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6.
However, it is now time that Government make an unequivocal declaration that it is prepared to accept Chinese as an official language together with English, 461
and that this policy will be introduced by progressive stages so as not to disrupt the smooth functioning of the administrative machinery. From a cultural and psychological point of view, the Chinese community in Hongkong strongly desire to see the Chinese language recognized as an official language.
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70 A concrete and important step in this direction is for the Government to change the Urban Council Ordinance to permit both Chinese and English to be spoken at Urban Council meetings, on the understanding that up-to-date simultaneous interpretation equipment will be installed and manned by qualified and trained interpreters. There will also have to be sufficient good translators to translate all Urban Council papers as and when required. Although up-to-date simultaneous interpretation equipment is easily available, it will require a certain length of time to recruit and train interpreters and translators of a standard acceptable for Urban Council proceedings.
8.
The Government is urged to accept this proposal now and to authorise the Urban Council to go ahead with the necessary planning and preparation to implement such proposal. It is estimated that if a decision on this proposal can be made by Government this year, up-to-date equipment can be obtained within 4 to 6 months thereafter, while the recruiting and training of a team of translators, and particularly interpreters, of an acceptable standard will require a period of 12 b 24 months.
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