Hong Kong always makes it to the top 16 teams in the world for schools debating, and this year was no different. The team returned from the World Schools Debating Championships in Dundee, Scotland, last month as quarter-finalists.
The team got off to a rocky start at the competition, losing two out of the first four debates. But after an excursion to the Edinburgh arts festival, the team rallied and won all of the remaining preliminaries, ending up with six wins out of eight. The last win against Scotland was the most memorable.
Hong Kong eventually lost to Ireland in a debate about free immigration. Singapore beat Australia to take home the championship trophy.
The championships also offered the local team a taste of Scotland: bagpipes, kilts and haggis.
Team members were Ben Allen, Tiffany Chung, Pavan Hegde, Iris Zhang and captain James Lo. They were led by coach Greg Forse and Hong Kong Schools Debating Council chairman Michael Evershed.
