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Eyes locked. Lips pursed. Dora Li listened intently to the student presenting his argument. The moment he concluded, she raised her hand. “I have a question for you: How do you view the fact that many Americans don’t know who Trump and Harris are during the presidential election?”
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This was the final session of the Chamber Debate Club programme, which was organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) Leadership Institute, supported by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) and funded by the Language Fund, where high school students from some of Hong Kong’s local schools gathered at the historic Fanling Magistracy to put their skills to the test.
Over five lessons, they had absorbed insights from Dr. Brian Wong, an experienced debater and former coach of Eton College and the Oxford Union. Now, they were debating a compelling question: Should celebrities speak out on political issues?
According to Dora Li from Diocesan Girls’ School, her journey into the world of debates was no accident—but the experience surpassed her expectations.
“I’ve always been interested in debating, so when my school introduced this programme, I didn’t hesitate. It has a strong reputation,” Dora shares. “But honestly, the quality and the benefits I gained exceeded anything I could have imagined.”
Speaking in public is never easy, and Dora acknowledges that her biggest challenge was overcoming her lack of confidence and expressing herself constructively. “But I realised that this was a safe space—not just judges but peers evaluated us openly and constructively,” she says. This newfound confidence has inspired her to pursue other debate and public-speaking opportunities.
Cambria Chung, a student from HKTA Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School, echoes Dora’s sentiment. “I was really nervous at first, but Dr. Wong started the lessons with interactive activities, which helped a lot,” Cambria recalls, adding that she also learnt to approach debates with an open mind.
“You have to switch sides and avoid repeating points made by your teammates. It’s challenging, but thankfully, Dr. Wong gave us time to think critically. It’s not about personal preference—it’s about practicing and improving.”
According to Cambria, the first thrilling moment was realizing that she could truly understand and connect with herself.
Inside the conference room, words collided like an invisible battle—not of destruction, but of discovery and understanding. Dr. Wong emphasised independent thinking and critical listening, steering students away from manipulation and conformity.
For Dr. Wong, quick thinking and teamwork are paramount. Reflecting on the day, he shares an inspiring moment: “A two-member team, who lost a teammate at the last minute, stepped up to debate against a four-member team. They volunteered to speak again, showing incredible fortitude and teamwork. What more could you ask for from students their age?
“Courage, composure, and resilience—these are the qualities that will define their future,” Dr. Wong adds.
The Chamber Debate Club, established in 2021, has been serving as an government- funded English communication training initiative as part of the Gen-Z Communication Studio project, and has equipped over 2,500 young minds with effective communication, logical reasoning and empathetic leadership skills. Ready to be a confident communicator? Don’t hesitate to join our other programmes at the Studio for 2024/25!
Registration link:
https://leadershipinstitute.hk/event/gen-z-communication-studio
