I Love Hong Kong Association 2025 Chinese Virtues Secondary School "Etiquette" Speech Competition
1. Purpose
Knowledge (discrimination ability), emotion (inner experience), will (inner strength), and action (outer behavior) are the essential elements for cultivating students' moral character. The speech competition aims to strengthen young people's attention to, understanding of, and practice of the Chinese virtue of "propriety," thereby promoting family harmony and social harmony.
Participants are required to demonstrate through speeches how to practice traditional virtues in modern life, such as respecting others, being polite, and expressing gratitude, in order to promote students' awareness of current social issues and the importance of cultural inheritance, and to stimulate their creativity and collaboration in the process of solving problems.
2. Theme: Etiquette
"Li" (礼), as one of the core values of Chinese culture, embodies the wisdom of harmonious coexistence among people.
In the past, "rites" were reflected in various aspects such as the relationship between ruler and subject and interactions between friends, emphasizing respect for order and hierarchy. Nowadays, "rites" focus more on equal treatment and mutual respect between people, going beyond traditional bowing and greetings. It also emphasizes cultivating both inner and outer virtues: being humble and courteous in public and behaving appropriately in private; and treating others with sincerity and kindness in private.
Mencius said, "Respectful deference and yielding are the proper ways of propriety."
"Li" (礼, propriety) is one of the core values of Chinese virtues. Propriety regulates one's behavior within the family, school, and society, defining relationships and distinguishing right from wrong. Confucius said, "A gentleman is learned in literature, but restrains himself with propriety." Inner humility and modesty, dignified conduct, and measured speech and actions are the cultivation of propriety. It is specifically manifested in respect, courtesy, adherence to rules, and politeness.
Let us demonstrate our manners and character in the details of life, become truly "courtesy" modern people, and thus promote social harmony and integration.
3. Eligibility for Participation
Each secondary school may send a maximum of two students to participate in the competition. All participants will receive a certificate of participation in the Inter-School Speech Competition on the Inheritance of Chinese Cultural Virtues.
4. Competition Language
The speech must be delivered in Cantonese and must not exceed 5 minutes.
