TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 109

OUR

REF:

YOUR REF:

HKFS

hong kong federation of students

香港專上學生聯會

23c waterloo road, kowloon hong kong

九龍窩打老道二十三號C tel. k-888137, 840048, 840049

telegram "HKFSTUDENT"

30th August 1974.

ah kalbim adult wie willetten inviénder 1 Matkal pašu, we had fan de vecandy budowlane » nhen trangiang Wushu mới 1 lệ cha

Mr. F.K. Li,

Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Secretariat for Home Affairs,

Hong Kong.

Dear Mr. Li,

I am writing on behalf of the Hong Kong Federation of Students to reaffirm the demand of HKFS that legislation be enacted to the effect of declaring both Chinese and English Officiel Languages of Hong Kong, equal in status, with the usage of the Chinese Language defined in spec: fic areas.

While welcoming the recommendation of the Government Chinese Language Committee that Government should consider promulgating a firm policy, in a suitable manner, that Chinese and English are official languages of equal status, HKFS notes that the Committee has failed to recommend to Government on the 'suitable manner' of declaration, hence amounting to passing the bug back to government. In this light, HKFS wishes to reiterate its position that legislation be enacted to the effect. A mere government policy statement or adminis÷. trative statement is inadequate, the reasons being given in the Position Paper presented to the Government Committee on 18th July 1971, a copy of which is being enclosed.

While the Chinese Language Committee was technically' dissolved after completion of its Fourth (and Final) Report, HKFS is committed to further negotiations with Government. For this purpose, I met Mr. Christopher Wong, Kowloon City District Commissioner, yesterday. It was agreed by both parties that a meeting be held between officials of the Secretariat of Home Affairs and HKFS representatives to exchange views on the matter.

In this context, I am now writing to you to seek an opportunity to present our views. The Legal Sub-committee of the HKFS Language Study Committee is now attempting to draft a piece of legislation, and this will be tabled for discussion. We will be only too glad to answer any queries that you may have on the paper. We would also like to learn, through your good office, government reaction to the recommen- dations made by the Chinese Language Committee, and how and when will the recommendations be implemented.