TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 17

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Mr Logan

CHINESE LANGUAGE ISSUE IN HONG KONG

2.

Early in November I wrote to Hong Kong asking for details

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of the present position in connection with the reports of the

Chinese Language Committee.

19/12

We have now been sent the attached

paper.

1

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.

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

/particularly