If you are a parent or student in Hong Kong, you have likely heard of the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival. It is one of the territory’s most prestigious and largest extra-curricular events. This page will explain exactly what it is, why it matters, and how your child can be a part of it.
What is the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival?
The Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival is an annual, large-scale inter-school competition that provides a platform for students to showcase their talents in public speaking and performance . It is organized by the Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Association (HKSMSA), a non-profit organization founded in 1940
The festival has a long and rich history. The HKSMSA has been organizing both the Music Festival and the Speech Festival since 1949, making it a 75+ year tradition that is a major highlight on the local education sector’s calendar . It is open to all students, from kindergarten through to primary school, secondary school, and even post-secondary institute.
The Scale of the Event
The Speech Festival is a massive undertaking that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of students every year.
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High Participation: For the 76th festival (2024), nearly 146,000 students participated .
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Vast Number of Events: The association stages thousands of competitions across hundreds of classes. In a typical year, the Music and Speech Festivals together feature over 600 competition classes and stage around 4,000 performances at venues all over Hong Kong .
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Expert Adjudication: To ensure high standards, the association invites over 150 distinguished educators and speech experts from around the world to serve as adjudicators
The festival is not just about reading a poem. It offers a wide range of events to suit different interests and strengths, in English, Cantonese, and Putonghua . Events are typically divided by language, age, and form.
| English | 粵語 | 普通話 |
| Solo Verse Speaking | 詩詞獨誦 | 詩詞獨誦 |
| Solo Prose Speaking | 散文獨誦 | 散文獨誦 |
| Solo Prose Reading | 二人朗誦 | |
| News Feature Presentation | 說故事 | |
| Public Speaking | 幼兒獨誦 | |
| Solo Dramatic Performance | 歌詞朗誦 | |
| Shakespeare Monologue | 天主教經文朗誦 | |
| Dramatic Duologue | 基督教經文朗誦 | |
| 佛教詩文作品朗誦 | ||
| 道教詩文作品朗誦 |
How Are Students Marked and Rewarded?
Students do not just compete against each other; they are also marked against a standard. This means that in theory, every participant in a class could achieve a high grade.
Adjudicators award marks, and students receive a certificate based on their achievement :
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Honours: 90 marks or above
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Merit: 80 – 89 marks
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Proficiency: 75 – 79 marks
Within each class, the student with the highest marks may be awarded First, Second, or Third place. These accolades are highly sought after and are a source of great pride for students and schools
Why Participate? The Benefits for Your Child
Participating in the Speech Festival is a valuable experience that goes far beyond winning a trophy.
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Builds Confidence: Standing on stage and speaking clearly in front of an audience and an adjudicator is a fantastic way to build self-esteem and overcome the fear of public speaking .
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Improves Language Skills: The intensive preparation helps students refine their pronunciation, diction, intonation, and expression in English or Chinese.
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Enhances Personal Growth: The festival encourages students to push their boundaries and strive for excellence. Top performers may even have the chance to be awarded scholarships to participate in international events, broadening their horizons .
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University and Career Advantage: Universities and employers look for well-rounded individuals. Success in the Speech Festival demonstrates dedication, confidence, and sophisticated communication skills.