XN000022-1994-05-12 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1994

ROGER LOK:

MR PRESIDENT, JUST TO FOLLOW UP THE ANSWER OF THE GOVERNOR. WOULD THE GOVERNOR ELABORATE ON THE WAY FORWARD TO IMPROVE BOTH THE SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE SKILL OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS?

GOVERNOR: WE'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE GREATER HELP IN FINDING THE WAY FORWARD WHEN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S WORKING GROUP ON LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY HAS REPORTED A LITTLE LATER IN THE YEAR. AND I THINK THAT WILL PROVIDE THE SIGNPOSTS FOR THE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE MANAGING THE LANGUAGE FUND ITSELF -THE $300 MILLION THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO THE LANGUAGE FUND. THERE IS.

AND I HEAR IT REGULARLY FROM BUSINESS LEADERS, THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE LOWER STANDARDS OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. I AM NOT QUITE SURE HOW MUCH THAT IS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE AND HOW MUCH THERE IS AN OBJECTIVE BASIS TO IT, BUT I THINK THAT AT THE VERY LEAST THEY ARE RIGHT TO BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG, IF IT IS RETAIN ITS ECONOMIC POSITION IN THE REGION AND THE WORLD, HAVE LANGUAGE SKILLS.

NEEDS

YEARS

TO.

то

AGO

WERE

DR SAMUEL WONG (THROUGH INTERPRETER): MR GOVERNOR, A FEW WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THE CABLE TELEVISION LICENCE WE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT A NUMBER OF CHANNELS OR CERTAIN TIME SLOTS WOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF EDUCATION. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STILL STAND BY THIS POSITION, AND IF SO HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN OBTAINED?

GOVERNOR: I AM AFRAID THAT MY OWN INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF THESE MATTERS DOESN'T ENABLE ME TO CONFIRM OR DENY ANY COMMITMENTS MADE ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL ROLE OF TELEVISION. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE, THOUGH IT JUST SHOWS A PERSONAL PREJUDICE, THAT TELEVISION IS ALL TOO FREQUENTLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO EDUCATION. BUT, I CAN SEE THAT IT CAN PLAY AN EDUCATIONAL ROLE TOO. I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR TELEVISION COMPANIES HAVE ESTABLISHED A REGIONAL LEAD IN THE PRODUCTION OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION PROGRAMMES. AS FOR A BROADER EDUCATIONAL ROLE, PERHAPS I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE HONOURABLE MEMBER ABOUT THAT AGAIN. AT THE MOMENT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T SEE VERY MUCH SIGN OF THE EDUCATIONAL USE OF TELEVISION, EXCEPT PERHAPS IN RELATION TO CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OLI COURSES FROM TIME TO TIME.

MR CHEUNG MAN-KWONG (THROUGH INTERPRETER): MR PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE GOVERNOR THE FOLLOWING QUESTION, IN FACT A FOLLOW-UP OF MR TIK CHI-YUEN. IT'S REGARDING USING MOTHER TONGUE AS THE MEDIUM OF

INSTRUCTION.

HONG KONG IS A COLONY, SO ALL ALONG OUR LANGUAGE POLICY IS SUCH THAT WE FAVOUR ENGLISH AT THE EXPENSE OF CHINESE AND THIS CONCEPT HAS BEEN FIRMLY INSTILLED OR DEEP-ROOTED IN THE HEART OF EVERYONE. NOW THE COLONIAL DAYS ARE COMING TO A CLOSE. WE HAVE TO BUILD UP A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY IN HONG KONG AND SO WE NEED A CORRESPONDING LANGUAGE POLICY. EARLIER ON THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED ABOUT HAVING EITHER VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY MEASURES TO HAVE MOTHER TONGUE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE ONLY WAY. I THINK WE CAN HAVE A THIRD OPTION, THAT IS THE GOVERNMENT CAN ASSIST THOSE SCHOOLS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OPTING TO USE MOTHER TONGUE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, THE GOVERNMENT CAN ASSIST SUCH SCHOOLS TO HAVE A SHIFT SO AS TO HAVE THE JOB DONE BEFORE 1997.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WILL THE GOVERNMENT ASSIST THOSE SCHOOLS? AND ALSO WILL THE GOVERNMENT TRY TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY IN ITS COURSES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE SO AS TO GIVE CHINESE A HIGHER STATUS?

/GOVERNOR: