More than 300 junior secondary school students and teachers have put their debating skills learned in class into practice at an innovative forum.

The debate forum was part of a day camp organised by the Standing Committee on Language Education & Research for its debating education programme for junior secondary school students. Selected students played the role of Government officials, representatives from the business sector and small-and-medium enterprises, scholars and consumers to debate the urgency for Hong Kong to enact a fair competition law.

Standing Committee Chairman Michael Tien said he was impressed by the manner and composure maintained by students in rebutting the challenges from other role-players and the audience, and by their ability to elaborate on their standpoints in an organised fashion using the debating skills they have acquired.

"This shows not only their mastery of the language skills, but also their critical and analytical thinking and self-cultivation. These are what we want to promote through debating education," Mr Tien said.

"As we were told by educators and veteran debaters, debating education can definitely help students learn through life, which was one of the key areas advocated in the education reform."

The debating education programme for junior secondary school students was launched in the 2006-07 school year to promote the integration of debating into language education so as to motivate students to improve their language skills, as well as to strengthen their logical thinking, organisation skills and self-confidence. Eighty-eight schools have joined the programme.