Chief Executive of Hong Kong John Lee Ka-chiu (third from right) and Liu Guangyuan (third from left), commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on Friday present the awards to students of the Yan Chai Hospital Wong Wha San Secondary School for their excellent performance in the Hong Kong Cup Diplomatic Knowledge Contest. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Eight Hong Kong schools stood out in this year’s Hong Kong Cup Diplomatic Knowledge Contest, which was held to boost local teenagers’ understanding of the nation’s diplomatic policies and the “one country, two systems” principle.
A celebration event marking Hong Kong’s 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, the competition attracted more than 47,000 students from over 230 schools this year — a record compared to previous years’ contests.
Noting that Hong Kong’s integration into the nation’s overall development will help the city develop better, Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, urged young people in Hong Kong to proactively shoulder their responsibilities to make a greater contribution
Officiating the awards ceremony for the competition on Friday, Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, said this year marks a special turning point for Hong Kong.
He said it is of great significance to be able to review the success of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong over the past 25 years, and that the city can look forward to greater diplomatic achievements with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Referring to the July 1 speech of President Xi Jinping delivered in Hong Kong, Liu said that it not only pointed the way for Hong Kong’s future development, but also showed the extent of the central government’s care for Hong Kong’s youth, as the president emphasized the important role of young people in shaping the city’s bright future.
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With the support of the central government, the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is continuously leveraging its strength, providing broader opportunities and spaces for the development of Hong Kong’s youth, Liu said.
Noting that Hong Kong’s integration into the nation’s overall development will help the city develop better, Liu urged young people in Hong Kong to proactively shoulder their responsibilities to make a greater contribution.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the competition is meaningful as it helps Hong Kong youth understand more about the nation’s development and diplomatic achievements.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said THE Hong Kong Cup Diplomatic Knowledge Contest is meaningful as it helps Hong Kong youth understand more about the nation’s development and diplomatic achievements
Lee said the SAR government will also make full use of online channels to tell good stories about the nation and Hong Kong.
Lee encouraged young people to enhance their diplomatic knowledge and sense of national identity by following various channels, such as the news conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and activities of the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR and its social media.
Regarding his first policy address in October, Lee called on youngsters and the education sector to express their views on the blueprint, especially on youth development and education, to help construct a new chapter for young people in Hong Kong.
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Yu Shuk-yi, a 16-year-old student from Yan Chai Hospital Wong Wha San Secondary School — one of the award-winning schools — said the competition has equipped her with a better understanding of the nation’s diplomacy, and has enabled her to learn more about the nation’s history and culture and the practice of “one country, two systems”.