Language education policy in Hong Kong

Abstract

This chapter reviews the official language education policy documents published prior to 1997 and highlights some of their key contents. The great demand for proficient speakers of English has, therefore, had an impact on the language education policy in Hong Kong. The quality of language teaching was identified as one of the two key issues in language education, the other being the medium of instruction. Being a bilingual city during the colonial era, Hong Kong needed a balanced and coherent language education policy to nurture people to be able to use both Chinese and English proficiently at work as well as in social communication. Establishing and maintaining standards in the school system was thus a concern of the government especially when Hong Kong was developing into an international city and centre of trade and commerce. The 1970s were a turning point in Hong Kong’s economic, political, and social development.

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