Page 119
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
languages here, Chinese and English, as near equality of use and status as it is practically possible to do so. Nobody in their right senses would deny that this is desirable: but there are difficulties when we start talking about both as "official languages". If this means that both are to be acceptable as a medium of ordinary communication for official purposes, then both are to a very large extent official languages already. But if it means that, for example, the laws must be written in both languages then there are practical difficulties. Nevertheless, short of this, and remembering that there will be circumstances in which one version or other must prevail when translations are made, we can, as I say, do a great deal towards producing a bilingual society. It is a process of taking numerous small and specific steps, not of making one sweeping gesture. We need to iron out the practicable difficulties of using both languages without creating confusion, in as many selected circumstances as possible; and never overlook an opportunity of using both whenever it would be practicable and helpful to do so.
After years' efforts, the Governor eventually in 1968 has implied and indirectly recognized Chinese as an official language in the Budget Speech. And following this, I moved a Motion in February 1969, as being one of many small and specific steps, to adopt simultaneous translation in English and in Chinese and vice versa in all public meetings of the Urban Council by 1970. It was eventually decided that this matter be referred to the Select Committee for further consideration, but up to now nothing further has been done. My present Motion is just to follow the same suggestion that we should choose as many selected circumstances as possible and never overlook an opportunity of using both languages whenever it would be practical and helpful to do so. I would say that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole and in order to achieve the fundamental fairness and equality among its inhabitants, it is high time that in a local council like ours both English and Chinese should be adopted as official languages.
The impediment of Section 45 of Urban Council Ordinance, by virtue of which only English can be used, in my view is absurd. This is one of many selected circumstances, as mentioned by the Governor, which could not be overlooked and which should be remedied as soon as possible. The lack of interpreters or translators might formerly be a reason to oppose such motion, but I should think it cannot be a valid ground at this time because, firstly, since 1966 nothing has been done about training of interpreters, and secondly because the wording of the Motion itself, which only urges the Government to consider doing something without any time limit. I do not anticipate any objection to such a mild motion. I would further suggest that in the interim period if there is any great difficulty for translation, which I doubt, then both languages should only be used in public meetings and for committee meetings then each committee concerned could choose what language they would like to use, English, or Chinese, or both. In such a way, and to a large extent, any translation difficulty would be reduced. Mr. Chairman, I now beg to move. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :—Mr. Chairman, I rise to second my fellow Urban Councillor Mr. Henry Hu's motion, as I rose to second a very similar motion by him now about two years ago. Then the motion was remitted to a Select Committee for further study and eventually got lost. I hope that we have now had enough of studying and that the time has come for action. We all know that the Government has the equipment for simultaneous translation and, by 1970, there is a very strong need for the introduction of Chinese and English into this Council. Not only so that many highly educated local people of Chinese race who do not speak English well, can contribute their time and experience to the Council, but also, because of the simple fact that over 95% of the local people are Chinese. Their mother tongue being largely the Cantonese dialect of the Chinese language. I suggest (a) that the Ordinance should be amended so that it is made possible for this Council to use Chinese as well as English in its meetings then (b) simultaneous translation be introduced between Cantonese and English assisted by a group of expert interpreters paid adequate salaries and then (c) that when the teething troubles of simultaneous translation between English and Cantonese have ended, we expand this procedure to provide for simultaneous translation of Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Mandarin is not only the language spoken by most of the inhabitants in Hong Kong coming from northern China, but is also, of course, the national language of China.
In that way, we have a regular programme worked out and this particular motion is in fact the first step. I urge all members to support it. (Applause).
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: ----Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion urging that as soon as possible the Urban Council Ordinance be amended to allow both English and Chinese to be used in meetings of the Urban Council, and to make certain pertinent remarks.
This is in fact one of the important recommendations for Phase I of the Urban Council's March 1969 Report on the Reform of Local Government which states in part that the Government should "train a cadre of simultaneous interpreters so that simultaneous translation in English and Cantonese may be introduced into the Council's meetings at an early stage, and certainly before Phase II".
