The head of the Chinese government's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office recently urged Hong Kong lawmakers to "study Mandarin (Putonghua) more". This remark gained attention following the implementation of the National Unity Promotion Law in China last month, which has led to increased calls for Hong Kong politicians to enhance their Mandarin skills.
According to local media reports, Xia Baolong met with a delegation of 88 Hong Kong lawmakers for about five hours in Beijing on July 25. During the meeting, many lawmakers presented their remarks in a hesitant Mandarin mixed with Cantonese accents. In response, Xia encouraged them to "study Mandarin more." Local outlets interpreted his comments as a light-hearted encouragement rather than a reprimand.
This is not the first time Xia has listened to Hong Kong politicians struggle with Mandarin. Last year, during a visit to Hong Kong, he attended a meeting where Tommy Cheung, a member of the Executive Council and leader of the Liberal Party, spoke entirely in Cantonese. At that time, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee attempted to ease the situation by stating in Mandarin that he had submitted a speech draft beforehand and thanked Xia for his understanding. However, Xia reportedly did not react significantly.
While Xia's comments were made in a joking manner, analysts suggest they reflect the growing importance of Mandarin proficiency among Hong Kong politicians, especially as the Chinese government emphasizes integration and communication between Hong Kong and mainland China.
Furthermore, the National Unity Promotion Law, which took effect in July, specifies that Mandarin will be adopted as the primary language for school education and official government business, promoting its widespread use.
There are increasing calls within Hong Kong for politicians to actively pursue Mandarin learning. The pro-China newspaper Sing Tao Daily stated in an editorial on August 11 that "Hong Kong lawmakers should strive to learn Mandarin," asserting that this is a basic duty of being Chinese and reflects their identity and responsibility. The editorial also criticized lawmakers who struggled to speak Mandarin fluently during meetings, suggesting a lack of enthusiasm.
Hong Kong's linguistic environment differs significantly from that of mainland China. Following the 'bilingual and trilingual' policy, Hong Kong has utilized two written languages (English and Chinese) and three spoken languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, and English). After being a British colony for over 150 years, Hong Kong only designated Mandarin as a mandatory subject in primary and secondary education in 1998, gradually strengthening Mandarin education.
In this context, the demand for Mandarin proficiency among Hong Kong politicians is seen as intertwined with the evolving relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China. Chai Si-hang, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, noted that lawmakers with significant interests in political and economic exchanges between Hong Kong and mainland China should be fluent in Mandarin.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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