Author: HKDSC Admin

Our highly-anticipated Junior Schools Debating Championships (JSDC), returning as an in-person event for the first time on 7-8th March, 2026, at French International School, is right around the corner! We are looking for passionate debaters who are interested in judging as independent adjudicators for the tournament!

(Please note that if you have registered a team in JSDC and are serving as a judge on behalf of your institution, you cannot register to be an IA.)

Eligibility: Secondary school graduates who have debate or judging experience, preferably in WSDC or similar formats.

Date: 7th March, 2026 08:00-18:00 (preliminary rounds); 8th March, 2026 09:15-15:30 (finals)

Venue: French International School (Tseung Kwan O Campus); 28 Tong Yin St, Tseung Kwan O

Remuneration: HKD100 per round for Chairs, HKD50 per round for Panelists. The AdjCore will assign chairs/panellists based on debating and judging achievements.

Link to the Team Registration Form: https://forms.gle/8YtGxVH3u7p64iTw9

If you have any inquiries, please contact us at info@hkdsc.org.

Thank you again to all participants for your enthusiastic participation in a day of rigorous trials on 9th November 2024; speaking and judging at all four (or even five) events from 8am to 5pm is no easy feat! We would also like to congratulate the top speakers from the WIDPSC Trials. The top 12 speakers are as follows:

1. Andrea Chow (RCHK)

2. Evan Chow (DBS)

3. Jean Hu (HKIS)

4. Advik Sharma (HKIS)

5. Marcus Lau (DBS)

6. Joy Wan (DGS)

7. Max Lee (DBS)

8. Lilly Larard (CIS)

9. Kaitlyn Liu (CIS)

10. Jun Nam (HKIS)

11. Chow Pak Kiu (SPCC)

12. Megan Wong (DGS)

And the two reserve breaking speakers:

13. Cynthia Or (SPCC)

14. Benjamin Wu (DBS)

We once again thank all judges, coaches, and student helpers – from SPCC, DBS, THS and DGS – who have given up their time selflessly and tirelessly such that this competition could be run smoothly and to such a high standard, and The Harbour School for lending us their grounds to run the Trials. We are grateful for your kind cooperation with us throughout the competition process and hope it was gratifying for all of you. These trials – and the continued success of public speaking in Hong Kong – could not be possible without you.

Looking forwards, we cannot wait to begin training with the team in preparation for WIDPSC 2025 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For selected and reserve members, please continue to check your emails for follow-up information and arrangements from the coaching team. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you at our future events!

Dear all,

HKPDS is a not-for-profit tournament and training workshop held annually to support the development of students in debate. Please see the following promotional message from our partner HKPDS regarding the opening of registration of trainees for the upcoming 20th Anniversary HKPDS Summer Workshop and Tournament.

For more information, please see the Facebook event link here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558666674203

Opening of Registration of Trainees for the 20th Anniversary HKPDS Summer Workshop & Tournament 2024

The Registration of Trainees today for the 20th Anniversary HKPDS Summer Workshop & Tournament 2024 from today till 6pm, 13th May 2024, Hong Kong Time, UTC + Eight.

Kindly note that this is an IN-PERSON, intensive BP debate summer camp with a 5-Day of BP Training Programme and a 3-Day Tournament at the end.

Please read the Event Information below before signing up as a Trainee. As we tend to be over-subscribed every year, please register as soon as you sure you could join us.

Event Information:

1. Dates: 4th to 11th August 2024 (Sunday to Sunday)
   
2. Training Venue: Hong Kong Metropolitan University (website: https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/)
   
3. Eligibility as Trainees:
   a) This event is mainly for secondary/high school students of between 13 to 18 years of age. If you are younger than 13, please tell us at the end of this Form where we ask “Anything else you would like us to know?”. Limited number of slots will be given to deserving university students. Please be honest with us when providing your personal information to us to assess your suitability to attend our event.
   b) As this is a Hong Kong debate event, we endeavour to have at least 40% of the trainees from Hong Kong as part of our mission to develop HK high school debate students, in addition to accepting overseas trainees who will add diversity, multiple perspectives and make the event as inclusive as possible.
   
