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What kind of a cosmopolitan city is Hong Kong in the eyes of Japanese university students? What are the charms of Hong Kong nature? And why would they choose Hong Kong for participating in the Working Holiday Scheme?
One may be able to find answers from the speeches delivered by the university students who took part in the finals of the "2010 Hong Kong Cup - All Japan University Students English Speech Contest" in Tokyo, Japan today (December 4).
Fifteen finalists from different parts of Japan articulated their views on the above topics in fluent English, competing for the four top prizes of the contest.
After keen competition, Miss Yukari Kayama of the International Christian University fetched the first prize, while the second and third prizes went to Miss Rena Isomura of the Keio University and Miss Sera Ganaha of the Kanazawa Medical University respectively. Mr Zhu Yuanzhe of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University won the "Fighting Spirit" prize which is awarded to the best performer among those who have not had the experience of studying or living abroad.
In addition to other prizes, the four winners will attend a two-week exchange programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong early next year to see for themselves the vitality, diversity and unique attributes of Hong Kong.
Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Mrs Jennie Chok said: "We are delighted that this speech contest is in its fourth year this year. A total of about 350 students have participated in this contest so far, sending in good and interesting essays about different aspects of Hong Kong."
"The purpose of the contest is to foster deeper understanding of Hong Kong among university students in this country, and thereby promote friendship and goodwill, as well as economic and cultural ties, between Hong Kong and Japan."
Speaking on the theme of "Why I would choose Hong Kong for participating in the Working Holiday Scheme", the champion, Miss Kayama, won the acclaim of the judges on both the content of the speech as well as her mastery of the English language.
Miss Kayama said participating in the contest had been a rewarding experience, and had enriched her knowledge about Hong Kong.
The 2010 Hong Kong Cup - All Japan University Students' English Speech Contest was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Daily Yomiuri in Japan.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology were the supporting organisations.
The panel of judges comprised Mrs Chok, Professor Phillip Brown of Gakushuin University; Mr Paul Allen, Head of Group Communications, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, and Mr Shinichi Hirano, Managing Editor of the Daily Yomiuri.
Ends/Saturday, December 4, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:57
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