A Successful Student Competition Of Bridging Hong Kong And The Chinese Mainland For A Win-win Situation
作者： HON Tung Hiu 韓東曉（Life Fellow & HK Connector, Royal Society of Arts, UK; Distinguished Professor, Parul University, India; Councilor, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers; Lay Member, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel, HKSAR）
It is the 2nd year for the CaoCan Cup Recitation Competition to be held in Hong Kong and what is more is the grand finale of Cao Can Cup has been victoriously run at the Asia World-Expo in Hong Kong, featuring the outstanding performances among the students all over China and the organizers have demonstrated the excellent coordination with professionalism. This is one of the greatest examples of how cultural and educational events can kill not only two but three birds with one stone: to promote traditional Chinese literature, to foster educational integration between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland for mutual benefits and to promote Hong Kong as a tourist destination.
Background
CaoCan Cup was established in 2015 under the management of The Poetry Institute of China and other institutional bodies in Beijing, to promote public speaking, story- telling and recitation in various Chinese dialects for preserving and further developing Chinese traditional heritage and culture. In 2024, the organizer had welcomed the Hong Kong students to join the competition the first time, to appraise the regional participants in Hong Kong and welcomed them to take part in the grand finale in Beijing. With the assistance from Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, the Cao Can Cup management had decided to hold its grand finale in Hong Kong in 2025. The show was successfully completed with marvelous presentations that were particularly performed with students’ diligence and endeavor. Various major news media from Hong Kong and mainland, China have caught this overwhelming event in the spotlight.
The Show
As one of the judges in charge of both the Hong Kong regional round and the grand finale, I was amazed principally by the confidence and professionalism towards the preparation of make-up, costumes and props from most of the contestants. The dazzling faces, spectacular dresses and authentic theatrical properties together shined the stage. Meanwhile, notwithstanding the minor slips, most of the contestants could victoriously beat the odds to overcome their stage frights for a wonderful performance until the end. Comparing with the experience I have been through as a judge for the 21st Century Cup National English-Speaking Competition, I find both of the contestants are bona fide in pursuing their goals during the presentations and the difference in between is that the 21st Century Cup contestants focus more on professional public speech whereas Cao Can Cup participants concentrate a lot on stage performance. Indeed, both are appreciative and satisfactory in their own ways.
The Result
It has just been the second year but the popularity of CaoCan Cup is roaring. There were around eight hundred kindergarten, primary and secondary students in Hong Kong joining the competitions and about one thousand finalists all over China coming to Hong Kong at the end to compete for the best of the best. Parents and students were excited and enlightened with this unforgettable experience looking forward to return to Hong Kong in the near future. On the other hand, this year Cao Can Cup had as well invited regional awardees to visit Hainan, China to showcase their sophisticated skills before the grand finale where around twelve thousand awardees attended the stunning ceremony to exchange knowledge and technique with each other. Without a question, this successful event has not only vigorously promoted traditional Chinese value here in Hong Kong through cross-regional integration, but also stimulated the tourism industries bringing in prosperity in various locations, including Hong Kong.
Future perspectives
CaoCan Cup should be definitely further promoted in the upcoming years in Hong Kong. Both the Hong Kong government and educators ought to encourage our students to join and learn with others for discovering their own talents. By reviewing the impressive numbers of the entire participants (over one million per year) from all around China as well as the participants (about twelve thousand people) who have visited Hainan this year, if our administration is able to coordinate with numerous stakeholders in Hong Kong to accommodate the students and parents (close to half million people) annually, our local industries will be sufficiently supported and our economic growth will be more sustainable. The department concern should use this opportunity to manifest the optimal position for Hong Kong.
A Successful Student Competition Of Bridging Hong Kong And The Chinese Mainland For A Win-win Situation
Abstract
It is the 2nd year for the CaoCan Cup Recitation Competition to be held in Hong Kong and what is more is the grand finale of Cao Can Cup has been victoriously run at the Asia World-Expo in Hong Kong, featuring the outstanding performances among the students all over China and the organizers have demonstrated the excellent coordination with professionalism. This is one of the greatest examples of how cultural and educational events can kill not only two but three birds with one stone: to promote traditional Chinese literature, to foster educational integration between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland for mutual benefits and to promote Hong Kong as a tourist destination.
Background
CaoCan Cup was established in 2015 under the management of The Poetry Institute of China and other institutional bodies in Beijing, to promote public speaking, story- telling and recitation in various Chinese dialects for preserving and further developing Chinese traditional heritage and culture. In 2024, the organizer had welcomed the Hong Kong students to join the competition the first time, to appraise the regional participants in Hong Kong and welcomed them to take part in the grand finale in Beijing. With the assistance from Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, the Cao Can Cup management had decided to hold its grand finale in Hong Kong in 2025. The show was successfully completed with marvelous presentations that were particularly performed with students’ diligence and endeavor. Various major news media from Hong Kong and mainland, China have caught this overwhelming event in the spotlight.
The Show
As one of the judges in charge of both the Hong Kong regional round and the grand finale, I was amazed principally by the confidence and professionalism towards the preparation of make-up, costumes and props from most of the contestants. The dazzling faces, spectacular dresses and authentic theatrical properties together shined the stage. Meanwhile, notwithstanding the minor slips, most of the contestants could victoriously beat the odds to overcome their stage frights for a wonderful performance until the end. Comparing with the experience I have been through as a judge for the 21st Century Cup National English-Speaking Competition, I find both of the contestants are bona fide in pursuing their goals during the presentations and the difference in between is that the 21st Century Cup contestants focus more on professional public speech whereas Cao Can Cup participants concentrate a lot on stage performance. Indeed, both are appreciative and satisfactory in their own ways.
The Result
It has just been the second year but the popularity of CaoCan Cup is roaring. There were around eight hundred kindergarten, primary and secondary students in Hong Kong joining the competitions and about one thousand finalists all over China coming to Hong Kong at the end to compete for the best of the best. Parents and students were excited and enlightened with this unforgettable experience looking forward to return to Hong Kong in the near future. On the other hand, this year Cao Can Cup had as well invited regional awardees to visit Hainan, China to showcase their sophisticated skills before the grand finale where around twelve thousand awardees attended the stunning ceremony to exchange knowledge and technique with each other. Without a question, this successful event has not only vigorously promoted traditional Chinese value here in Hong Kong through cross-regional integration, but also stimulated the tourism industries bringing in prosperity in various locations, including Hong Kong.
Future perspectives
CaoCan Cup should be definitely further promoted in the upcoming years in Hong Kong. Both the Hong Kong government and educators ought to encourage our students to join and learn with others for discovering their own talents. By reviewing the impressive numbers of the entire participants (over one million per year) from all around China as well as the participants (about twelve thousand people) who have visited Hainan this year, if our administration is able to coordinate with numerous stakeholders in Hong Kong to accommodate the students and parents (close to half million people) annually, our local industries will be sufficiently supported and our economic growth will be more sustainable. The department concern should use this opportunity to manifest the optimal position for Hong Kong.