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April 24, 2007, Hong Kong: In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Promotion of Mandarin Trust Foundation hosted a press conference today to introduce the 18 District Mandarin Contest celebrating Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland.
The Promotion of Mandarin Trust Foundation was founded by Dr. David Chu J.P., the Vice Chairman of CPPCC Subcommittee for Strategic Proposal, in the beginning of this year with a sum of HKD20 million. To remain a status in the international competition and the growth of China, it is essential to employ Mandarin well. Given the precious chance of celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR through various lively events and activities, the Foundation aims at encouraging people in Hong Kong to speak Mandarin more, and eventually raising the interest of learning the language among the public. The first event organized by the Foundation, the 18 District Mandarin Contest celebrating Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland, welcomes students in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, and the public to take part.
With the largest scale and longest duration in Hong Kong, the contest has already been recognized as one of the 10th anniversary celebrations by the Celebrations Coordination Office. Chief Executive Donald Tsang, and Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Gao Siren have both accepted the invitation to be the sponsors of the Foundation and the contest.
The press conference was hosted by Ng Chu Lien-Fan, BBS, JP, the Chairman of the contest organizing committee while Ken Chu, the Vice-Chairman confirmed in the press conference that the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Home Affairs Department are the co-organizers. On top of that, with the ambition of promoting Mandarin in the region, Mission Hills Golf Club, Hong Kong Commerce, Industry & Professionals Association, The Global Foundation of Distinguished Chinese Ltd., Happy Valley Athletic Association, Hong Kong Island Federation, Kowloon Federation of Associations, New Territories Association of Societies, Hong Kong Island School Heads Association, Kowloon Region School Heads Association, New Territories School Heads Association, and Hong Kong Kindergarten Association are all jointly organizing the contest.
The contest has two divisions, with three sub-divisions in the Student Division, and the Community Division welcomes people with different nationalities. The format of the Student Division is prose speaking of selected articles, and participants of the Community Division are required to perform a Mandarin song. The contest started in April and will last until July. It has been divided into three stages: qualifying rounds, finals in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories, and the grand final. The qualifying rounds have been taking place in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools until May 8. Community Division’s participants are required to post the recorded materials to any assigned registration centre. The finals will be held on or before June 10 and the qualifiers will participate in the grand final on July 29 at the Piazza, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. All stages have prizes of champions, first runner-ups, second runner-ups and consolation prizes. For more details, please visit: www.speakmandarin.org.
Dr David Chu JP, the President of the Promotion of Mandarin Trust Foundation said before the press conference, “Hong Kongers with fluent mandarin would not only maintain competitive advantage from international competitions, but also be able to grab the huge opportunity from the strong national growth and rapid growing economy in mainland China. Nowadays, more English speaking countries including UK and USA have incorporated Mandarin as second language reflect that better mandarin is crucial for success in global economy. Some 2400 high schools in USA have set up Chinese learning programmes with credits to be transferred into undergraduate study. After Hong Kong was returned to the Motherland for the 10th anniversary, cooperation between Hong Kong and China has been more intensive. I am determined to promote mandarin into a long term strategy. I hope the 18 District Mandarin Contest celebrating Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland will enhance the interests for Hong Kong people to learn mandarin.” |