The Nesta-SCMP Debating Competition is on a summer break but local debaters are not taking any time off. They welcomed six Shanghai secondary schools to the Shanghai-Hong Kong Debating Competition 2011 last week.
Students took part in three days of competition at Hong Kong Baptist University, where they debated topics including social values, technology and the environment.
A pool of debaters from five local secondary schools was selected to form six teams to compete against the Shanghai schools.
The final was held on Saturday, with Hong Kong Team Six battling Shanghai Cao Yang No. 2 High School. The topic was 'Genetically modified products offer more benefits than drawbacks', with Hong Kong arguing in support of the statement.
Perry Bayer, a native English teacher (NET) from CCC Ming Kei College, Peter Broe, a project officer in the Education Bureau's NET section, and Thomas Liu, principal consultant of B&E Training Consultant Ltd, were the adjudicators. Bayer said the competition was a great opportunity for Hong Kong and Shanghai students to learn from each other.
'Internationalisation presents the future. Students from both sides have their own style and it will be beneficial for both sides to debate against each other,' he said.