HONG KONG - The five winners of the Hong Kong contest will represent the city in the final round of the nationwide English-speaking competition in March this year.

Sham Pui-yan from ESF Shatin College and Carol Chan Ka-lo from St. Paul Convent School respectively won the top prizes in the junior and senior secondary school categories in the Hong Kong's regional contest of the "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition.

The regional contest, held by China Daily and VDO English, an online English learning platform developed by China Daily, saw a record number of thousands of participants this year. Thousands of students from universities, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong vied for the top prizes.

This year was also the first time that the contest is open to primary school students and university students.

Ng Nok-hin from Fukien Secondary School Affiliated School and Zhou Hanyi from Chinese International School were winners in two Junior Primary categories. The top prize in the University category went to Cheung Ho-yan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The five students will represent Hong Kong in the National Grand Final to be held in March. In last year's contest, Suen Chung-man, the Hong Kong Region Secondary School champion, won the national contest, showcasing Hong Kong students' mastery of English.

Each year, more than 1 million students take part in the national competition, the largest of its kind in China. Winners of the national competition will represent China at the annual international contest in London.