The "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition (Hong Kong Region) awards ceremony 2022, one of China Daily’s efforts to foster better adoption of English skills, was held on August 21st at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. The honorable the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China John Lee Ka-chiu, attended the event as the guest of honor and delivered a speech.
Li said in the speech quoting President Xi Jinping, “Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive, Hong Kong will develop only when its young people achieve well rounded development, and Hong Kong will have a bright future only when its young people have good prospects. Young people are the future of society.”
He emphersized the importance of youth development and hoped the younger generation would give us good ideas of how to start a new chapter for Hong Kong together.
The honorable the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China John Lee Ka-chiu, attended the event as the guest of honor and delivered a speech.
“Through in-depth thinking and rational expression, the candidates have demonstrated the sense of responsibility of young people in the new era in building a better home and striving for Hong Kong’s brighter future,” said Mr. Zhou Li, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Group and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong Edition, in his welcome speech. “We look forward to seeing the competition playing a positive role in promoting English education, especially in helping Hong Kong students improve their communication, expression and speech skills.”
As one of the biggest and oldest English competition nationwide, the “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition attracted over 1,000 students from more than 100 schools in Hong Kong this year, and provided a platform for them to shine, to compete, and most importantly, to experience the fascination of cross-cultural exchanges.
Dr. Choi Yuk-lin, JP, Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, the Government of the HKSAR, took group photo with students from Art Mentor Show Choir.
The Finalist Awards, the Most Active Participation School Awards, the Best Impromptu Speaker Awards, the Best Manner Awards, and the Top 3 Awards for the champions, 1st runner-ups, and 2nd runner-ups, were awarded in the ceremony. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. The 12 winners will represent Hong Kong SAR in the National Grand Final, to be held in early October this year, to compete with the regional champions from more than 100 competition divisions nationwide.
And for the gifted young students who will represent Hong Kong in the national grand final , Li wishes them the best. “Whenever you can, do tell the good Hong Kong story and good story of one country two systems to the world. It is important to let the global community to know our achievements, and unique advantages for us to continue to shine as the Pearl of Orient.
The honorable the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China John Lee Ka-chiu took a group photo with Panda Chan, the mascot of VDO English.
MA Hiu Chun has been participating in the “21st Century Cup” English Speaking Competition for 4 years in a row since Form 2, and this year she won the championship for the first time.
“I was excited to know that I won the championship exactly on the day of Final,” said MA. “As one of the representatives from the Hong Kong Region, I once went to Chinese mainland to participate in the National Final, which lasted for 3 days then, and where I also got in contact with competitors from mainland. In my opinion, they had quite high a level of English proficiency, and could always come up with ideas that I would never thought of, which made me inspired. I will definitely get myself well prepared for the competition to be held in the coming October.”
MA Hiu Chun
“The competition opens the door of greater opportunity for children, through which they are able to embark on their journey to the outside world, and meet more people and appreciate cultures across the globe,” said WONG Mei-lan, mother of MA Hiu Chun. “The ‘21st Century Cup’ English Speaking Competition hoisted by China Daily is arguably the most professional among all others.”
Winners show their trophies.
“The ‘21st Century Cup’ English Speaking Competition offers students a great opportunity to improve their public speaking skills,” said Christina NG and Joanne WU, teachers from True Light Middle School of Hong Kong. “This is also an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their English proficiency through practice. Conceivably there are many obstacles along the way, but they will do better and be more confident as they practise over and over.”
Secretary for Education Dr. Choi Yuk-lin of HKSAR Government, Mr Cui Feng, Department of Youth Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr. Isaac C K Yeung, Head of Corporate ESG/Head of Corporate Affairs of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, Ms Irene Chan, Head of Public Affairs (Corporate & Charities Communications) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr. Lu Lo Kai Shui, Founder of Lu & Marisa Charitable Foundation, Mr. Marcus Wong, Founding Chairman of Fly High Foundation, Mr. Ivan Wong Chi-fai, Chief Executive of Ocean Park Cooperation, Dr. Allen Shi, BBS, MH, JP, President of The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Mrs. Margaret Leung, Chairman, English-Speaking Union (Hong Kong), and Mr. Yeung Ching-loong (HKUYA), Chairman of Hong Kong United Youth Association were present at the awards ceremony.
Group photo.
The list of Awards is as follows:
Primary School Category
Secondary School Category
University Category
About the “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition
Initiated by the China Daily Group in 1996, the “21st Century Cup” National English-Speaking Competition has been held for 26 times up to now, and it qualifies candidates in China to participate in the Finals of the Annual International Public Speaking Competition held by the English Speaking Union. The competition attracts millions of students from more than 10,000 schools each year, and there are over 100 competition regions, both online and offline, across the country. Contestants from the Hong Kong region made their debut in the competition in 2017. All previous competitions were supported by the Education Bureau of the HKSAR, the English-Speaking Union (Hong Kong), the British Council, the Hong Kong United Youth Association and other organizations.
More than 1,000 local schools in Hong Kong at primary, secondary and university level were invited to participate in the competition each year. Up to now, more than 260 schools and 2,000 students have participated in the contest. Winners will also represent Hong Kong to compete in the National Finals. In 2019 and 2020, two Hong Kong contestants were crowned national Champions of their category respectively.
