The 17th Hong Kong Cup Diplomatic Knowledge Contest ended on Saturday, having attracted a record nearly 80,000 students from 289 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, who used the event to enhance their knowledge of the nation’s foreign policy and develop a global perspective.
Themed “Sensing Diplomacy, Bridging the World”, this year’s competition had primary and secondary school categories. The first part of the contest was held in April in the form of an online question-and-answer session, with students from Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Primary School, Ng Clan’s Association Tai Pak Memorial School and PLK Horizon East Primary School clinching the championship, first runner-up and second runner-up prizes in the primary-school category, respectively.
The top five teams that stood out in the secondary-school group advanced to the final held at Diocesan Girls’ School.
The final included two sessions — a “simulations” part that required contestants to respond as “diplomats” to specific thematic situations, such as China’s path to modernization and international geopolitics, and another requiring the contestants to answer a question from the judges, based on that subject.
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The 17th Hong Kong Cup Diplomatic Knowledge Contest ended on Saturday, having attracted a record nearly 80,000 students from 289 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, who used the event to enhance their knowledge of the nation’s foreign policy and develop a global perspective.
Themed “Sensing Diplomacy, Bridging the World”, this year’s competition had primary and secondary school categories. The first part of the contest was held in April in the form of an online question-and-answer session, with students from Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Primary School, Ng Clan’s Association Tai Pak Memorial School and PLK Horizon East Primary School clinching the championship, first runner-up and second runner-up prizes in the primary-school category, respectively.
The top five teams that stood out in the secondary-school group advanced to the final held at Diocesan Girls’ School.
The final included two sessions — a “simulations” part that required contestants to respond as “diplomats” to specific thematic situations, such as China’s path to modernization and international geopolitics, and another requiring the contestants to answer a question from the judges, based on that subject.
He said today’s world is mired in great changes not seen in a century, with growing unilateralism and protectionism, posing challenges to Hong Kong’s development.
Under the circumstances, Hong Kong’s youth should take up local responsibilities with a sense of patriotism in order to find the right direction amid global transformations, Cui said. “I believe young people can tell Hong Kong’s stories better than us,” he added.
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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said it was encouraging to see Hong Kong students becoming more interested in foreign affairs, and that he hoped that young people would cherish the hard-earned achievements of Hong Kong today, continually improve themselves, and become talented individuals capable of shouldering significant responsibility.
This year’s theme reflected a changing international environment that requires a deeper understanding of diplomacy, he said.
Mak Nga-hei, a student from the winning team in the secondary-school category, said the process of preparing for the contest had enabled her to gain a better understanding of diplomacy, and elevated her knowledge base.
Wang Yisheng, a participant from Liu Po Shan Memorial College, said he had learned more about recent diplomatic affairs through the contest, and acquired a deeper recognition of the country’s development.
Roy Chung Chi-ping, corporate sponsor of The Better Hong Kong Foundation — a co-organizer of the contest — told China Daily that all the participants had shown a high standard of performance and expressed in-depth content.
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He said he believes the contest has significant value as it can enhance students’ national consciousness and strengthen feelings of patriotism.
By knowing more about the country, they will naturally realize how it cares for its citizens, and learn about the motherland’s history, especially its transformation from an underdeveloped country to become the world’s second-largest economy, Chung said.
Launched in 2007, the competition is jointly organized by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, The Better Hong Kong Foundation and the SAR’s Education Bureau.
Contact the writer at: atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com
