JNA Awards honours Leung Sik Wah with “Lifetime Achievement Award”

The Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises Leung’s significant contributions to the gem and jewellery industry, will be presented at an awards ceremony and gala dinner scheduled for 12 September at The Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong. The second edition of the JNA Awards is led by Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Gubelin, Israel Diamond Institute, KARP Group, Robert Wan Tahiti and the Shanghai Diamond Exchange as Honoured Partners.

 

Letitia Chow, Chair of the JNA Awards judging panel, said: “We are honoured to confer the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on Mr. Leung Sik Wah. He is an industry luminary who has made significant contributions to the global gem and jewellery industry. The values he advocates reflect the same values that the JNA Awards represents. For decades, Mr. Leung has initiated and led various projects that promote unity, good business practices and integrity in the industry. He has also been instrumental in developing Hong Kong and Asia into a major jewellery trading and retailing hub.”

 

Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said: “While Mr Leung Sik Wah plays an instrumental role in promoting the gem and jewellery industry, he also contributes significantly to Hong Kong’s tourism industry. Through the years, Mr Leung has actively supported and acted as a sub-committee member of the HKTB’s Quality Tourism Services Scheme, offering us his expertise and wise counsel as we strive to elevate service standard in Hong Kong. The Lifetime Achievement Award presented by JNA is certainly well-deserved recognition of Mr Leung’s accomplishments and contributions to the local community.”

 

In 1985, Leung led diamantaires in Hong Kong in the establishment of the Hong Kong Diamond Bourse, which helped solidify Hong Kong’s position as one of the top five diamond trading centres in the world. He served as Chairman of the bourse from 1985 to 1991. Leung was also elected President of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China, where he currently holds the title Honorary Life President. He advocated the Diamond Federation’s Integrity Pledge Scheme, which promotes honesty, transparency and accountability in  the sale of diamonds and diamond jewellery.

 

As Chairman of the Hong Kong Jewellers’ & Goldsmiths’ Association – a position he has held since 1971 – Leung works closely with various government departments in developing trade-regulated, and ethical and good business practices to protect the interest of consumers. His accomplishments included the creation and implementation of the Gold Quality Mark in 1989 and the Fei Cui Quality Mark in 2007. Leung is also a renowned figure in the pearl trade, and was instrumental in bringing South Sea and Tahitian pearl auctions to Hong Kong.

 

“It is such an honour to be recognised as a contributor to the gem and jewellery industry. The award is not for me alone, but also for those who have dedicated their lives to the growth of the entire industry, and those who contributed their valuable ideas and helped me in the past,” Leung said. “This award affirms my strong belief that one must always do the right thing. In my own little way, I hope to serve as a role model for the younger generation. This just goes to show that integrity and hard work do pay off,” he said.

 

The JNA Awards recognises and honours excellence in the jewellery industry, with a focus on companies and individuals that have made significant contributions to the Asian gemstone and jewellery trade.

 

The awards ceremony and gala dinner, which will be held on the sidelines of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, is a ticketed event by application only. Interested parties may submit their request for gala dinner tickets by logging on to www.JNAawards.com.