On March 24, Shek Lei Catholic Secondary School and Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College argued the motion 'The pseudo-model phenomenon is a cause for concern in Hong Kong'.
This was a first-round match in the 12th Nesta-SCMP Debating Competition. It was adjudicated by Jeff Bell, a NET from HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School.
Islamic argued for the affirmative side, and Shek Lei for the negative.
Islamic argued pseudo-models make young people believe showing off their bodies is a way to make easy money. They added the practice was disrespectful to women. First speaker Wilfred King Ka-yiu, Form Six, said: 'It is not a lasting career. Many of the models are young and [poorly] educated, with no [formal] model training.'
Shek Lei argued the pseudo-model industry provides job opportunities and boosts the economy - the products that pseudo-models promote are popular. First speaker Au Yeung Mei-ho, Form Four, said: 'Young girls [can] earn pocket money, gain work experience and confidence.'
Second speaker for the negative, Kwan Ka-pik, Form Five, added that pseudo-models add to Hong Kong's cultural diversity: 'Their shows are ... different from the [usual] singing and dancing.'
