For Anton Au-yeung, a 17-year-old Form Six student at St Paul’s College, his passion for debate began when he was in Form Four.
Since then, he has been deeply involved in the debating world, not just as a competitor but also as an organiser for Cantonese debate matches with the Hong Kong Schools Debate Federation.
He is now the reigning champion of the 4th Hong Kong Schools Debating Competition, having claimed the title in the 2022-23 academic year. Anton shared his most challenging experience during the quarterfinals of the competition.
“The topic of the match was a government policy called the Better Future Bill, which included many different policies,” he explained.
“The match was particularly broad and involved many different areas, making the research process quite challenging.”
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His preparation routine for these debates can be intense. “We receive the topic about a week before the match. Then we immediately schedule meetings with our coach and teammates, essentially creating a weekly plan,” Anton said.
Each day is meticulously planned to manage the limited research and strategy development time.
Anton also reflected on the emotional challenges he faced, particularly after a significant loss in another competition.
“A few months earlier, I lost a very important match, and ever since then, I had been doubting myself,” he revealed.
Before the quarterfinals, Anton was so nervous that he couldn’t sleep and had to call his coach for reassurance. His coach reminded him that “the first step for any debater to move forward is to be willing to continue believing in themselves after failure.” This encouragement helped Anton regain his confidence, allowing him to perform well in the semifinals.
In addition to his involvement in debate, Anton is a strong advocate for the preservation of Cantonese in Hong Kong. He shared his concerns about how globalisation is impacting young people’s connection to the language.
“Some of my classmates went to international schools, and when we met up, I noticed that many Cantonese terms weren’t familiar to them anymore,” Anton said.
He recounted how he observed a shift in language use among his friends. “Even though they had lived in Hong Kong for a long time before leaving, after coming back from abroad, they almost exclusively communicated in English.”
To combat this trend, Anton has been promoting the integration of Cantonese into extracurricular activities like debate and public speaking. He believes this approach makes learning the language more engaging.
“If I just tell someone, ‘Let’s learn Cantonese together,’ it might not spark much interest. But introducing elements like debate, which require quick thinking, strong reasoning, and broad knowledge, becomes more appealing.”
He mentioned that students unknowingly improve their Cantonese skills through debating while focusing on argumentation and public speaking.
Anton’s dedication to promoting Cantonese was further recognised when he won first place in the Linguist (Cantonese) category at this year’s Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
This prestigious award acknowledges his efforts in advocating for the language and his commitment to preserving Cantonese as part of Hong Kong’s cultural identity.
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Anton has also been involved in the Hong Kong Schools Debate Federation, where he helps organise Cantonese debate competitions. His role as a competition chair and timekeeper has given him valuable insights.
“When you step back and take on the neutral role of chair, you begin to notice that both sides have valid points,” he explained. This perspective has taught him the importance of listening carefully and not being overly attached to one point of view.
Looking ahead, Anton plans to continue his involvement in debate as he heads to university, where he aspires to become a barrister.
“I hope to keep helping the Hong Kong Schools Debating Federation organise different competitions and coach younger students,” he said.
For Anton, debate is more than just a school activity; it’s a way to promote critical thinking and preserve Cantonese culture. “Cantonese is a crucial part of Hongkonger identity, and I believe we have a responsibility to protect it,” he said.
