The HKFYG English Public Speaking Contest 2025 concludes successfully
With courageous steps forward, growth begins its remarkable journey. Heart-spoken words from the exceptional champions of The HKFYG English Public Speaking Contest 2025 have illuminated the boundless potential that lies within perseverance and visionary thinking.
The Contest attracted over 1,800 talented students from more than 200 schools. At the Grand Finals and Awards Ceremony held on 29 March, TANG Yuen Lok Ryan from Chinese International School and TAI Ka Ho from HKMA David Li Kwok Po College emerged as champions in the Junior and Senior Divisions, respectively. The Senior Division Champion also earned the honour of representing Hong Kong to compete in the International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) in London.
Junior Division Champion TANG Yuen Lok Ryan expressed gratitude for the invaluable opportunity and thanked the judges, audience and fellow contestants for their support. Crediting his achievement to hard work and dedication, he also attributed his success to “bringing it out” to an audience through emceeing and other public speaking opportunities. During preparation, for instance, he rehearsed speeches in front of family, friends and mentors to gather their feedback and refine his delivery.
Senior Division Champion Tai Ka Ho, after being crowned champion, highlighted the importance of pursuing goals with grit. He explained that true grit is not momentary effort but sustained perseverance. He also encouraged fellow participants to embrace the journey while striving towards their goals.
A notable addition to this year’s Contest was the use of AI-powered tools to provide personalized feedback to contestants’ video entries on demand, elevating the learning experience. To encourage contestants to break their limits and push their boundaries, this year’s Contest also introduced mentor groups led by past winners and HKFYG alumni, who dedicatedly trained 100 contestants to compete for the three places in the Best Progress Award. The Award ultimately went to CHENG Cheuk Nam from Ying Wa Girls’ School, LAM Ling Chin Annabelle from HKCCCU Logos Academy and LI Haoxuan Harry from King George V School – a true testament to their dedication to self-improvement.
Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of the HKFYG, expressed delight at the record-breaking participation in the 22nd edition of the Contest. She extended her gratitude to the co-organiser, the English-Speaking Union (Hong Kong), for its longstanding collaboration, and to the 17 supporting organisations, teachers, parents and volunteers, whose unwavering support helped nurture courageous and visionary future leaders. She hoped that ongoing training in English public speaking would empower young people to strengthen their competence, confidence and leadership capabilities.
Leading the panel of adjudicators in the final round was Madam Justice Esther TOH, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. Accompanying her were Margaret LEUNG, Chairperson, the English-Speaking Union (Hong Kong); Dr Jose LAI, Director, English Language Teaching Unit, the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Emily TSANG, Editor, Young Post, South China Morning Post; Andrea HALES, Director English, the British Council Hong Kong; and Eugene LIU, Honorary Treasurer, the HKFYG. Esther SEAH, Consul (Admin & Consular), the Singapore Consulate-General in Hong Kong, served as the Question Master, challenging contestants with real-time questions to test their spontaneity.
The HKFYG English Public Speaking Contest 2025 is organised by The HKFYG Leadership Institute and co-organised by the English-Speaking Union (Hong Kong). After three rigorous rounds of judging, a total of ten students from the Junior and Senior Divisions advanced to the Final Round. At this stage, each contestant delivered a three-minute speech on a designated topic, followed by a spontaneous Q&A session. The Junior Division explored “the most pressing change Hong Kong’s education system needs to help youth thrive in 2030,” while the Senior Division reflected on Aristotle’s famous saying, “knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
About The HKFYG Leadership Institute
The HKFYG Leadership Institute is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of young talent. Since 2000, it has trained over 200,000 young leaders through a variety of training and exchange programmes. Housed in the historic former Fanling Magistracy, the Institute blends neoclassical architecture with modern technology to provide immersive learning experiences. Its structured training pathway prepares primary, secondary and tertiary students as well as young professionals to become Sustainable, Servant, Resilient and Respectful Leaders. By empowering young people to serve as leaders of the future, the Institute trusts in them to “make wonders” locally, nationally and globally. For details, please visit leadershipinstitute.hk.