4. Training and Tournament Processes:
   a) Trainees will be placed in different classes based on their prior debate competitive/workshop experience (Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced-Intermediate and Advanced) in groups of 16.
   b) Each Group will be taught by 2 Trainers or 1 Trainer and an Assistant Trainer. They will deliver lectures on debate theories, debate skills and debate content. They will also conduct debate practice rounds to continually assess, give feedback to the Trainees for the personal improvement of each debater. The training schedule is arduously rigorous, starting from 9am and ending at 7pm from Day 1 to Day 4. Day 5 is Electives Day where trainees could choose short one-hour courses offered by the Trainers.
   c) Demonstration Debates by the Trainers and Assistant Trainers will be staged for the benefit of the Trainees. A Special Guest Lecture will also be delivered by 2 Invited Speakers.
   d) As a tradition, there will be Public Speaking Competition for the Trainees
   e) Day 6 to Day 8 will be the Tournament where trainees will form BP teams and debate in 8 Preliminary Rounds over two days, before the Break Rounds on 11th August 2024 to reveal the Champions of the 20th Anniversary HKPDS Tournament 2024.
   
5. Training & Tournament Schedule:
   
   4th August, Sunday
   08:30 – 09:30 Registration of Participants
   09:30 – 10:00 Opening Ceremony/Speeches by President of HK Metropolitan University and President of the Hong Kong Finance Association/Briefing by Conveners/Introduction of Trainers
   10:00 – 10:30 Introduction to BP Debating/Keynote Speech by Assistant Professor Brian
   Wong, Hong Kong University
   10:30 – 11:45 Demonstration Debate 1
   11:45 – 13:30 Group Training (1)
   13:30 – 14:30 Lunch
   14:30 – 19:00 Group Training (2)
   
   5th August, Monday
   08:30 – 09:00 Announcements
   09:00 – 13:00 Group Training (3) 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
   14:00 – 19:00 Group Training (4)
   
   6th August, Tuesday
   08:30 – 09:00 Announcements
   09:00 – 12:00 Group Training (5)
   12:00 – 13:30 Demonstration Debate 2/Guest Lecture by Invited Speaker
   13:30 – 14:30 Lunch
   14:30 – 18:00 Group Training (6)
   18:00 – 19:30 Special Lecture by Assistant Professor Brian Wong of Hong Kong University and Dr William Wong, Senior Counsel, Des Voeux Chambers
   
   7th August, Wednesday
   08:30 – 09:00 Announcements
   09:00 – 13:00 Group Training (7)
   13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
   14:00 – 19:00 Group Training (Eight)
   19:00 – 19:45 Confirmation of Teams
   
   8th August, Thursday
   08:30 – 09:00 Announcements
   09:00 – 10:00 Elective 1
   10:00 – 11:00 Elective 2
   11:00 – 12:00 Elective 3
   12:00 – 13:00 Elective 4
   13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
   14:00 – 16:00 Pep Talk and Preparation for Mock Round
   16:00 – 19:00 Mock Round and Extensive Feedback by Trainers
   
   9th August, Friday
   08:30 – 09:00 Roll Call and Tournament Briefing
   09:00 – 11:00 Debate Round 1
   11:00 – 13:00 Debate Round 2
   13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
   14:00 – 16:15 Debate Round 3 + Break
   16:00 – 18:15 Debate Round 4 + Break
   18:15 – 19:15 Public Speaking Preliminary Rounds
   
   10th August, Saturday
   08:30 – 09:00 Roll Call and Tournament Briefing
   09:00 – 11:15 Debate Round 5 + Break
   11:15 – 13:15 Debate Round 6
   13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
   14:00 – 16:15 Debate Round 7 + Break
   16:15 – 18:00 Debate Round 8 (Silent)
   18:00 – 19:00 Public Speaking Semi Finals + Travel Arrangements for Break Night Dinner
   19:00 – 22:00 Break Announcements & Break Night Dinner
   
   11th August, Sunday
   08:30 – 09:00 Roll Call of Open Octo Finalists & Judges
   09:00 – 10:30 Open Octo Finals
   10:30 – 12:00 Open Quarter Finals/Junior Semi Finals
   12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
   13:00 – 15:00 Open Semi Finals/Junior Final
   15:00 – 16:00 Grand Final of Public Speaking
   16:00 – 17:30 HKPDS Cup Open Grand Final
   17:30 – 18:15 Award Presentation & Closing Ceremony
   19:30 – 22:00 Thank You Dinner for Trainers & Organisers
   
