XN000022-1987-03-25 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987

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FULL COMMITMENT TO RAISING STANDARD OF CHINESE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE OBJECTIVE OF RAISING THE STANDARD OF CHINESE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTING WIDER USAGE OF THE LANGUAGE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHINESE LANGUAGE FOUNDATION, MR BRIDGE SAID SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES WERE BEING DEVOTED TO THIS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

+ THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING AND FACILITATING ITS USE AS A BASIC TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION, STUDY, WORK AND LEISURE, AND I SHARE (LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL) MEMBERS' CONCERN ABOUT THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF CHINESE IN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,+ HE SAID.

THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION WAS, HOWEVER, HOW THIS OBJECTIVE COULD BE ACHIEVED ECONOMICALLY AND EFFECTIVELY, HE ADDED.

IN THE WORKING PARTY'S REPORT, MR BRIDGE SAID, IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT THE MAJOR AREAS OF WORK OF THE PROPOSED FOUNDATION SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

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PUBLICATION OF HIGH-QUALITY TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR SCHOOLS;

PUBLICATION OF HIGH-QUALITY LEISURE READING MATERIALS IN WELL WRITTEN CHINESE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC

PROMOTION OF THE USE OF GOOD MODERN CHINESE IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF ALL KINDS;

STRENGTHENING OF THE POSITION OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE IN THE COMMUNITY BY REQUIRING THAT PROFICIENCY IN CHINESE BE SPECIFIED AS A SELECTION CRITERION FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE; AND

CONDUCTING AND SPONSORING RESEARCH ON THE USE OF MODERN CHINESE.

MR BRIDGE SAID SPOKEN CANTONESE AND WRITTEN CHINESE HAD ALWAYS ENJOYED A PROMINENT POSITION IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT FULLY SHARED MEMBERS' WISH TO SEE THE QUALITY OF THE LANGUAGE MAINTAINED AND IMPROVED.

+ THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE IS THROUGH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN THIS DIRECTION,+

/A CHINISE