Hong Kong students showed solid knowledge and confident demeanor at the 18th “Hong Kong Cup” Diplomatic Knowledge Contest on Saturday, with officials urging them to deepen their understanding of China and actively spread the nation’s voice on the world stage.
This year's contest, themed on youth’s role and their mission in the future of diplomacy, drew enthusiastic participation from more than 88,000 students of 295 primary and secondary schools in the special administrative region -- a record.
The secondary school division finals and awards ceremony were held in the afternoon.
The atmosphere at the finals, though tense, was lively as the five competing teams traded points in the quiz and scenario-based discussion rounds. Their solid knowledge, confidence and engaging delivery drew rounds of applause.
After intense competition, Fukien Secondary School captured the gold, Diocesan Girls' School and Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School took the silver, while Lui Ming Choi Lutheran College and the Hong Kong Management Association K S Lo College claimed the bronze. The best stage performance individual award was won by Diocesan Girls’ School.
Awards were also presented to the winners in the primary schools division, with Po Leung Kuk Horizon East Primary School taking the championship. The second and third places went to the Ng Clan’s Association Tai Pak Memorial School and Lui Cheung Kwong Lutheran Primary School, respectively.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, said that after 18 years of competition, students’ enthusiasm has grown year by year. He called the contest the “first step” for Hong Kong youth advancing to the global diplomatic stage, saying the central government will continue to support them in reaching broader global arenas, showcasing the spirit of Hong Kong’s young people and telling the city’s good stories.
He said Hong Kong youth are at the meeting point of Eastern and Western cultures, with a special edge of biliteracy and trilingualism. He urged them to remember their Chinese roots while cultivating an international vision, and bravely seizing the immense opportunities brought by the country’s development as they contribute to the SAR and the nation.
The nation's diplomacy needs the SAR’s youth, Cui said, adding he hopes to see “more and more bauhinia flowers -- the HKSAR’s city flower -- in full bloom” in international affairs and on the global platform where China’s voice is heard.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the students’ active participation and excellent performance demonstrated their passion for national diplomacy.
He noted the SAR has often been invited by the central authorities to represent the country at major international events, expecting the city’s youth to continue playing the role of a bridge between Chinese and Western civilizations in order to better support the nation’s opening-up.
Lee also urged students to integrate their competition experiences into daily learning, follow international affairs and national development, and explore how the SAR can better integrate into and serve the country’s overall development.
Launched in 2007, the competition is jointly organized by the Commissioner’s Office of the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, the SAR’s Education Bureau and the Better Hong Kong Foundation.
Jimmy Wong Ka-wing, head of civic education at Lui Ming Choi Lutheran College who accompanied his students to the competition, said he was happy with the performance of his team -- two Form 4 and Form 5 girls and one Form 2 boy.
Wong noted that both the quiz and the unprepared debate were highly challenging and the students had prepared thoroughly since the preliminary round in March. He added that such competitions are valuable for students’ personal growth, helping them to learn about diplomacy from an early age and better understand the nation’s role on the world stage.
Contact the writer at gangwen@chinadailyhk.com