6. Two-Tier Registration Fees:
   There is a two-tier Registration Fee for Local Hong Kong students and Overseas Students:
   a) Registration Fee for Local Hong Kong Students: 2450HKD per person (excludes local transportation)
   b) Registration Fee for Overseas Students: 450USD per person (excludes hotel accommodation)
   The Registration Fees collected will go to paying for the air tickets, hotel accommodation, daily meals, local transportation, SIM card, Octopus subway cards of our Trainers and Assistant Trainers. The Registration Fees will also pay daily lunch of all participants, for the two social events, photo wall, banners, event gifts (tote bags/t-shirts), prizes for winners, e-certificates for all students and tokens of appreciation for the Trainers, Assistant Trainers, Organisers and Volunteers. Overseas trainees who choose to stay at the designated Event Hotel will be provided with free daily buses from/to Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
   
7. Non-Profit Event:
   No profit is made for the event. All the Trainers/Assistant Trainers/Organisers are performing their roles as selfless Volunteers who are compensated only for expenses required for them to be in Hong Kong to provide a free expert debate education service as a personal contribution to good debating and a personal sacrifice of time and effort.
   
8. Registration Deadline:
   Please fill in ALL the sections of this Registration Form for Trainees. The deadline for registration is 13th May 2024, 6pm, Hong Kong Time, UTC + Eight.
   
9. If you have a BP partner to form a team to debate at our Tournament from 9th to 11th August 2024, please ask that person to register as a trainee and BOTH of you should indicate that you wish to pair up with each other to debate as a BP team at our Tournament on the last 3 days of our event.
   
10. We will email you to confirm your slot and arrange for your payment of the registration fees on 20th May 2024.
    
11. Please write to Mr Loke Wing Fatt at this email address if you need more information and further clarifications: lokewingfatt@gmail.com
    
12. Registration Form for Trainees:
    To register as a Trainee, please click on the following link:
    
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAiC5T6uQrm5fFNoWPXRJ-dNcO9Ac5DiyJ1HwHtvBisUa1NQ/viewform
    
    Thank you.
    
    Loke Wing Fatt
    Executive Director
    20th Anniversary HKPDS Summer Workshop & Tournament 2024

Thank you to all who participated and adjudicated in Junior SDC 2024 on the 16th-17th of March! We hope the tournament was a fulfilling experience for everyone, and are delighted to publicly announce the final results of the tournament!

Firstly, the Top 10 Speakers, with ties at 4th and 7th place, are as follows:

1 Mollie Mei (HKIS)

2 Kai Kai Wu (HKIS)

3 Seungmin Kim (HKIS)

=4 Seung June Yoon (IS)

=4 Arryav Khaderia (HKIS MS)

6 Emi Venn (GSIS 2)

=7 Hayley Yuen (DGS1)

=7 Valmik Dangayach (GSIS 1)

9 Clarisse Poon (SPCC1)

10 Kelly Au (SPCC 2)

In addition, after a heated grand finals debate between HKIS and SPCC, HKIS emerged as Grand Champion, with the best Grand Finals speaker being Mollie Mei from HKIS. Congratulations to all prizewinners and to both the Grand Champion and Runner-Up!

All tabs and the break have been released publicly on our tab page:

https://jsdc2024.calicotab.com/jsdc2024

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who aided in the creation and operation of the tournament, be they debater, adjudicator, motions committee member, or orgcomm member. As cliched as it may be, none of it would have been possible without you. Junior SDC has always been one of the stages for young debating talent in Hong Kong to show themselves and flourish, and this year’s iteration was no different. Whether it be your first or last JSDC, we hope you got something out of it, and will use that to further your debate careers. With that, we hope to see everyone again soon!

The non-profit 19th HKPDS Summer Workshop and Tournament 2023 is back as an in-person event at the Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary from 13th to 19th August 2023. This event prioritises Hong Kong high school and university students and up to 40% of the estimated 120 places will be allotted at a discounted registration fee of HKD2350.

Besides being an established event founded in 2005 known for its educational value and efficiency, this year’s Trainers will include the first Asian World Champion of the Madrid World Universities Debating Championships 2023.

Register now as a trainee:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=123168377402114&id=100091268574707&mibextid=Nif5oz

@Loke Wing Fatt

Executive Director/Chief Trainer

@19th HKPDS Summer Workshop and Tournament 2023

Job Title: Secretary, Hong Kong Debate and Speech Community

Reports To: Chairman, Board of Directors

Job Overview: You will be responsible for managing communications and publicity for the HKDSC’s competitions and other events; monitoring emails and social media pages, and providing ad-hoc assistance in other areas when needed.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Managing sign-ups, draws and email communications with judges, speakers and coaches in the run-up and follow-up to 5-6 competitions throughout the academic year;
• Tracking payment information, handling receipts and invoices regarding registration fees;
• Writing and posting tournament updates for social media accounts and website;
• If possible, tabbing for certain tournaments when needed.

