XN000022-1996-05-29 — Page 45

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Measures to promote use of Putonghua

Following is a question by Dr the Hon David Li Kwok-po and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The Education Commission has recommended in its 6th Report that the Education Department should, starting from 1996, organise summer classes for primary and secondary school students who wish to learn Putonghua at an estimated cost of about $30 million over a 3-year period. On the other hand, the findings of a recent survey conducted by an insurance firm show that 95% of those who cannot speak Putonghua make no attempt to learn it. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether measures will be adopted to promote Putonghua among people other than school students; if so, what the details are?

Reply:

Mr President,

The Government recognises that there is a growing need to promote Putonghua. We have already announced in the 1995 Policy Address a number of initiatives to step up the teaching and learning of Putonghua in schools. These include developing a new Putonghua curriculum, enhancing teacher training and organising summer classes for primary and secondary students starting this summer.

At the same time, there are a number of on-going measures to promote the learning and use of Putonghua among people outside the school system. These include efforts in both the public and private sectors:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Most tertiary and technical institutions offer Putonghua courses to their students or to the public. These are supplemented by courses offered by the Education Department and community bodies for adults;

The Language Fund set up in 1994 to enhance efforts for raising the standards in English and Chinese including Putonghua has so far supported 10 Putonghua projects of which 5 are organised outside school targeting at tertiary students, teachers, parents and the public;

There are a number of Putonghua programmes on radio and television produced by Radio Television Hong Kong for the general public;