The Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival is one of Hong Kong's largest inter-school competitions, and is organized by the Hong Kong Schools and Music Association. Primary and secondary school students across Hong Kong deliver speeches in English and Chinese. The festival has been running for the past 58 years.
The following is a list of typical events (in English) each year:
| Event List |
|---|
| Solo Verse Speaking |
| Harmonic Choral Speaking (Open) |
| Choral Speaking (Non-Open) |
| Prose Speaking (Open) |
| Prose Reading (Non-Open) |
| Bible Reading |
| Public Speaking Solo |
| Public Speaking Team |
| Words and Movement |
| Thematic Group Speaking |
| Improvised Dramatic Scenes |
| Shakespeare Monologue |
| Solo Dramatic Performance |
| Dramatic Scenes |
| Dramatic Duologue |
| Rehearsed Original Scene |
Students can place 1st, 2nd, 3rd or receive certificates in Honours (90 marks or over), Merit (80 - 89 marks) and Proficiency (75 - 79 marks). Most schools in Hong Kong recognize this event to be one of the most important accolades that a student can receive and it is often mentioned in most schools list of achievements.
The Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival is known as one of the prime events in which primary through secondary school students have the chance to challenge themselves in spoken English. Schools see first hand the confidence gained and improvement in their students English through their participation in the event.
Famous quotes containing the words schools, speech and/or festival:
“The schools begin with what they call the elements, and where do they end?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Nixon is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump for a speech on conservation.”
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965)
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the festival of unleavened bread, at the festival of weeks, and at the festival of booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed; all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 16:16,17.