Hong Kong should still have room for three languages

With Cantonese and English being officially recognised, there is no reason not to brush up on one’s Mandarin in view of the Greater Bay Area development strategy

SCMP Editorial

Published: 12:52am, 8 Jun 2021

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Biliteracy and trilingualism have long been a key goal in Hong Kong education. Those who were raised after the reunification with the mainland in 1997 are generally able to communicate in Cantonese, Mandarin and English to a certain extent. The policy is based on historical development and actual needs and has served the city well.

If a state report is any guide, the emphasis on Mandarin and simplified characters – the spoken and written Chinese on the mainland, may be strengthened further in Hong Kong. It has been recommended that Mandarin and simplified Chinese characters be given legal status here. Mandarin should also become part of school exams, according to the report on the language situation in the Greater Bay Area by the Ministry of Education.

The report was compiled in collaboration with the State Language Commission by a team at Guangzhou University. It remains unclear whether the Hong Kong authorities and education stakeholders were involved.

Amid concerns over the growing emphasis on “one country”, the proposals have inevitably fuelled worries that the city could be further “mainlandised”.

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But this should not be the case as long as the recognition of English and Cantonese continues. While it makes sense for Hongkongers to brush up on their Mandarin proficiency and knowledge of mainland affairs under the national drive of the Greater Bay Area development strategy, it does not mean the importance of English and Cantonese should diminish.

The former remains the common language for business and international communication, while the latter is an integral part of the city’s cultural identity.

The government stopped short of saying whether the language and education policies would be adjusted in the wake of the report. Clarification is needed as to what granting Mandarin and simplified characters legal status means.

Both Chinese and English are the official languages under the Basic Law and the Official Languages Ordinance. Government statements and releases are usually available in English and traditional and simplified Chinese.

It is in the city’s interest to enhance biliteracy and trilingualism, not just for integration, but also for business needs and cultural preservation.