Guests and awards winners of the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region pose for a group photo at the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

The 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition drew a record number of more than 3,000 student participants in Hong Kong this year, and has been hailed as a great platform for young minds to express themselves, showcase their oral speaking prowess, and strengthen exchanges with other contestants across the nation.

The regional contest in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, organized by China Daily Hong Kong and its education arm VDO English, attracted contestants from over 200 kindergartens, as well as primary, secondary and tertiary education schools. Following a half-day finals competition on Saturday, dozens of students and several schools received prizes at the awards ceremony in the afternoon.

Among the winners, Jason Wong Tze-chun of The Chinese University of Hong Kong topped the university category and will represent Hong Kong in the National Grand Final.

Zhou Li (center, back row), deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, poses for a photo with champions of different categories of the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region at the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Hau Linus Carson from Learning Habitat Kindergarten; Ang Zi En Isabelle Grace from Singapore International School (Hong Kong); Katie Leung from G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College, Primary Section; Vijay Narayanan from ESF Island School; and Sham Pui Yan from Harrow International School Hong Kong were the champions in the kindergarten, primary and secondary schools categories, respectively. Other prizes included the Best Impromptu Award, Best Manner Award, Kindergarten Special Awards, Most Active Participation School Award, as well as prizes honoring the event's judges and sponsors. They will be able to participate in the Elite National English Speaking Exchange Program, in which they can witness the National Grand Final and learn from contestants from all over the country.

The contest covered a wide range of topics -- from personal reflections of their incredible growth, conceptual deliberations of civilization, to grounded discussions about hard-core artificial intelligence.

With the theme "Be Change-Makers for a Better Hong Kong", junior secondary school participants candidly and passionately delved into numerous areas they believed needed to be improved on to make this wonderful and beloved city a better place.

Guests attending the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region pose for a group photo at the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

This year's competition in the SAR saw the launch of a brand-new kindergarten category, drawing more than 100 junior orators, aged three to six, to display their passion and talent for public speaking.

For the first time, the international category in the national competition made its debut in Thailand and Myanmar, attracting hundreds of participants. A total of 40 overseas finalists will compete in the category's final grand to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in mid-August.

Contestants who have shown outstanding performance will be selected as anchors and junior reporters for China Daily Hong Kong Edition, contributing to the production of youth-oriented video programs.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki delivers a speech at the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki encouraged the winners to proactively communicate with brilliant young minds from across the Chinese mainland in the upcoming national-level English speaking contest. He said this will spark new ideas of telling good Hong Kong stories and obtaining a broader picture of the motherland’s development.

Chan said he believes the nationwide competitions and exchange programs could help Hong Kong students gain valuable experience in public speaking.

"They will meet other bright young people shaping the future of our motherland and have a welcome opportunity to tell the good stories of Hong Kong,” he said.

Chan also underscored the importance of Hong Kong youths unleashing their potential and broadening their horizons through various internship and exchange programs, saying the SAR government will offer them various opportunities.

Hong Kong's unique advantage is "one country, two systems", which brings a world of people and businesses alike together for mutually rewarding opportunities, Chan said. "It can only be realized through clear and compelling communication.”

Zhou Li, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, makes a speech at the awards ceremony of the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

In his welcome speech, Zhou Li, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, said China Daily aims to develop the Hong Kong branch of the English-speaking competition into a valuable opportunity for young Hong Kong people to communicate with their elite counterparts from every corner of the Asia-Pacific region.

"The participants have made their voices heard by peers, judges, parents, teachers and, hopefully, decision-makers and the wider world beyond," Zhou said.

Huang Jingrui, spokesperson and director-general of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, said he was impressed by the confident and fluent English speeches presented by the participants from diverse backgrounds.

He hopes to see more young people in Hong Kong tell the good stories of the city and the nation in English, and believes that the students who participated in the competition have great potential in this regard.

Huang said the SAR is also an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, with a variety of arts, culture, and exhibition events held in the city. He hopes Hong Kong can continue playing its role in this field.

The first runner-up winners of the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region pose for a photo at the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin told China Daily the English competition platform provides students with an opportunity to showcase their English language speaking abilities, promotes communication and interaction among students, and fosters an English learning atmosphere on campuses.

She hopes that more students will be inspired to take part in the competition in the future.

Alice Mak Mei-kuen, secretary for home and youth affairs, said extending the competition to kindergartens is a good attempt, as language skills need to be developed from an early age.

This year, the winners can also attend the exchange program to communicate with elite peers on the Chinese mainland, presenting a great opportunity for to understand the latest developments in the country, she said.

The second runner-up winners of the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region pose for a photo at the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Jason Wong, champion in the university category, said he enjoys taking part in public speaking competitions, but has been busy with public examinations for a whole year. Being able to write impromptu speeches again and communicate with the adjudicators has reignited his passion for public speaking, and his love for the genre.

Asked about the secret of his victory, Wong stressed that staying calm and being able to communicate with the adjudicators are quite important, adding that making eye contact with as many people as possible in the room helped him ease the stress.

Karen Tang Shuk-tak, one of the judges in the contest and also executive director of the Better Hong Kong Foundation, believes that the competition provides an excellent platform for equipping the younger generation with the skills to tell the stories of Hong Kong and the nation to the world.

She said many of the students had highlighted different perspectives on how to make Hong Kong a better place, involving social issues and environmental concerns. The younger generation does care deeply about the environment, which is vital as they’re the future of the country, and will live in the environment they’re helping to shape.

Carine Chau, mother of Linus Hau, who won in the kindergarten category, said her son enjoyed performing on stage, and had been encouraged by his teachers. This made her decide to allow him to join the competition.

"It's important for children to build up their confidence and speak in front of others. So, taking part in the contest a great experience for both Hau and me,” she said.

Chau also said introducing a kindergarten category was great because it provided an opportunity for young children to take to the stage. Hau will be eligible to participate in the junior primary category next year, which will be more challenging, but Chau said she’ll encourage her son to give it a try.

Guests attend the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition Hong Kong Region awards ceremony in Hong Kong on July 15, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Another parent said the contest is a very good way to help students strengthen their confidence and know where they stand. It’s quite tough for children to prepare their speeches, but they can learn a lot in the process, which will also benefit their future careers, the parent said.

Launched in 1996, the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition aims to enhance students’ English speaking abilities, cultivate their innovative spirit, and expand their international perspectives. Each year, the competition attracts more than two million participants from all over the country.

The competition, which debuted in Hong Kong in 2017, had attracted more than 10,000 students from over 350 local schools in the past six years. Winners in each category will represent Hong Kong in National Grand Final. Students from Hong Kong had won the national championship in both the junior and senior secondary school categories in the past.

Xi Tianqi and Li Xiaoyun contributed to this story.