Embracing Youth in Three Lines
—Speech by Commissioner Cui Jianchun at the
Award Ceremony of the 18th "Hong Kong Cup"
Diplomatic Knowledge Competition
(9 May 2026, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
The Honorable John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR
Deputy Director Sun Shangwu, Deputy head Chen Feng, Deputy Commander Tan Zhiwei,
Distinguished guests, teachers and students,
Good afternoon, everyone.
It is a great pleasure to gather with you at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for the award ceremony of the 18th "Hong Kong Cup" Diplomatic Knowledge Competition.
Time flies. The "Hong Kong Cup" Diplomatic Knowledge Competition has now traversed eighteen years. Over these years, enthusiasm for the competition among the Hong Kong community has grown year by year. This year alone, nearly 300 primary and secondary schools and almost 90,000 students signed up, setting new records for both the number of participating schools and students—truly a remarkable achievement. For eighteen years, generation after generation of Hong Kong young people have drawn diplomatic insights from this competition, stepping onto the global stage successively, which is deeply heartening. Notably, today marks the 18th anniversary of this competition. This ceremony is not only an awards event for outstanding students, but also a coming-of-age ceremony for the competition itself, carrying profound significance.
On this occasion, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for its long-standing great attention and firm support for the competition, especially to Chief Executive John Lee, who has attended the award ceremony five times in a row.
We also thank our co-organizers, the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Better Hong Kong Foundation, for their close cooperation and joint efforts over the years. We thank our exclusive sponsor, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and all sponsoring organizations for their generous support. We thank Radio Television Hong Kong for its support and dissemination. We thank The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for providing the venue and logistical support. We thank all judges for their diligent work and impartial adjudication. We thank all media friends for their continued attention and positive coverage. We thank China Media Group for arranging Ms. Zou Yun to host the event again in Hong Kong. We thank the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, the Office for Safeguarding National Security, and the People’s Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong for their unwavering support. Finally, we thank every guest present for your enthusiastic participation and strong backing!
Distinguished guests, teachers and students,
Today’s event centers on Hong Kong’s young people. I would like to share my understanding and expectations of their mission and responsibility, summed up in three lines.
The first line is the lifeline, rooted in fundamentals and blood ties.
Only when one knows their roots can they walk upright and go far. Hong Kong’s young people have their roots right here, on this enduring land of China. From the footprints of our ancestors, to the profound memories of blood-bonded resistance against aggression, to the shared journey since the handover—every era bears witness to our inseparable blood ties.
I am confident that you students will continue to study the long and splendid history and culture of the Chinese nation, clarifying where we come from and where we are going, and understanding how generations of Chinese people, with diligence and wisdom, built the glorious motherland we have today. We believe that when you truly grasp the belonging and direction of this land from history, and comprehend the unwavering perseverance and struggles of our ancestors, you will better uphold the lifeline of national and familial bonds, nurture a sincere heart for the motherland, and forge ahead steadily.
The second line is the horizon, embodying vision and broad-mindedness.
Today, unilateralism rages, geopolitical conflicts linger, the global landscape is undergoing profound and complex changes, and humanity faces the epochal question of where to go. President Xi Jinping, with a profound historical perspective and a broad global vision, put forward the important vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, pointing the way forward for humanity.
As Hong Kong’s young people stand at the forefront of East-West cultural integration, your proficiency in biliteracy and trilingualism is a unique advantage. I am confident that you will firmly stand with the motherland, bravely look beyond the horizon, and engage with the world with a more inclusive attitude and broader vision. I hope you will be both narrators, sharing the rapid development of Hong Kong and the mainland with the world, and listeners, learning from and appreciating the diverse cultures and wisdom of the world, so as to better build Hong Kong and contribute to the country.
The third line is the ridgeline, symbolizing climbing and transcendence.
Hong Kong’s young people are born in a prosperous era. The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan has assigned Hong Kong a new positioning and drawn a new blueprint. Meanwhile, under the leadership of Chief Executive John Lee, the HKSAR Government is intensively formulating Hong Kong’s first Five-Year plan. Great opportunities of the times lie before you, with numerous peaks waiting for you to climb and conquer. You can devote yourselves to scientific and technological innovation in the Hetao Area and become algorithm engineers in the artificial intelligence era; you can delve into artistic exchanges in the West Kowloon Cultural District and become curators interpreting Eastern aesthetics to the world; you can stand on the high ground of international legal services, serving as mediators resolving international disputes or senior lawyers safeguarding Chinese enterprises’ overseas expansion. Every profession offers opportunities, and everyone can shine!
Of course, the path to the ridgeline is never smooth, bound to be paved with sweat and perseverance. I am confident that you will inherit the Lion Rock Spirit, regard setbacks as tempering and challenges as stepping stones, constantly surpass yourselves in your arduous climb, and take every steady step in life.
Students, we are convinced that no matter when or where you are, you will uphold the lifeline and stay true to your roots, look to the horizon and fulfill your responsibilities, and strive for the ridgeline and live up to your youth.
Students, China’s new era of distinctive major-country diplomacy needs you. We look forward to seeing more and more blooming Bauhinia flowers wherever China’s voice and strength are called for—on the rostrums of the United Nations, on the journey of the Belt and Road Initiative, and beyond.
Thank you all. See you next year!