TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 21

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Fourth Report

13.

The Fourth Report which was submitted in late July 1971

recommended:-

14.

(a) improved career prospects and training for

interpreter/translators;

(b)

(c)

a review of English and Chinese teaching methods designed to improve the standard of both English and Chinese amongst secondary school graduates;

that English and Chinese be declared to have equal status;

(a) that Chinese and/or English be used in

accordance with the recommendations contained in the Committee's reports; and

(e)

that Government should promulgate in a suitable manner that English and Chinese are official languages.

The decision on the recommendations in the Fourth Report will be of considerable importance since it will cover the basic question of making Chinese an official language. It will not be possible for any decision to be taken until the earlier reports have been dealt with and no firm conclusion has yet been reached as to whether Government's acceptance of Chinese as an official language should take the form of legislation although some preliminary discussion of this point has already been carried out.

Conclusion

15.

The Chinese Language Campaign appears to have lost much of its original vigour though it could revive at any time if it appeared that Government were deliberately delaying a decision on the Chinese Language Committee's proposals. It is known that the student body is strongly in favour of legislation which would give Chinese and English equal status as official languages, any limitations on the usage of Chinese to be embodied in the law.

CONFIDENTIAL