CONFIDENTIAL
78
Mr Logan
CHINESE LANGUAGE ISSUE IN HONG KONG
1. Early in November I wrote to Hong Kong asking for details
of the present position in connection with the reports of the
We have now been sent the attached
Chinese Language Committee.
77/2A
paper.
2. In brief, the position is as follows:
First Report (dealing with simultaneous interpretation in
Legislative Council, Urban Council, official boards and committees)
Action has been taken to implement the recommendations
which were accepted in principle by the Executive Council in
May 1971.
P
Second Report (dealing with the use of Chinese and English in
oral and written communication between Government and the public),
This report is "nearly ready for submission to Executive
Council"
It will be recommended to the Council that the report
be accepted in principle and implemented as and when resources
permit.
Third Report (dealing with the use of Chinese in court proceedings
and as a language of the law).
This report raises more difficult issues. A Memorandum
for Executive Council is being prepared.
Fourth Report (dealing with, in particular, the status of English
and Chinese and the promulgation of both languages as official
languages).
This is much the most difficult report for the Hong Kong
Government to accept. The implications of accepting these
recommendations will have to be studied most carefully,
CONFIDENTIAL
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