HONG KONG - The semi-final of this year's China Daily "21st Century Cup" English Speaking Competition drew 217 participants to Olympic House in Causeway Bay on Saturday for the competition. 
It followed a bustling prelminary round that saw 1,500 students from about 300 primary and secondary schools vie for a place in the semi-final. 
Forty of them have advanced to the regional final slated for May 10.
China Daily's Edmond Tang took the photos.