We are looking for a team member who has:

• Good understanding (and preferably at least some experience) of the debate and public speaking circuit in Hong Kong, including participation in or organization of tournaments
• A keen eye for detail
• Efficiency, self-motivation, enthusiasm and drive
• Good command of English, and ability to write in accessible language for social media
• Ability to navigate and manage online databases and information systems (e.g. Gmail, Google Drive, Facebook Suite, WordPress)
• Demonstrable commitment to meeting deadlines

Remuneration:

• HKD$150 / hour
• A tentative cap of 40 hours per month

To apply, please fill out this application form: https://forms.gle/BqHD8HdJcUa8QbmY7

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 AUGUST 2022 11:59PM HKT.

https://docs.google.com/…/1zwTdNdZRldQAnI0jFXpW…/edit…

FLASHPOINT 2022 SIGN UPS ARE OPEN!

Flashpoint is an annual debate workshop designed for up-and-coming secondary school debaters. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from and be coached by passionate and talented student debaters in Hong Kong!

We’ll be hosting the workshop over Zoom on July 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, and 29 from 3:30-6:00pm.

Registrations close on June 19th! Click here to sign up or learn more. 

Two Hong Kong teams were amongst the 140 that participated at the International World Schools Debate Tournament, Ljutomer. Alexandra Uy-Tioco, Jenny Kim, Nicole Wong, and Rachel Lang were the top ranked team after the preliminary rounds, and reached the Quarter Finals of the competition. Chloe Tse, Dhuv Leekha, Madeleine Wu, along with Navia Zhang and Yui Kurosawa, were the fifth ranked team after the preliminary rounds – and went on the win the competition.

Congratulations!

Happy Lunar New Year! Here is a friendly reminder that the JSDC 2022 registration deadline is 14 Feb 2022.

To register, please click on the following link:

https://forms.gle/EPWTr8sYr5LkCFQi8

For more information and any enquiries, please contact us at info@hkdsc.org. Thank you!

Dear Hong Kong Debating and Public Speaking Community,

We are delighted to announce that registration for Junior SDC 2022 is now open, kicking off a school year filled with some amazing debating and public speaking events. Here are the key details of the tournament and registration:

Team Registration Form: https://forms.gle/EPWTr8sYr5LkCFQi8 

Dates: 19 March 2022, 08:00 – 17:30 (preliminary rounds); 20 March 2022, 09:15 – 15:20 (break rounds)

Venue: Online.

Cost: HKD300 per team.

Eligibility: 3-5 members per team; Form 1-3 / Year 7-10 / Grade 6-9

Team cap: 32 teams (one team per school – second teams are not guaranteed; priority for second teams will go to previously underrepresented schools)

Format: WSDC – 6-minute main speech with points of information, 3-minute reply speeches

Adjudicators: Each team must provide at least one adjudicator; a second team must be accompanied by a second adjudicator

Draw: R1 random; R2-4 power-paired; QF-GF folded knockout draw

Awards: Top 10 Speaker Awards (debaters speaking in 3 or more preliminary rounds are eligible); Top 8 teams break to quarter-final

Registration Deadline: 14 February 2022.

Schedule:

Day 1

08:00 – 08:30               Registration and roll-call

08:30 – 09:00               Tournament briefing

09:00 – 10:10               Round 1 prepared debate + feedback

10:10 – 10:30               Break

10:30 – 11:00               Prep time for round 2 semi-prepared debate

11:00 – 12:10               Round 2 semi-prepared debate + feedback

12:10 – 13:00               Lunch break

13:00 – 13:30               Prep time for round 3 semi-prepared debate

13:30 – 14:40               Round 3 semi-prepared debate + feedback

14:40 – 15:00               Break

15:00 – 15:30               Prep time for round 4 impromptu debate

15:30 – 16:40               Round 4 impromptu debate (silent round)

16:40 – 17:00               Tabulation of results

17:00 – 17:30               Break announcement, prizes for top speakers

Day 2

09:15 – 09:45               Registration and roll-call

09:45 – 10:45               Quarter-final prepared debate

10:45 – 11:15               Announcement of QF results and feedback

11:15 – 12:00               Prep time for Semi-final impromptu debate

12:00 – 13:00               Semi-final impromptu debate

13:00 – 13:30               Announcement of SF results and feedback

13:30 – 14:00               Prep time for grand-final semi-prepared debate

14:00 – 14:50               Grand-final semi-prepared debate

14:50 – 15:20               Announcement of GF result and prize presentation