Year 1956 - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award was born out of HRH The Prince Philip's concern for young people and the future society. He felt that young people needed incentive to direct their energy towards a worthwhile goal. Under the joint effort and guidance of Prince Philip, Dr. Kurt Hahn, a famous educationalist, and Lord Hunt, leader of the first team to conquer Mount Everest , the Scheme was formally announced on 22 February, 1956.


Year 1961 - In 1961, Mr. George Stokes was sent by the British Welfare Council to develop youth activities in Hong Kong . He then introduced the Scheme here. As in the UK , the Scheme was available to boys only.


Year 1963 - Girls were not accepted until 1963. In the same year, the first male Gold Award holder in Hong Kong received his Award.


Year 1966 - The first female Gold Award holder got hers in 1966.

Year 1968 - Boys' and a Girls' Sections merged. The Scheme was first administered through a Boys' and a Girls' Sections. These two merged to form a joint Operating Authority in 1968.

Year 1969 - The Scout Association of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Girl Guides Association joined as Operating Authorities. Since then, more and more organizations followed suit.

Year 1973 - In December, 1973, the DEA Headquarters in Homantin opened.

Year 1980 - The Scheme also encouraged handicapped participation. The first physically handicapped Gold Award holder received his Award in 1980.


Year 1983 - In the early 60's, the British Forces leased to the Scheme a camp which was named the Stokes Camp. It was renamed The Duke of Edinburgh Training Camp in 1983.


Year 1986 - The camp was later demolished and the new one in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, opened in November, 1986. The Award Committee was renamed the Hong Kong Award Council 1986 marked the 25th Anniversary of the Scheme in Hong Kong. In this year, the Scheme was registered under the Companies Ordinance with limited liability. The Award Committee was renamed the Hong Kong Award Council and the members are appointed by the Governor.


Year 1988 - The DEA Headquarter moved to Cheung Sha Wan in November, 1988.


Year 1991 - In 1991, the Scheme in Hong Kong celebrated its 30th Anniversary and hosted the Fourth International Award Forum. 140 delegates from 54 Award countries attended the Forum which was chaired by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh himself and attended by HRH The Prince Edward as well.


Year 1993 - In 1993, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Water Sports Centre in Sai Kung was inaugurated which has now become a training base for all members.


Year 1994 - In December, 1994, the N.T. Award Centre in Tai Po commenced service.


Year 1997 - On 1 April, 1997 , the Award was renamed as "The Hong Kong Award for Young People". This change marks another milestone in the flourishing development of the Award with its roots reaching out over the territory for the past 35 years.


Year 1999 - In June, 1999, the Award Office was renovated.

Year 2000 - In August 2000, the Scheme co-organized the "H.K. - Guangdong Canoeing Challenge Trip" with the Hong Kong United Youth Association. It was the first ever canoe team paddling from Hong Kong to a mainland city, thus making a new record in the watersport history in Hong Kong.

In November, Mr. Ronald Arculli, our Council Chairman, succeeded HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to be the Chairman of The International Award Association.


Year 2005 - In September 2005, The HK Award hosted the 11th International Gold Event. A total of 73 Gold Award holders from 31 countries/cities participated in a 16-day training/exchange programme in which the three major global issues, namely alleviation of poverty, control of HIV/AIDS and environmental conservation were dealt with.


Year 2006 - The Award celebrated her 45th Anniversary. In January 2007, the first ever 24-hour cross-country navigation in Hong Kong, Rogaine 24 was held.

Now - Currently, there are more than 120 countries or cities operating the Scheme with totally over 650,000 youth participants. In HK, there were 55,361 participants in 17 registered Operating Authorities running 475 Operating Units as on 30 September 2007. Since its inception, the HK Award records a total of 2,677 Gold Award, 17,889 Silver Award and 43,080 Bronze Award achievers up to 30 January 2008.