Monday, 16 February 2026On 4 February, I was honoured to participate in the Grand Final of the National Security Short Speech Competition, co‑organised by the Education Bureau and the Security Bureau, where I was awarded fourth place. My journey was full of surprises. I first learnt about the competition on Moodle as part of our English assignment. Utilising the resources from our school, I wrote a short speech about the impacts of the 15th National Games on us as citizens. The process of researching and modifying the speech enhanced my sense of belonging to our country and deepened my understanding of safeguarding national security. I never imagined that I would be nominated to represent our school in this competition and selected as one of the top five shortlisted entries out of 8,700 contestants, and advance to the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, the top five participants in three different languages took turns presenting their speeches to the judges. I had the valuable opportunity of learning from these outstanding individuals who creatively shared their insights about their relationships with our country, all with remarkable confidence. Speaking in front of a crowd has always been a challenge for me, but the immersive English environment at Shung Tak prepared me well to overcome these obstacles and deliver a strong performance. I would like to thank the school for initiating this great opportunity for us to participate in the competition.
I extend special thanks to Mr Manchester and my mother for their unwavering support throughout my preparation. I have certainly learnt a lot from this experience, not just in embracing my national identity but also in enhancing my personal growth. The competition has boosted my confidence in public speaking, and I will continue to work hard to improve my performances. I encourage my fellow schoolmates to seize the opportunities around you and to step out of your comfort zones. I am confident that you will reap invaluable rewards once you allow yourself to face challenges and strive for success. by 4J Cheryl Lam