CUHK Business School Accountancy Students Win Tax Debate Competition Second Year in a Row
A team of four CUHK Business School undergraduate students swept away the Championship of the Tax Debate Competition organized by the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong second year in a row.
A team of four CUHK Business School undergraduate students swept away the Championship of the Tax Debate Competition on 28th & 29th May 2016. Organised by the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong, it was the second year that CUHK Business School’s team has won this competition.
Professional Accountancy Program students Harry Cheng Hong-cheuk (Global Accounting Stream, Year 2), Margo Cheung Hei-lam (PACC, Year 2), Marco Wai Hio-fong (Global Accounting Stream, Year 2) and Chloris Yeung Ho-ching (Global Accounting Stream, Year 2) bested nine other teams from local universities and business schools. Marco Wai also awarded the best debater award.
The team has taken four rounds of debates on different tax policies, including the Quarter Finals and Championship Final taken place at Plaza Hollywood. Each team was informed whether they would be on the affirmative or opposition side just 30 minutes before the competition, making the debate more intense and challenging.
Apart from prizes and trophies, the winning team members were offered CTA examination fee waivers and internship opportunities in the Big4 accounting firms.
Not having taken any taxation courses before, Marco shared the challenges they faced.
“It is critical to have good preparation and coherent arguments to respond to different ad hoc questions. We also have to strike a balance between summer internship interviews, final exams and the competition,” said Marco.
Divided into two small groups, the team has done extensive research and preparation a month before the competition and consolidated both pros and cons ideas of different tax policies.
“We owe our presentation and research skills to the Global Accounting Stream which equips us with a global mindset through overseas training programs and non-local working experience.” Marco said. “Debate experience might not be necessary but the key to winning this competition is to produce convincing and logical arguments by interpreting current social issues,” he added.
Photo courtesy of Taxation Institute of Hong Kong