As the Internet is sweeping across the worldand inundating the world with all its glamour,computers, mobile phones, fashions, shortmessages, English language have become hotissues in the lives of many young people. It isnot unusual that some Chinese people write poorChinese, and some email writers fail to producea good job application, some fans know whoswho about pop singers, but utterly at a loss whenasked about big names in the Chinese literature.As this trend goes on, people of wisdom call forpromoting the Chinese language and literatureand for making it prosper lest it becomes alanguage at a disadvantage in the world.The Chinese University of Hong Kong is aleading voice in the pro-Chinese language andliterature campaign. In1999, the department ofthe Chinese languageand literature of theuniversity initiated TheGlobal Youth ChineseLiterary Award for theNew Century.The award wassubdivided into threecategories of shortstories, essays, andliterary translation forcollege students ofChinese language andliterature across theworld. In addition tobumper sums of prizes,topnotch masters ofChinese language andliterature with international renown were invitedas judges.The news of the new century literary awardreceived warm responses once it was reportedin the traditional media and in the Internet. Morethan 2,400 college students across the worldparticipated in 2000. Though adversely affectedby SARS In 2003, more than 1,700 participantssent in their contributions. The participants werefrom the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan,countries in Southeast Asia, Oceania, Europe andAmerica.The decisions for the final prizewinners weremade through three phases. In the preliminarystage, all the contributions in three genres werery for a picture.respectively reviewed by teachers of the CUHKand then short-listed. Then senior professors ofthe organizing committee reviewed the choiceones in a back-to-back way before the final oneswere presented to judges. A telephoneconference then is held for the final decision onwinners. In all the stages, for the sake of fairplay, all information on participants wasexcluded till the decisions were finalized. Judgesand reviewers knew only representative numberswith any idea where the contributors came from. In the first contest held in 2000, 51contributors won. In the second contest in 2003,49 received prizes.Of all the 19 first, second and third awardeesin 2000 and 2003, 2 were from the Chinesemainland, 5 from Hong Kong, one from Taiwan,one from Malaysia.The contest has been held twice so far and ithas produced positive effects. Many youngpeople have been encouraged. Three top winnersfor their essays in the first contest were fromHong Kong and have published their firstindividual essay collections. Of the overseaswinners, some now are teachers of Chinese orliterary editors. Some winners will pursue theircareers in Chinese literature by takingpostgraduate courses in Chinese literature ortranslation. Through the contests, they have tiedknots with Chinese language and literature.When so many are chasing fortune and fame, alifelong passion for Chinese language andliterature requires a dedication to lifelong hardwork. But the beauty of the Chinese languageand literature still holds strong sway over manypeople.(Translated by David)Chinese Language and Literature Spark Vitality@David
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