At the meeting on 12th September, 1970 which Unofficial Urban Councillors had with Mr. E. O. LAIRD, Head of the Hong Kong Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Civic Association Elected Councillors in a memorandum expressed the following view:
"A concrete and important step in this direction is for the Government to change the Urban Council Ordinance to permit
Page 119 of 241
218
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
219
Page 120
Page 119 L
241
Page 119 of 241
218
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
languages here, Chinese and English, as near equality of use and status as it is practically possible to do so. Nobody in their right senses would deny that this is desirable: but there are difficulties when we start talking about both as "official languages". If this means that both are to be acceptable as a medium of ordinary communication for official purposes, then both are to a very large extent official languages already. But if it means that, for example, the laws must be written in both languages then there are practical difficulties. Nevertheless, short of this, and remembering that there will be circumstances in which one version or other must prevail when translations are made, we can, as I say, do a great deal towards producing a bilingual society. It is a process of taking numerous small and specific steps, not of making one sweeping gesture. We need to iron out the practicable difficulties of using both languages without creating confusion, in as many selected circumstances as possible; and never overlook an opportunity of using both whenever it would be practicable and helpful to do so." After years' efforts, the Governor eventually in 1968 has implied and indirect- ly recognized Chinese as an official language in the Budget Speech. And following this, I moved a Motion in February 1969, as being one of many small and specific steps, to adopt simultaneous translation in English and in Chinese and vice versa in all public meetings of the Urban Council by 1970. It was eventually decided that this matter to be referred to the Select Committee for further consideration, but up to now nothing further has been done. My present Motion is just to follow the same suggestion that we should choose as many selected circumstances as possible and never overlook an opportunity of using both languages whenever it would be practical and helpful to do so. I would say that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole and in order to achieve the fundamental fairness and equality among its in- habitants, it is high time that in a local council like ours both English and Chinese should be adopted as official languages.
The impediment of Section 45 of Urban Council Ordinance, by virtue of which only English can be used, in my view is absurd. This is one of many selected circumstances, as mentioned by the Governor, which could not be overlooked and which should be remedied as soon as possible. The lack of interpreters or translators might formerly be a reason to oppose such motion, but I should think it cannot be a valid ground at this time because, firstly, since 1966 nothing has been done about training of interpreters, and secondly because the wording of the Motion itself, which only urges the Government to consider to do something without any time limit. I do not anticipate any objection on such a mild motion. I would further suggest that in the interim period if there is any great difficulty for translation, which I doubt, then both languages should only be used in public meetings and for committee meetings then each committee concerned could choose what language they would like to use, English, or Chinese, or both. In such
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
219
a way, and to a large extent, any translation difficulty would be reduced. Mr. Chairman, I now beg to move. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :—Mr. Chairman, I rise to second my fellow Urban Councillor Mr. Henry Hu's motion, as I rose to second a very similar motion by him now about two years ago. Then the motion was remitted to a Select Committee for further study and eventually got lost. I hope that we have now had enough of studying and that the time was come for action. We all know that the Government has the equipment for simultaneous translation and, by 1970, there is a very strong need for the introduction of Chinese and English into this Council. Not only so that many highly educated local people of Chinese race who do not speak English well, can contribute their time and experience to the Council, but also, because of the simple fact that over 95% of the local people are Chinese. Their mother tongue being largely the Cantonese dialect of the Chinese language. I suggest (a) that the Ordinance should be amended so that it is made possible for this Council to use Chinese as well as English in its meetings then (b) simultaneous translation be introduced between Cantonese and English assisted by a group of expert interpreters paid adequate salaries and then (c) that when the teething troubles of simultaneous translation between English and Cantonese is ended, we expand this procedure to provide for simultaneous translation of Mandarin, Cantonese and English. Mandarin is not only the language spoken by most of the inhabitants in Hong Kong coming from northern China, but, is also of course the national language of China.
In that way, we have a regular programme worked out and this particular motion is in fact the first step. I urge all members to support it. (Applause).
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: ----Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion urging that as soon as possible the Urban Council Ordinance be amended to allow both English and Chinese be used in meetings of the Urban Council, and to make certain pertinent remarks.
This is in fact one of the important recommendations for Phase I of the Urban Council's March 1969 Report on the Reform of Local Government which states in part that the Government should "train a cadre of simultaneous interpreters so that simultaneous translation in English and Cantonese may be introduced into the Council's meetings at an early state, and certainly before Phase II".
At the meeting on 12th September, 1970 which Unofficial Urban Councillors had with Mr. E. O. LAIRD, Head of the Hong Kong Depart- ment, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Civic Association Elected Councillors in a memorandum expressed the following view:
"A concrete and important step in this direction is for the Government to change the Urban Council Ordinance to permit
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.