHK/SCMP Short Story Competition.
Han, a 37-year-old Korean-American writer, moved to Hong Kong earlier this year from the United States, and starts as features editor of Hong Kong Tatler magazine next week.
She plans to use her prize of a one-on-one consultation with Pan Macmillan's London-based publishing director, Maria Rejt, to discuss a short fiction collection she has been working on for five years. 'I guess my fiction is finally moving along,' she says.
Han holds a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing and was once mentored by California-based author and former University of Hong Kong academic Shirley Lim.
The judges were unanimous in their decision. 'Sometimes you can tell from the opening sentences that someone is a born writer and can take you on any journey of character and imagination,' Rejt says. 'This story was of that calibre.'
Not far behind Han in second place was Karen Ashe, 35, with another story about football, and in third place Diana Kwok, 34. The three consolation prizes were awarded to Anthony Ferguson, J L F Ward and Danya Kabriel.
The winner in the junior section, open to those aged 12-17, was 16-year-old Andrew Leung. His story, which addresses the complex issue of euthanasia, will appear in these pages next week.
First runner-up was a previous junior winner, 17-year-old Divya Vaze, and second runner-up was Andrew Condon, 16. Consolation prizes went to Lana Huh, Jane Lo and Thanu Gunawarden.
