A bit more time for an argument could make a world of difference, said the adjudicator of an inter-school debating contest.
Dr Chan Wing-ming, head of the Department of Chinese at Baptist University, was speaking after the final round of the 12th New Territories Joint School Debate Competition, held recently.
'Three minutes is far from adequate,' Dr Chan said. 'A debater needs more time to state his points and develop them. If the time limit is too short, he will confine himself mostly to attack, and the whole debate will end up sounding like a bickering match, not an exchange of ideas.
'Of course, a bit of verbal sparring is part of the fun of a debate. But the art of debate is more than just hitting out at your opponent. It should be a civilised exchange of thoughts, a learning experience for both debaters and audience.' With a little more time the speakers can rise above the battle of words to reach a more inspiring plane of intellectual exchange, Dr Chan said.
The winning team, Immaculate Heart of Mary College, agreed with Dr Chan.
'A debate is not a game that you win with loud voices and aggressive faces,' said team captain Vivian Cheuk.
'There was a lot we could have had a hot argument about, but we didn't squabble. We listened closely to the other side's points and gave the appropriate answers.