Hong Kong's educational system: English or Chinese?

Abstract

The question of which language should be used as the medium of instruction in Hong Kong schools has been debated for over a century. In the early colonial days the emphasis was on providing an elite with good English, to help run the administration. Nationalistic feelings and educational objections to English‐medium education have grown over the years, resulting in government statements in favour of Chinese as the language of education. However, schools were left free to choose the medium of instruction for themselves and in face of parental pressure have mostly chosen English. Business companies in Hong Kong have also demanded better English from the educational system, as Hong Kong's economy turns from manufacturing to service industries. Recent more vigorous efforts by Government to further Chinese‐medium education are outlined in the article and consideration is given to the effects of the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong in 1997 on the future language of education in Hong Kong schools and on English and Chinese in Hong Kong's educational system.

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