The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (3 May 2025) held the Grand Final cum Award Ceremony of the Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition. After 30 rounds of the tournament, which were held over the past two months, Heep Yunn School and Hong Kong University Graduate Association College entered the Grand Final. The two schools competed for the championship with a heated debate on the motion: “The advancement of technology is more beneficial than harmful in achieving an inclusive society”. Hong Kong University Graduate Association College took home the championship, while Heep Yunn School secured the first runner-up. Meanwhile Fanling Rhenish Church Secondary School and Tsung Tsin Christian Academy shared third place.

The EOC launched the Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition for the first time in December last year. The competition aims to provide opportunities for secondary school students to explore issues related to equal opportunities in Hong Kong, and to promote diversity and inclusion by raising public awareness of the anti-discrimination ordinances. The competition received positive responses from the education sector, attracting applications from 117 secondary schools with over 500 students. Thirty-two schools were selected through a draw, and 30 rounds of debate were held between February and April this year, focusing on motions related to equal opportunity issues. Heep Yunn School and Hong Kong University Graduate Association College eventually emerged as the finalists.

The Hon Ronny TONG Ka-wah, Non-Official Member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was the guest of honour at the Grand Final. He was joined by Prof Hon CHOW Man-kong, Chairman of the Panel on Education of the Legislative Council, Dr Rocky CHENG Chung-ngam, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Ms Linda LAM Mei-sau, EOC Chairperson, and Ms Queenie CHAN Lai-kwan, Member and Deputy Convenor of the Community Participation and Publicity Committee of the EOC, as the panel of judges of the Grand Final to select the champion of the inaugural Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-school Debate Competition.

In her remarks, Ms Lam said, “Promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion to young people has always been a priority for the EOC. Debate enables young students to learn how to ‘put themselves in other people’s shoes’ and examine various issues from multiple perspectives. By launching the inaugural Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition, the EOC hopes that young people will engage in discussions and reflections on equal opportunities issues through the participation and gain a deeper understanding of the value and importance of building an equal, diverse, and inclusive society. We also hope that they will challenge discriminatory attitudes, while supporting and upholding the values of diversity and inclusion in everyday life.”

In addition to the Grand Final of the debate competition, the EOC also organised a friendly debate match, the result of which was determined by an audience vote. The friendly match featured six students from four secondary schools that had applied to participate in the debate competition. Led by two radio hosts from Commercial Radio 1, the media partner of the competition, the students debated on the motion:  “It is outdated for women to dress up to impress those they like”. The match added a vibrant energy to the event. 

During the Award Ceremony, prizes were presented to the “Best Debater” of each preliminary round, along with trophies for the overall champion, first runner-up and third place winners. As there was no quarter-final competition, two secondary schools shared the third place. The highlights of the Grand Final of Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition will be broadcast on Commercial Radio 1 programme “School Net 334”, allowing the wider public to enjoy the exciting moments of the event.

This year’s Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition was made possible with the support of various parties. The EOC expresses its sincere gratitude to the judges of the Grand Final, the schools that provided venues for the tournament, as well as the teachers and debate team coaches who served as judges during the preliminary rounds. 

The EOC will continue to organise the Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition in the 2025/26 school year. Details will be released on the Competition’s website: https://www.eoc.org.hk/eodebate.

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The Equal Opportunities Commission today (3 May 2025) held the Grand Final cum Award Ceremony of the Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition. Two finalists, Hong Kong University Graduate Association College (left) and Heep Yunn School (right), competed for the championship with a heated debate on the motion: “The advancement of technology is more beneficial than harmful in achieving an inclusive society”.

The Hon Ronny TONG Ka-wah, Non-Official Member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (centre) presented a trophy to Hong Kong University Graduate Association College, champion of 2024-2025 Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition.

Ms Linda LAM Mei-sau, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (first left) presented a trophy to Heep Yunn School, first runner-up of 2024-2025 Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition.

The Hon Ronny TONG Ka-wah, Non-Official Member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Guest of Honour (centre), Prof Hon CHOW Man-kong, Chairman of the Panel on Education of the Legislative Council (first left), Dr Rocky CHENG Chung-ngam, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (first right), Ms Linda LAM Mei-sau, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (second left), and Ms Queenie CHAN Lai-kwan, Member and Deputy Convenor of the Community Participation and Publicity Committee of the Equal Opportunities Commission (second right), served as judges of the Grand Final of 2024-2025 Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition.

The Equal Opportunities Commission organised a friendly debate match at the event. Six students from four secondary schools debated on the motion: “It is outdated for women to dress up to impress those they like” under the guidance of two radio hosts from Commercial Radio 1, the media partner of the competition. The match added a vibrant energy to the event. 

Judges of the Grand Final of 2024-2025 Equal Opportunity Cup Inter-School Debate Competition, joined in a group photo with the management team of the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the champion, first runner-up and third place winners of the debate competition.