Marymount Secondary School and Maryknoll Convent School claim titles in HKBA debate competition

The annual inter-school debate competition hosted by the Hong Kong Bar Association concluded with its thrilling finals on Saturday at the High Court, where Marymount Secondary School and Maryknoll Convent School (Secondary Section) were crowned champions of the Chinese and English divisions, respectively.

Senior Counsel Sit Yat-wah, vice chairman of the Bar Association, highlighted the event's importance in fostering future legal talent, noting that the debate topics, which are based on current affairs and complex legal principles, are designed to prompt students to consider legal issues from various angles. 

Sit expressed hopes that through research and critical analysis, the competition would enhance students' understanding of the rule of law.

Debating collective litigation: a hot-button issue

The competition's motion for both divisions was centered on whether "Hong Kong should adopt a mechanism for class actions."

In the Chinese final, Marymount Secondary School competed against Wa Ying College. The judging panel included High Court Judges Tsui Wan-wah and Lam Chin-ching, along with Bar Council member and Senior Counsel Jonathan Chang.

The English final featured a contest between St. Paul’s Co-educational College and Maryknoll Convent School. The judges for this round were High Court Judge Amanda Woodcock, District Court Judge Liza Cruden, and Vice Chairman Sit Yat-wah.

Sit commended the finalists for their composure and analytical rigor, mentioning that despite the contentious nature of class-action mechanisms, the students managed to present well-structured arguments that included real-life examples and demonstrated confidence, qualities that are essential for future barristers.

Chang, who is also the Chair of the Hong Kong Advocacy Training Council, emphasized that advocacy is a fundamental skill for barristers, involving assisting the court by providing fair and precise representation. Both he and Sit encouraged the participants to consider a career in the legal field.

Crowning the champions

After four intense rounds involving 32 schools, Marymount and Maryknoll emerged victorious in their respective divisions. Wa Ying College and St. Paul’s Co-ed were recognized with “Best Debater” honors.

Felix Tang, chairman of the Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Young Barristers, commented on the competition's increasing popularity and announced plans for further initiatives to promote legal education. 

He also revealed that the third annual international conference, scheduled for later this year, will bring together legal professionals from various jurisdictions to share knowledge.